Systems that save biodiversity

A new EU-funded research project GEM-CON-BIO (Governance and Ecosystems Management for the Conservation of Biodiversity) shows how governance patterns impact biodiversity. The study comes out with the finding that most successful governance patterns for biodiversity conservation are a mix of financial incentives, regulations and voluntary engagement. Thirty case studies were analysed in the project.

GEM-CON-BIO compared governance structures of the following areas

Europe (such as in Biosphere reserves in Germany and in the Danube Delta, public and private forests and wetlands across Europe, the North Sea Fisheries, etc.);

USA (such as the Habitat Programme of Maine where towns have to develop credible habitat management plans before they receive public funds for other needs); and

Other parts of the world (such as Mongolia or Ethiopia where traditional institutions and community management seem to regain credibility as effective biodiversity management and conservation practices).

GEM-CON-BIO is funded through the EU’s sixth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development. The project falls under Priority 7 - Citizens and Governance in a knowledge-based society. It runs until the end of April 2008, and brings together 9 partners from 7 European countries, plus partners from Iran, Indonesia, and Bolivia. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece leads the project. IUCN is a full partner in the project, and is coordinating the organization of the policy conference.

Posted with inputs from IUCN