Conserving Himalayan Biodiversity-A Global Responsibility

Wednesday, 8 September, 2004 - 00:00

Tengo gran placer de informarle que el International Center for Himalayan Biodiversity (ICHB)" se ha instalado para la educacion, la investigacion, el desarrollo, la extension y el establecimiento de una red himalaya de la Biodiversidad desde el 11 de diciembre del 2003.

Adjuntamos informacion sobre: Conserving Himalayan Biodiversity-A Global Responsibility


International Center for Himalayan Biodiversity (ICHB)


Conserving Himalayan Biodiversity-A Global
Responsibility:


Biodiversity is a global endowment of nature. Conservation of biodiversity
includes all species of plants, animals and other organisms, the range of
genetic stocks within each species, and ecosystem diversity. Food, many types of
medicine and industrial products are provided by the biological resources that
are the basis of life on Earth. The value of the Earth"s biological resources
can be broadly classified as direct and indirect. Consumptive and productive
uses are direct values, whereas non-consumptive uses and options for the future
constitute indirect values. One of the most fundamental direct benefits of
biological resources is in providing the world"s food. Wild species have also
provided many of our medicines.


Ensuring conservation of biodiversity is one of humankind"s important global
responsibilities. Consequently, biodiversity has become a growing concern of
central significance to all sectors of society. In Chapter 13 of Agenda 21,
adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED
1992), mountains are defined as "storehouses of biological diversity and
endangered species." This great wealth of biological diversity is attributed to
the wide variety of environments in the mountains, particularly the Himalayas.


Hence, UNCED gave biodiversity an important place on the agenda. Over 150
states have now signed the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which
entered into force at the end of 1993. By 1994, several countries from Asia and
Pacific had ratified the Convention. Nepal was the 34th nation in the world and
the 14th nation in the then Asia-Pacific region to ratify the Convention, on 23
November 1993. The Convention is a framework agreement that allows individual
countries to determine how most of its provisions are to be implemented.


The Himalayan region is the largest, highest, and most populous mountain
chain in the world, and it is one of the world"s richest ecosystems in terms of
biological diversity. Extreme variations in altitude, aspect, geology, and soils
over short distances have resulted in a wealth of natural ecosystems. The
Himalayas are home to hundreds of endemic plant species and some of the world"s
rarest wildlife species. These rich biological resources have traditionally
served as the foundation for the economic and cultural life of mountain
people.


The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region is host to the world"s highest
ecosystems. Extending over 3,500 km the region of different types of
environments, these mountain environments are extremely rich in biodiversity
because of the varied altitude, climatic conditions, geological-biophysical
conditions, and soil formations. Historically, human interactions with mountain
environments have further enriched biodiversity, in particular the distribution
patterns of plants, animals, and genetic diversity. For example, a long list of
medicinal materials can be found in the higher mountains, and these provide
actual and potential benefits. This fact is illustrated by an annual fair held
in Dali in Yunnan province, China, where as many as 550 species of medicinal
herbs and hundreds of food plants are traded by the mountain people. The
conservation of such biodiversity through sustainable use also improves the
standards of living and the cultural diversity of the existing population. The
botanical wealth of the Indian Himalayas and Nepal consists of more than 8,000
species belonging to 200 families; about 30 percent of the Himalayan flora is
endemic. Nine thousand plant species have been reported in the virgin forests of
Eastern Himalayas of which 3,500 or 39 percent are endemic to the region. The
total number of species of plants in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region is
estimated to be as many as 25,000 or 10 percent of the world"s flora.


Human beings use the environment heavily. Projected population growth and
economic activity will mean loss of biodiversity at a greater rate. Although
biological resources are renewable, their overuse is usually associated with
loss of biodiversity. Among the major threats are overexploitation of forest and
vegetation resources for fuel, fodder, manure, grazing, fishing and hunting,
expansion of agricultural land for an ever-increasing population, and the
practice of slash-and-burn agriculture in mountain regions.


Biological resources are deteriorating rapidly throughout the world,
primarily because of unsustainable approaches used in human activities, leading
to the following changes and potential impacts:


1. A decline in biological diversity, as evidenced by accelerating extinction
of species and the destruction, modification, and fragmentation of habitats and
ecosystems at all scales.


2. A decline in the health and functioning of ecosystems, as evidenced by
biodiversity loss, degradation of air and water quality, and loss of soil.


3. A decline in the quality of human life, as evidenced by increasing world
poverty, disparities of wealth, and particularly conflicts over natural
resources.


