Legal Protection of Biodiversity

Legal Protection of Biodiversity

Learn more about CITES and the fight against illegal wildlife trade, our humane trapping standards and the ban on trade in seal products in the EU CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Plants) is an agreement between governments to ensure that international wildlife trade does not include species, that have been identified as vulnerable or threatened. CITES was adopted in 1973, to which any country can accede voluntarily. Although it is legally binding on countries that have acceded to CITES, it does not take precedence over national legislation. Rather, it provides the framework that each country can respect by enacting its own national legislation to ensure that CITES is respected at the national level. The Endangered Species Act is the strictest biodiversity protection law passed by a country. Its purpose is to prevent the extinction of our most endangered plants and animals, increase their numbers and bring about their full recovery – and eventually their removal from the endangered species list. The EU has been committed to nature conservation since the adoption of the Birds Directive in April 1979. It ensures comprehensive protection of all species of wild birds naturally occurring in the Union. More recently, new legislation has been drafted.

In 1999, the EU strengthened the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation and committed to protecting native biodiversity and ecosystem services from invasive alien species as part of the EU`s 2020 biodiversity strategy. We also have legislation that regulates certain aspects of wildlife trade. ELI`s work to promote biodiversity conservation is also linked to ELI`s wetlands programme. Species can be legally protected at the national or international level. The level of protection varies by species and may include protection against killing, capture, disturbance or trade, or deterioration or destruction of their breeding or resting grounds. Depending on the level of protection, activities such as development, which may affect protected species in this way, may violate the law and require a permit from a state licensing authority. The law is one of the most powerful instruments for securing and protecting biological resources. We need an international legal system that promotes environmental and intergenerational justice.

The EU regulates the role of zoos in biodiversity conservation. The strategy would include the review and updating of existing national legislation to address biodiversity needs and, where appropriate, the introduction of new legislation. It would also identify necessary changes in legislation, programmes and policies for the conservation and sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological diversity. This should include taking into account policy, organizational and management factors affecting the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity in countries in the context of economic globalization. Other studies on the legal protection of species are included in “Threat: Use of biological resources – Using legislative regulations to protect wild populations”. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is the international legal instrument for the “conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources”, which has been ratified by 196 countries. The Environmental Law Institute`s biodiversity program improves environmental protection by identifying best practices and new models for federal, state, and local action to conserve biodiversity. We are making new connections between land-use decision-making processes and biodiversity science.

We promote public and private administration by providing technical assistance and identifying incentives for nature conservation. At EU level, nature and biodiversity are protected by several laws. To read or consult the official legal texts (available in all EU languages) or to access case law, you will find below links and references. The Habitats Directive was adopted in 1992 to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity. It protects more than 1000 animal and plant species and more than 200 habitat types. In addition, the European network of protected areas Natura 2000 has been set up. A review of amphibian habitat compensation in the Netherlands (Bosman et al. 2011) found that legislation was not effective in protecting habitats and amphibians. Only 10% of the 20 development projects had completed the habitat compensation measures as defined in the legal contracts.

55% of the projects accounted for part of the necessary compensation and none 35% of the projects. Three of the projects created offsetting habitat before destroying habitat if necessary, three made it available after destruction, and the timeline was unknown for seven projects. No monitoring data were available for any project. Work had not yet begun on 11 of the 31 projects. In the Netherlands, amphibian species are protected and the loss of amphibian habitat must be compensated by the creation of new equivalent habitats. Thirty-one projects required for compensation were selected from government records. Projects were assessed against the implementation of measures proposed in the approved exemption agreements and on the basis of monitoring data. Site visits were conducted. […] Improve the biodiversity of the land to be developed. Although President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, this seems to be the case so far. Some states and counties have regulations for […] Read more about the EU`s proposal for a nature conservation law On December 28, 1973, President Nixon signed the ESA Act into law, recognizing that our country`s native plants and animals are threatened with extinction.

ESA`s goal is to protect and restore endangered species and the ecosystems on which they depend. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which primarily manages terrestrial and freshwater organisms, and the Department of Commerce`s National Marine Fisheries Service, which is responsible for marine wildlife. Species may be classified as endangered or threatened under the ESA. The species is classified as critically endangered in the near future. Threatened classifies the species as likely to be endangered in the future. The ESA covers all plant and animal species, with the exception of insect pests. It also goes into detail to include varieties and subspecies of these species, as well as different population segments (for vertebrates). It prohibits the unauthorized taking, possession, sale and transport of endangered species and provides penalties for violations of the law. It also provides assistance to states that have active programs for endangered and threatened wildlife.

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) develops international environmental standards for all companies involved in international trade. The standards will cover areas such as environmental management procedures, eco-labels and auditing. The governing body of the CBD is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This ultimate authority of all governments (or parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review progress, set priorities and establish work plans. The Endangered Species Act not only saves species from extinction, but also helps hundreds of species recover. And we have concrete figures to prove it. The centre has published several detailed reports on the success of the legislation, but our first, and perhaps best-known, study is our 2012 study, which documents 110 species that have experienced significant recovery while protected by law, the vast majority meeting or exceeding recovery timelines set by federal scientists. This study builds on the center`s work, which shows that of all species recorded in the northeastern United States, 93% are stable or improving, and more than 80% are meeting recovery goals set out in federal restoration plans. In summary, here is a handy list of the most important quantitative measures of the law`s success: The Non-Native Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 was launched to educate and inform about the spread of invasive species in U.S.

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