CBD GUIDELINES The Ecosystem Approach

1 Biological diversity - the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns itforms - is increasingly threatened by human activities. management of theEarth's biodiversity resources with the aim to reach the three objectives of theConvention on Biological Diversity: the conservation and sustainable use ofbiological diversity, and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from theutilization of genetic resources, presents a formidable challenge forhumankind. The processes linking ecosystems and species are complex, and anaction taken in one location may have unforeseen consequences elsewhere,often far away and many years later.

2 In this context, the Ecosystem Approach offers a powerful strategy for theintegrated management of land, water and living resources that promotesconservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. The Ecosystem approachis the primary framework for action under the Convention, and its applicationwill help to reach a balance of the three objectives of the Ecosystem Approach is based on the application of appropriate scientificmethodologies focused on levels of biological organization, which encompassthe essential structure, processes, functions and interactions among organismsand their environment.

3 It also recognizes that humans, with their culturaldiversity, are an integral component of many ecosystems. The ecosystemapproach is essential in guiding action under the various programmes of workof the Convention, and in providing linkages between those programmes ofwork. After all, all biomes, and thus programmes of work, are interconnectedin some way, and management action will likely have limited success if theseconnections are not taken into of the Convention on Biological Diversity413 Saint-Jacques, Suite 800 Montreal, QC, H2Y 1N9 CANADATel.

4 : +1 (514) 288-2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288-6588 Email: GUIDELINESThe Ecosystem Approach Secretariat of the Convention on Biological DiversityThis publication was printed with funding from the Government of the NetherlandsThe Ecosystem Approach Secretariat of theConvention on Biological DiversityPublished by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Montreal 2004, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological DiversityISBN: 92-9225-023-x (.pdf version)This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without spe-cial permission from the copyright holders, provided acknowledgement of the source ismade.

5 The Secretariat of the Convention would appreciate receiving a copy of any publi-cations that use this publication as a bibliographic and reference purposes this publication should be referred to as:Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2004) The Ecosystem Approach ,(CBD GUIDELINES ) Montreal: Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 50 further information please contactThe Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity413 St. Jacques Street, Suite 800 Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 CanadaTel: +1 (514) 288 2220 Fax: +1 (514) 288 6588 Email: Credits: Bry/UNEP/Alphapresse - River, Madagascar, ErosionThis publication is also available in pdf in French (ISBN 92-9225-024-8)and Spanish(ISBN 92-9225-025-6)This publication was printed with funding from the Government of the NetherlandsThe Ecosystem ApproachForewordBiological diversity - the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms- is increasingly threatened by human activities.

6 management of the Earth's bio-diversity resources with the aim to reach the three objectives of the Conventionon Biological Diversity: the conservation and sustainable use of biological diver-sity, and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of geneticresources, presents a formidable challenge for humankind. The processes linkingecosystems and species are complex, and an action taken in one location mayhave unforeseen consequences elsewhere, often far away and many years this context, the Ecosystem Approach offers a powerful strategy for the inte-grated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conserva-tion and sustainable use in an equitable way.

7 The Ecosystem Approach is the pri-mary framework for action under the Convention, and its application will help toreach a balance of the three objectives of the Ecosystem Approach is based on the application of appropriate scientificmethodologies focused on levels of biological organization, which encompassthe essential structure, processes, functions and interactions among organismsand their environment. It also recognizes that humans, with their cultural diver-sity, are an integral component of many ecosystems. The Ecosystem Approach isessential in guiding action under the various programmes of work of theConvention, and in providing linkages between those programmes of work.

8 Afterall, all biomes, and thus programmes of work, are interconnected in some way,and management action will likely have limited success if these connections arenot taken into Ecosystem Approach requires adaptive management to deal with the complexand dynamic nature of ecosystems and the absence of complete knowledge orunderstanding of their functioning. Ecosystem processes are often non-linear,and the outcome of such processes often shows time-lags. The result is disconti-nuities, leading to surprise and uncertainty. management must be adaptive inorder to be able to respond to such uncertainties and contain elements of "learn-ing-by-doing" or research feedback.

9 Scientific research aimed at providingunderstanding of the functioning of the broader Ecosystem in terms of its com-ponent parts and their connectivity, and oriented towards the information needsof management , will ensure that management decisions are based on best avail-able science in the context of the precautionary Approach . Measures may need tobe taken even when some cause-and-effect relationships are not yet fully estab-lished scientifically. 1 The Ecosystem Approach does not preclude other management and conservationapproaches, and may in fact be consistent and compatible with such notable approaches include Ecosystem based management , sustainable forest management , integrated river-basin management , integrated marine andcoastal area management , and responsible fisheries approaches.

10 These Approach -es may support the implementation of the Ecosystem Approach in various sectorsand biomes. Other related approaches, such as biosphere reserves, protectedareas, and single-species conservation programmes, as well as other approachescarried out under existing national policy and legislative frameworks, can beintegrated in the context of the Ecosystem Approach to deal with complex situa-tions. There is no single way to implement the Ecosystem Approach , as it dependson local, provincial, national, regional or global conditions.