Need for Research and Action on Himalayan Biodiversity:


Against this background, the Himalayan Resources Institute (HIRI) with its
partners organized an "International Conference on Himalayan Biodiversity
(ICHB-2003)" from 26 February 2003 to 28 February 2003 in Kathmandu, Nepal, on
the occasion of the International Year of Mountains (IYM, 2002). The conference
was attended by more than 200 research scientists, technical specialists, and
resource managers involved in various issues related to Himalayan Biodiversity,
representing more than 50 national and international organizations. Over 150
technical papers covering various fields of Himalayan biodiversity were
presented by more than 50 national and international organizations and
institutions from abroad.


The participants at the conference recognized that:


1. The Himalayan range is a unique chain of mountains with fragile ecosystems
and high endemic, rare, and endangered species of wild flora and fauna that
fulfill basic daily needs for millions of people living in mountains and
plains.


2. These mountain ecosystems are largely neglected and are greatly threatened
by human pressure.


3. Exploration of flora and fauna and their habitats and mechanisms for
maintenance of biological diversity are inadequate at present.


4. Degradation and loss of biological diversity are at high levels.


5. Appropriate approaches needed to address these issues are lacking, but
recent developments (eg, large-scale conservation) appear positive.


6. Traditional practices (forestry, agriculture) and indigenous technology
are disappearing.


7. There is a lack of coordination and communication among scientists and a
lack of partnership among scientists, planners, and managers.


8. A comprehensive Red Data Book is lacking.


9. There is a need for habitat mapping using geographic information systems
and global positioning system techniques.


10. There is a lack of appropriate teaching curricula and infrastructure and
research capabilities in the area of biotechnology to assign and use
biodiversity for the betterment of society.


As a result, the Conference passed a series of resolutions in the ICHB-2003
Declaration.


Kathmandu Declaration of the International Conference on
Himalayan
Biodiversity:


1. Realizing the lack of effective implementation of earlier conventions and
treaties (such as CBD, Kyoto, Johannesburg), this conference strongly demands
that nation states in the region incorporate/translate the provisions of
treaties and conventions into national legislation.


2. This conference strongly recommends the creation of a Himalayan
Biodiversity Database for the long-term research and monitoring of natural
resources for sustainable development, including human dimensions.


3. Realizing the rapid depletion of biological resources and the indigenous
knowledge system (IKS), this conference strongly recommends the meaningful
participatory biodiversity conservation approach based on
indigenous
knowledge.


4. Realizing that mountain ecosystems are fragile and unique repositories of
immense biological and cultural diversity, this conference recommends that the
international community pay special attention to the conservation and
sustainable development of these mountain ecosystems and cultural
landscapes.


5. Recognizing the lack of coordination and communication among the
scientific community and institutions involved in Himalayan biodiversity
conservation, this conference strongly recommends the establishment of

institutionalized networking among policymakers, scientists/researchers, and
institutions.


6. This conference strongly recommends that the World Trade Organization
respect the CBD, particularly by protecting the rights of the communities and
farmers who are the true custodians of biological diversity.


7. This conference opposes the extension of an intellectual property rights
(IPR) regime specifically patenting life forms and genetic processes, which are
the creation of millions of years of natural evolutionary processes.


Need of "International Center for Himalayan Biodiversity" for
Research and Development:


In considering the mandate of the Kathmandu Declaration of ICHB-2003, the
ways in which Governments and local, national, regional / global level
organizations could help achieve a better understanding of biological diversity
and its related issues and greater cooperation in ensuring the sustainable
development and poverty alleviation of Himalayan regions, "International Center
for Himalayan Biodiversity (ICHB)" has been set up in close coordination,
collaboration and cooperation with institutions and individuals working in
education, research, and development in the field of conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity supporting Himalayan people in their
search for sustainable development. The center is running as an autonomous and
self governed institution and is supported and promoted by the Himalayan
Resources Institute (HIRI). The CENTER brings out to the public about various

national / international events, information and links. Specifically the
social, economical including scientific aspects of the sector and management,
appropriate alternative technologies, indigenous knowledge and community
management will be the further coverage of the program. The CENTER is committed
to the dissemination of information about current conservation issues to the
researchers and development professionals. To this end, the Network maintains
active affiliations with a variety of local organizations and provides
educational opportunities through community speakers, speaker series,
Conservation Forum, Himalayan Biodiversity Day.


