- Biodiversity Action Plan
"This article is about a conservation biology topic. For other uses of BAP, see
BAP (disambiguation) .A Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) is an internationally recognized program addressing
threatened species andhabitat s and is designed to protect and restore biological systems. The original impetus for these plans derives from the 1992Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). As of 2008, 189 countries have ratified the CBD, but only a fraction of these have developed substantive BAP documents.The principal elements of a BAP typically include: [cite book |last=Glowka |first=Lyle |coauthors=Françoise Burhenne-Guilmin and Hugh Synge in collaboration with Jeffrey A. McNeely and Lothar Gündling |title=Guide to the Convention on Biodiversity |year=1994 |publisher=IUCN |id=ISBN 2-8317-0222-4 ] (a) preparing inventories of biological information for selected species or habitats; (b) assessing the
conservation status of species within specifiedecosystem s; (c) creation of targets for conservation and restoration; and (d) establishing budgets, timelines and institutional partnerships for implementing the BAP.pecies plans
A fundamental method of engagement to a BAP is thorough documentation regarding individual species, with emphasis upon the
population distribution and conservation status. This task, while fundamental, is highly daunting, since only an estimated ten percent of the world’s species are believed to have been characterized as of 2006, [http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/tables/table1 IUCN Red-list statistics (2006)] ] most of these unknowns being plants and loweranimal s. For manymammal ,bird andreptile species, information is often available in published literature; however, for many plant species as well asinvertebrate species, such information may require considerable local data collection. It is also useful to compile time trends of population estimates in order to understand the dynamics of population variability and vulnerability. In some parts of the world complete species inventories are not realistic; for example, in theMadagascar dry deciduous forests , many species are completely undocumented and much of the region has never even been systematically explored byscientist s.A species plan component of a country’s BAP should ideally entail a thorough description of the range, habitat, behaviour, breeding and interaction with other species. Once a determination has been made of conservation status (e.g. rare, endangered, threatened, vulnerable), a plan can then be created to conserve and restore the species population to target levels. Examples of programmatic protection elements are: habitat restoration; protection of habitat from
urban development ; establishment of property ownership; limitations ongrazing or other agricultural encroachment into habitat; reduction ofslash and burn agricultural practises; outlawing killing or collecting the species; restrictions onpesticide use; and control of other environmentalpollution . The plan should also articulate which public and private agencies should implement the protection strategy and indicate budgets available to execute this strategy.Habitat plans
Where a number of threatened species depend upon a specific habitat, it may be appropriate to prepare a habitat protection element of the Biodiversity Action Plan. Examples of such special habitats are: raised acidic
bog s ofScotland ;Waterberg Biosphere bushveld inSouth Africa ;California ’scoast alwetland s; andSweden ’sStora Alvaret on the island ofÖland . In this case also, careful inventories of species and also the geographic extent and quality of the habitat must be documented. Then, as with species plans, a program can be created to protect, enhance and/or restore habitat using similar strategies as discussed above under the species plans.pecific countries
Some examples of individual countries which have produced substantive Biodiversity Action Plans follow. It is worth noting that preparation of a country BAP may cost up to 100 million pounds sterling, with annual maintenance costs roughly ten percent of the initial cost. Obviously costs for countries with small geographical area or simplified ecosystems have a much lesser cost. For example the St. Lucia BAP has been costed in the area of several million pounds sterling. [cite web| year=2001| author=Government of St. Lucia| title=National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan of St. Lucia| url=http://www.slubiodiv.org/The_Project/Information/Printed_Materials/NBSAP/nbsap.html| accessdate=2006-08-30]
Australia
Australia has developed a detailed and rigorous Biodiversity Action Plan, having identified a total of over 475,000 indigenous species. A key element of the BAP is protection of theGreat Barrier Reef , which is actually in a much higher state of health than most of the world’sreef s, Australia having one of the highest percentages of treatedwastewater . [cite web| year=2005| month=September| author=Commonwealth of Australia, Department of the Environment and Heritage| title=Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan Annual Report 2004-2005| url=http://www.deh.gov.au/coasts/publications/annual-report/04-05/index.html| accessdate=2006-08-30] There is, however,serious ongoing concerns, particularly in regards to the ongoing negative impact on water quality from land use practices. Also, climate change impact is feared to be significant.Considerable analysis has been conducted on the sustainable yield of
firewood production, a major threat todeforestation in mosttropical countries. Biological inventory work; assessment ofharvest ing practices; andcomputer model ing of the dynamics of treefall, rot and harvest; have been carried out to adduce data on safe harvesting rates. Extensive research has also been conducted on the relation of brush clearance to biodiversity decline and impact onwater table s; [Andreas Glanznig, "Native Vegetation Clearance, Habitat Loss and Biodiversity Decline: an overview of recent native vegetation clearance in Australia and its implications for biodiversity", Biodiversity Series, Paper No. 6, Biodiversity Unit, June 1995] for example, these effects have been analyzed in theLake Toolibin wetlands region.t. Lucia
The
