Biodiversity & Ecosystem Conservation

Biodiversity and ecosystems sustain each other. They are the living
natural capital on which human beings, as one species among others,
depend for existence and well-being. Biodiversity and ecosystems are
the natural basis for the development of sustainable resource uses,
including forestry, farms, renewable energy, urban land use, fisheries
and other coastal & marine uses.
Canadas National Round Table on Environment & Economy has
developed indicators to include natural capital along with Gross
National Product (GNP) in Canadas official National Accounts.
Proactive programs to conserve biodiversity include research and
management for wild populations and habitats, protected areas, large
Courtesy of Wildlife UK
ecosystems such as Great Lakes, grasslands, forests, wetlands, deserts,
major rivers and estuaries, oceans, and more sustainable resource
practices. They also include planning, monitoring and enforcement related to land, sea and resource uses,
environmental assessment, pollution and species at risk.
The need for conservation action is urgent, nationally and globally. The last two centuries have seen
increasing rates of depletion of natural capital, with resulting changes increasingly evident even at global
levels, such as climate change, large ecosystem fragmentation and degradation, and species extinctions.
There is now a higher level of multilateral and national fora and talk for conservation, but the negative
momentum is as yet only barely affected.

Hot issues:
Images of Earth from space have influenced perceptions for decades, but the technical capacity for
practical conservation applications (high resolution, hyperspectral optical sensors, multipole radar,
powerful and user-friendly interpretive applications, decreasing costs) is only now at the edge of a rapid
increase, globally and in Canada.
The Canadian space sector has an advantage in certain space technology niches (e.g. radar sensing). The
Canadian conservation sector is advanced in multi-partner programs, and respected by peers for knowhow. There is a serious gap in common understanding and applications between these sectors.
Conservation issues that have to be addressed in the short, medium and long term include:
species at risk populations; habitats;
protected areas terrestrial/ marine;
alien invasive species;
public, community and private intellectual property in elements of natural capital, and in
knowledge about it;
climate change temperature and moisture regimes geographic shifts of ecosystem
characteristics;
bio-prospecting;
pollution - toxic chemicals bioaccumulation;
marine species and ecosystems; boreal forest ecosystems and species;
sustainability of resource uses and practices alternatives; managing the material, energy and
spatial efficiency of demands on biodiversity and ecosystems;
natural capital in national accounts;
ecological integrity, ecosystem management and resilience. practical applications of the
principles;
characterising and dynamic mapping of ecosystems terrestrial, freshwater and marine, coastal.

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April 2004

Key players:
International:
UNEP Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity: The Convention sets out commitments
for maintaining the world's ecological underpinnings as we go about the business of economic
development. and establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use
of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.
http://www.biodiv.org/default.aspx
UNESCO World Heritage Convention: The Conventions primary mission is to define and conserve the
world's heritage, by drawing up a list of sites whose outstanding values should be preserved for all
humanity and to ensure their protection through a closer co-operation among nations. http://whc.unesco.org
The Arctic Council is a high-level intergovernmental forum that provides a mechanism to address the
common concerns and challenges faced by the Arctic governments and the people of the Arctic.
http://www.arctic-council.org/index.html
The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is an international
organization created by Canada, Mexico and the United States under the North American Agreement on
Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). The CEC was established to address regional environmental
concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and to promote the effective
enforcement of environmental law. The Agreement complements the environmental provisions of the North
American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).http://www.cec.org/home/index.cfm?varlan=english
Canadian:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the lead federal government department responsible for developing and
implementing policies and programs in support of Canada's economic, ecological and scientific interests in
oceans and inland waters. This mandate includes responsibility for the conservation and sustainable use of
Canada's fisheries resources while continuing to provide safe, effective and environmentally sound marine
services that are responsive to the needs of Canadians in a global economy. http://www.dfompo.gc.ca/index.htm
Environment Canadas Canadian Wildlife Service is responsible for wildlife matters that are the
responsibility of the federal government. This includes the protection and management of migratory birds
and nationally important wildlife habitat, endangered species, research on nationally important wildlife
issues, control of international trade in endangered species, and international treaties. http://www.cwsscf.ec.gc.ca/index_e.cfm
NRCans Canadian Forest Service promotes the sustainable development of Canada's forests and
competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector. http://www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/cfs-scf/index_e.html
Parks Canada protect and present nationally significant examples of Canadas natural and cultural
heritage, and foster public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment in ways that ensure the ecological
and commemorative integrity of these places for present and future generations.
http://parkscanada.pch.gc.ca/default_flash.html
The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) is made up of linked organizations and
individuals involved in ecological monitoring in Canada to better detect, describe, and report on ecosystem
changes. http://www.eman-rese.ca/eman
Provincial, territorial agencies
Many NGOs, some private companies.

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Space and Biodiversity:

Space-based EO has unique contributions to make to conservation knowledge and programs, including
related science, monitoring, assessment and enforcement, and support for local, national and international
cooperative programs and agreements.
Space offers a global perspective, but also offers unparalleled reach and scope, including in inaccessible
areas. Recent technology evolution, such as hyperspectral remote sensing, allow a previously impossible
level of detail to determining habitat and vegetation in support of even individual threatened animals.
UNESCO has recently begun examining how space can be put to contribution in protecting species at risk
through an Open Initiative defined with the European Space Agency. In one of the first projects, the habitat
of central African mountain gorillas is being mapped and monitored in support of local conservation
efforts. Similar initiatives are being considered for Canadian sites, in support of the recent Species at Risk
legislation and for Canadas natural World Heritage Sites.

Fig. 2 Global plant biodiversity tracked

from space is used by researchers to
identify evidence of past climate
differences. Image courtesy of NOAA.

Issues for the CSA:

Working with CCRS, GeoConnections, value adders, etc. to find out from biodiversity & ecosystem
conservation people what they need to know to do their jobs.;

Giving the conservation sector knowledge of the space instruments that are and will be available to
provide the information they need will help them design the questions and conservation programs;

Developing applications that will provide that information from Radarsat, and from other space
instruments;

Building these information needs into the design of upcoming instruments and satellite platforms,
whether Canadian, or other countries, or in multilateral space EO programs.

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Related themes:
Climate change & Variability
Engaging EO Users
Data policy
Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
North/Arctic
Great Lakes St-Lawrence

References:
Basic Information:
European Centre for Nature Conservation http://www.ecnc.nl
The website of the Convention on Biological Diversity offers information on concepts, policy, and
decisions. It has the careful diplomatic style of international agreements, but is information-rich
http://www.biodiv.org
Latest update:
Conservation International http://www.conservation.org/xp/CIWEB/home
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a detailed reporting and updating
service on international meetings, negotiations and programs on biodiversity (and sustainable
development), as well as clearly articulated viewpoints http://www.iisd.ca/ and http://www.iisd.org
Closer look:
CWS-SARA Registry website http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/default_e.cfm
Space and World Heritage: http://whc.unesco.org/venice2002/news/space.htm

AthenaGlobal

April 2004