The vision of the CENTER is to improve human welfare through the sustainable
use of Himalayan biodiversity. The CENTER provides education, research, training
and development opportunities, and a unique intellectual environment for the
development of solutions to ecological questions and problems facing Himalayan
Biodiversity. The Center is committed to attracting students from Himalayan
countries who will play leadership roles in future conservation efforts, as well
as graduate students from Nepal and abroad seeking expertise in Himalayan
Biodiversity, systematics, and conservation biology. Students associated with
the center study both the Himalayan and Tropical ecosystems with particular
strengths in Himalayan plant-herbivore dynamics, population biology and
conservation of birds in the Himalayas, ecology of forest fragments, systematics
of flowering plants, evolution of genes and genomes, population genetics of
Himalayan and tropical flora and fauna.


The Network associates have active research programmes in the economics and
politics of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. The Network
in future will not only maintain state of the art equipment, laboratories and
Himalayan and Tropical green houses to conduct biochemical, molecular,
eco-physiological and ecological research but also develops research and
international training programs and activities through out the Hindu
Kush-Himalayan (HKH) and other mountain countries in the world.


In this way, the center will maximize the impact on this sector by bringing
together all stakeholders in a common forum to exchange expertise.


Goal:


Bringing in all the diverse stakeholders of various field of Himalayan
biodiversity in a common forum to strengthen the partnership in collaboration
with government, international and national non-governmental organizations,
consultants, academic institutions, agriculture, forestry and environmental
management professionals and others with the objective of exchanging information
and technical expertise.


Objectives of the ICHB:


The objectives and activities of the CENTER include:


1. To establish local, regional and global networking on Himalayan
biodiversity conservation to exchange experiences, information and technologies
at local, national, regional/global levels to provide a local, regional/global
forum for Himalayan biodiversity professionals to share knowledge, experiences,
and ideas on recent biodiversity conservation and management approach.


2. To support for CBD including sub-regional and interregional agreements on
protection, sustainable and equitable development of Himalayan regions.


3. To explore regional/global cooperation for effective implementation of
biodiversity action plans and biodiversity strategies to support the government
policies and programs of the Hindu Kush- Himalayan (HKH) and other mountain
countries in the world.


4. To plan future strategies in Himalayan biodiversity conservation,
management and development through biodiversity education, research, training.


5. To organize meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences and congresses on
Himalayan Biodiversity to exchange information and technologies in Himalayan
biodiversity among development professionals, academic communities and concerned
authorities in Nepal and the world.


Activities of the Center:


Major activities of the CENTER include:


1. The Center will actively establish an information management system with
the support of the various national and international organizations to meet the
needs of non-government, rural, and indigenous organizations and individuals
working on biodiversity conservation in both the developed and developing
countries.


2. Store and plot information about geographical areas and record or attach
area attributes such as species" distribution, habitats, management plans,
surveys, and reports.


3. Store web site addresses and information characterizing the sites and
their developers, and record mailing lists, use net discussion groups, and site
management information.


4. Catalogue and annotate treaties, conventions, protocols, legislation,
customary laws, regulations, and other legal instruments.


5. File contact information and profiles of client groups, NGOs, government
agencies, businesses, and services.


6. Keep track of information on indigenous peoples, cultures, and ethnic
groups.


7. Track projects, together with complete project profiles - including key
contacts, locations, funding, project descriptions, reports, and
evaluations.


8. Catalogue scientific and traditional knowledge of plants and animals -
species" distribution, references to source materials, bibliographies, surveys,
taxonomy, research, management, protective status, and experts.


9. Publication and dissemination of a Newsletter of Himalayan
Biodiversity.


10. Publication of Yearly an "International Journal of Himalayan Heritage" a
publication of the "International Center for Himalayan Biodiversity" for
scientific community.


11. Collection of books, newsletters and e-publications from various
institutions and individuals from HKH and abroad.


12. Organize regular international training course, workshops, seminars,
conference and congress on Himalayan Biodiversity on series wise events.


13. Organize periodic talk programs on Himalayan Biodiversity and its related
topics.


14. Compilation of new ideas evolved and disseminating it to the partners
through mail and e-mail.


15. Compilation, record keeping and documentation of the indigenous knowledge
on successful strategies, lesson learn and case studies.


16. Preparing and publication of the directories and the relevant information
of all the stakeholders and experts in the field of the Himalayan
Biodiversity.


17. Preparing, maintaining and dissemination of relevant publications, books
and other documents.


18. Develop and maintain regional and international network for future
cooperation, collaboration and coordination on Himalayan Biodiversity.


19. Develop and maintain the biodiversity website.


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