St. Lucia BAP recognizes impacts of large numbers oftourist s to the marine and coastal diversity of the Soufrière area of the country. The BAP specifically acknowledges that thecarrying capacity for human use andwater pollution discharge of sensitive reef areas was exceeded by the year 1990. The plan also addresses conservation of the historicisland fishing industry. In 1992, several institutions in conjunction with native fishermen to produce a sustainable management plan for fishery resources, embodied in the Soufrière Marine Management Area.The St. Lucia BAP features significant involvement from the
University of the West Indies . Specific detailed attention is given to three species of threatened marineturtle s, to a variety of vulnerable birds and a number ofpelagic fishes andcetacean s. In terms of habitat conservation the plan focusses attention on the biologically productivemangrove swamp s and notes that virtually all mangrove areas had already come under national protection by 1984. ["St. Lucia National Marine Fisheries Act of 1984, Section 10", (1984)]Tanzania
The Tanzania national BAP addresses issues related to sustainable use of
Lake Manyara , an extensive freshwater lake, whose usage by humans accelerated in the period 1950 to 1990. The designation of the Lake Manyara Biosphere Reserve combines conservation of the lake and surrounding high valueforest s with sustainable use of the wetlands area and simpleagriculture . This BAP has united principal lake users in establishing management targets. TheBiosphere Reserve has induced sustainable management of the wetlands, including monitoringgroundwater and thechemistry of theescarpment water source.United Kingdom
The
United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan covers not only terrestrial species associated with lands within the UK, but also marine species and migratory birds, which spend a limited time in the UK or its offshore waters. The UK plan encompasses "391 Species Action Plans, 45 Habitat Action Plans and 162 Local Biodiversity Action Plans with targeted actions". [ cite web| title=United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan| url=http://www.ukbap.org.uk/| author=Joint Nature Conservation Committee, London| year=2006| accessdate=2006-08-31] This plan is noteworthy because of its extensive detail, clarity of endangerment mechanisms, specificity of actions, follow up monitoring program and its inclusion of migrating cetaceans and pelagic birds.On August 28, 2007, the new Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) [launched in 1997] identified 1,149 species and 65 habitats in the
UK that need conservation and greater protection. The updated list includes thehedgehog ,house sparrow ,grass snake and thegarden tiger moth , whileotter s,bottlenose dolphin s andred squirrel s remained in need of habitat protection. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6965681.stm BBC NEWS, Hedgehogs join 'protection' list] ]United States of America
Twenty-six years prior to the international biodiversity convention, the
USA had launched a national program to protect threatened species in the form of the 1966Endangered Species Act . The legislation created broad authority for analyzing and listing species of concern, and mandated that SpeciesRecovery Plan s be created. Thus, while the USA is an unratified signer of the accord, arguably it has the longest track record and most comprehensive program of species protection of any country. There are approximately 7000 listed species (e.g. endangered or threatened), of which about half have approved Recovery Plans. While this number of species seems high compared to other countries, the value is rather indicative of the total number of species characterized, which is extremely large.Uzbekistan
Five major divisions of habitat have been identified in
Uzbekistan ’s Bmarsh );desert ecosystems (including sandy, stony and clay);steppes ;riparian ecosystems; andmountain ecosystems. Over 27,000 species have been inventoried in the country, with a high rate ofendemism for fishes and reptiles. Principal threats to biodiversity are related to human activities associated withoverpopulation and generally related to agricultural intensification. ["Biodiversity Conservation National Strategy and Action Plan of Republic of Uzbekistan", 1997] Major geographic regions encompassed by the BAP include theAral Sea Programme (threatened by long-term drainage andsalination , largely forcotton production), the Nuratau Biosphere Reserve, and the WesternTien Shan Mountains Programme (in conjunction withKazakhstan andKyrgyzstan ).Criticism of Biodiversity Action Plans
Some developing countries criticize the emphasis of BAPs, because these plans inherently favour consideration of
wildlife and plant protection above food and industrial production, and in some cases may represent an obstacle to population growth. The plans are costly to produce, a fact which makes it difficult for many smaller countries and poorer countries to comply. In terms of the plans themselves, many countries have adopted pro-forma plans including little research and even less in the way of natural resource management. With regard to specific world regions, there is a notable lack of substantive participation by most of theMiddle East ern countries and much ofAfrica , the latter of which may be impeded by economic considerations of plan preparation. Some governments such as theEuropean Union have diverted the purpose of a Biodiversity Action Plan, and implemented the convention accord by a set of economic development policies with referencing certain ecosystems' protection.ee also
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Holocene extinction event
*IUCN Red List
*Regional Red List References
Reflist>
External links
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/info/tables/table1 IUCN Summary Statistics for Globally Threatened Species]
* [http://www.undp.org/biodiversity/biodiversitycd/practiceMexico.htm Mexico Biodiversity Action Plan]
* [http://www.psdn.org.ph/nbsap/main.html Philippines biodiversity inventory]
* [http://www.fws.gov/endangered/pubs/ESA%20BASICS_050806.pdf USA Endangered Species Act of 1973]
* [http://www.biodiv.org/default.shtml The Convention on Biological Diversity (home page)]
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