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1. Project Details |
Author or Responsible Organization |
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R D Smith and E Maltby. (2003) 'Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity: Key issues and case studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK x + 118pp. |
Project Title |
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Inter-institutional initiative for biodiversity
conservation,Pampas Region,Argentina |
Date of Publication |
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Project Status |
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Ongoing |
Project Start Date |
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Project End Date |
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Countries |
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Argentina |
Regions |
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Latin America and the Caribbean |
Funding Source |
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2. Background to Project |
Project Issue/Problem Statement |
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The expansion and intensification of the agriculture and
livestock industry have had destructive impacts in the
pampas landscape and ecosystems. In order to minimise
these environmental impacts, it was necessary to design
environmentally sound agricultural and cattle-raising
practices. |
Project Description |
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The Inter-Institutional Initiative for Biodiversity
Conservation of the Pampas Region (BIOPAMPA)is a joint
effort coordinated by various private and governmental
sectors. It is oriented to the conservation and sustainable
use of this region, under the auspices of the Argentinean
IUCN Committee and the Regional IUCN Office for South-
America (IUCN-SUR). BIOPAMPA has the following
objectives:(1)contribute to the effectiveness of action
priorities identified in the National Biodiversity Strategy
by means of the formulation of regional inter-sectoral
programmes based on the Ecosystem Approach;(2)
consolidate knowledge and improve communication and
cooperation among institutions;(3)incorporate rural
agricultural and cattle-raising producers into the Initiative;
and (4)incorporate the different organisations and levels of
political decision-making into the initiative.
An inter-institutional workshop was organised and a series
of encounters among the different sectors directly involved
with the agriculture and livestock industry were planned.
Fieldwork guides on the sustainable use of resources are in
preparation. Relevant sites have been identified and mapped
to advance the bio-regional planning process. |
Highlighted Aspects of Ecosystem Approach |
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• The case study simultaneously addressed conservation,
sustainable use and equitable sharing of the benefits.
• BIOPAMPA, through universities, NGOs and other
organisations, carried out research activities that aimed
to increase scientific knowledge about the taxonomy,
phytogeography, populations and functioning of the
ecosystem.
•The main goods and services provided by the ecosystem ’s
biodiversity were identified as: soil protection; partial
barrier for the invasion of alien species; natural
mechanisms for the control of plague species; habitat
for endangered species; habitat for the productive
management of the wild fauna; management options
for the improvement or domestication of new cultivable
species; ecotourism and sports hunting; grazing lands;
water retention; pharmacological substances and
aesthetic and spiritual values. The beneficiaries of
these goods and services were the cattle-raising and
agricultural producers; the pharmacological and plant
development companies; and researchers and society in
general.
• BIOPAMPA expects to use an adaptive strategy, especially
for the monitoring phase.
• The regional pampas ecosystem was chosen as the
appropriate scale of management.
• The BIOPAMPA strategy included using inter-sectoral
group linkages. Several biodiversity-related organisations
were invited to formally join the initiative in order
to strengthen its activities and help it to have an
impact with decision makers. In total,37 research and
conservation projects have joined the Initiative, along
with other important government and agricultural
producer organisations. |
Conclusions |
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• Early involvement of the various sectors,particularly at
the local level,is essential for success.
• High-level political support is a key aspect of the success
of the initiative.
• It is necessary to work with the media in order to
publicise the initiative,mainly because politicians are
very sensitive to the media and social demands. |
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3. Sectors and Biomes |
Sectors |
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Agriculture |
Biomes |
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Agricultural Biodiversity |
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4. Tools and Approaches |
Tools and Approaches |
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Relevance Score |
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Further Information |
Public Participation |
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3-High |
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- Methods for stakeholder consultation |
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3-High |
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Education and Awareness |
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3-High |
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- Communication |
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3-High |
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Management and Incentives |
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3-High |
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- Environmental accounting |
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3-High |
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Cross-sectoral Research and Working |
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3-High |
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5. Issues |
Issues |
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Relevance Score |
Invasive Alien Species |
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3-High |
Public Participation |
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3-High |
Sustainable Use of Biodiversity |
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3-High |
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6. Ecosystem Approach |
Principles and Operational Guidance |
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Relevance Score |
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Reason (Only if NOT relevant) |
Principle 1: The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choices |
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3-High |
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Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level |
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3-High |
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Principle 4: Recognizing potential gains from management, there is usually a need to understand and manage the ecosystem in an economic context |
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3-High |
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Principle 5: Conservation of ecosystem structure and functioning, in order to maintain ecosystem services, should be a priority target of the ecosystem approach |
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3-High |
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Principle 6: Ecosystem must be managed within the limits of their functioning |
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3-High |
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Principle 7: The ecosystem approach should be undertaken at the appropriate spatial and temporal scales |
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3-High |
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Principle 8: Recognizing the varying temporal scales and lag-effects that characterize ecosystem processes, objectives for ecosystem management should be set for the long term |
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3-High |
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Principle 10: The ecosystem approach should seek the appropriate balance between, and integration of, conservation and use of biological diversity |
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3-High |
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Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should consider all forms of relevant information, including scientific and indigenous and local knowledge, innovations and practices |
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3-High |
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Principle 12: The ecosystem approach should involve all relevant sectors of society and scientific disciplines |
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3-High |
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Operational Guidance A: Focus on the relationships and processes within ecosystem |
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3-High |
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Operational Guidance B: Enhance benefit-sharing |
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3-High |
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Operational Guidance C: Use adaptive management practices |
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3-High |
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Operational Guidance D: Carry out management actions at the scale appropriate for the issue being addressed, with decentralization to lowest level, as appropriate |
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3-High |
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Operational Guidance E: Ensure intersectoral cooperation |
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3-High |
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7. Lessons Learned and the Outcomes |
Lessons Learned |
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• Early involvement of the various sectors,particularly at
the local level,is essential for success.
• High-level political support is a key aspect of the success
of the initiative.
• It is necessary to work with the media in order to
publicise the initiative,mainly because politicians are
very sensitive to the media and social demands. |
Outcomes |
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Other Information |
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8. References |
References |
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Smith, R.D. & Maltby, E. (2003) Using the Ecosystem Approach to Implement the Convention on Biodiversity: Key issues and case studies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, Uk x + 118pp. |
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9. Contact Details |
Contact Person |
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Ms. Diana Mortimer |
Job Title |
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Ecosystem Approach Officer |
Organization |
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Joint Nature Conservation Committee |
Address |
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Monkstone House, City Road, |
Postal Code |
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PE13 4LA |
City |
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Peterborough |
ZIP/State/Province |
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Cambs |
Telephone |
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+44 1733 866857 |
Fax |
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+44 1733 555948 |
E-mail Address |
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diana.mortimer@jncc.gov.uk |
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