International agreements have great potential to help conserve biodiversity

Kim Aaen At least 871 sites of global importance for migratory waterbirds remain unprotected within the region covered by the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) Zoom In

International environmental treaties and initiatives recognise that conservation must be a collective, global effort. Such agreements have enormous potential, of which only a part is currently being realised.

Mechanisms exist for co-ordinating environmental actions across nations

Legally binding agreements between governments are one of the main ways in which countries can co-operate to achieve common goals. Eight such treaties are particularly important in attempting to move the Earth’s nations forward in a fair and coordinated fashion, towards more sustainable use of the planet’s atmosphere, waters, lands, soils and life-forms, so as to conserve the world’s genetic resources, species and ecosystems more effectively (see box 1).

Most national governments are 'contracting parties' to one or more of these agreements. Taken together, these mechanisms should form a strong basis for international co-operation in conserving biodiversity and in combating complex environmental problems.

Weak obligations and poor implementation have reduced treaties' effectiveness

In practice, contractual obligations on governments have tended to be vaguely or weakly formulated, so as to attract maximum participation. Necessary measures are often not spelled out clearly, and so are not implemented well or quickly. In addition, direct intergovernmental monitoring or control of implementation is often difficult. Over time, however, obligations and targets can be improved, e.g. through the adoption of protocols or agreed work programmes.

Gaps in coverage remain significant

Currently, there still exist some important gaps in geographical coverage that reduce the effectiveness of these treaties (box 1). Many significant gaps in biological coverage remain as well, in that conservation actions are still not being taken for species and sites that are of agreed relevance (boxes 2 and 3).

At the broader ecosystem level, only one international convention deals with the conservation of a large-scale ecological process (migration: see box 4), and it is notable that an effective mechanism for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions has yet to be ratified under the UN Convention on Climate Change (box 1).

Boxes: case studies and scientific analyses

Download SOWB pp.66–67 (PDF, 284 KB) containing the following:

1. Most countries have ratified key international treaties, although significant gaps remain
In principle, the governments of most countries have agreed to work together to conserve biodiversity and protect the biosphere

2. Lists of species form a key part of several conventions, and need to be reviewed and updated regularly
During the past 25 years, under CITES and CMS, governments have agreed to take special conservation measures for an increasing number of bird species

3. Many IBAs are now listed under global or regional conventions, but many more qualify and are not yet listed
Many IBAs qualify as 'Wetlands of International Importance', but may have not yet been nominated for this designation by governments

4. International agreements can be used to make transboundary ecological networks a reality, if governments give enough support
At least 871 sites of global importance for migratory waterbirds remain unprotected within the AEWA region