 The Global Conservation of Biological Diversity in Terms of the
Involvement of Local People is the international context within
which the National Integrated Protected Areas Programme (NIPAP) has operated
(1995-2001).
The Philippines is a Key Country for Global Conservation of
Biological Diversity
For instance, in addition to Madagascar and
Indonesia, the Philippines has the highest concentration of critical
Endemic Bird Areas (EBAs) as defined by the International Council
for Bird Preservation. EBAs are also important for plants and other
animals and are considered to be critical for global biodiversity
conservation.
By International Convention, the Philippines has Legal
Obligations to Conserve Biological Diversity.
This arises from the country’s ratification
of the Convention on Biological Diversity presented to the Rio Earth
Summit in 1992. The convention has been signed by the Republic of
the Philippines in addition to 154 other nations and the European
Union. Thus the Philippines agrees that it:
"shall, in accordance with its
particular conditions and capabilities, develop national strategies,
plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies,
plans or programmes which shall reflect, inter alia, the measures
set out in this Convention relevant to the Contracting Party
concerned."
The Philippines Accepts the Concept of Conservation Through
Participatory Resource Management and Environmental Protection as
the Basis of Sustainable Development
Defined in Agenda 21 of the Rio Summit – not
a treaty but a political statement of intention – which accepts
that:
[the] "integration of environment and
development concerns and greater attention to them will lead to the fulfillment
of basic needs, improved living standards for all, better protected
and managed ecosystems and a safer, more prosperous future. No
nation can achieve this on its own; but together we can – in a
global partnership for sustainable development."
In particular, Agenda 21 aims to encourage open
government, involving local people, communities and NGOs in all
aspects of environmental management, conservation and development.
In relation to conservation, specific chapters
of Agenda 21 focus attention on: combating deforestation; managing
fragile ecosystems – sustainable mountain development; promoting
sustainable agriculture and rural development; conservation of
biological diversity; and protection of the oceans, all kinds of
seas, including enclosed and semi-enclosed seas, and coastal areas
and the protection, rational use and development of their living
resources.
Developed Countries are Bound to Provide Financial Support to
Developing Countries to Help Conserve Biological Diversity.
By the Convention:
"developed country Parties shall provide new
additional financial resources to enable developing countries to
meet the agreed full incremental costs to them of implementing
measures which fulfill the obligations of this Convention and to
benefit from its provisions."
This is supported in Agenda 21 which recognizes
that:
The development and environmental objectives
[. . .] will require a substantial flow of new and additional
financial resources to developing countries, in order to cover the
incremental costs for the actions they have to undertake to deal
with global environmental problems and to accelerate sustainable
development.
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