| People have harnessed goods
and services from Aquatic Ecosystems for millennia. However,
an unprecedented human population and, in particular, certain
unsustainable practices are putting pressure on these ecosystems
such that their reduced stability and productivity is threatening
further development. The issues of greatest concern relate
to:
(1) living natural resources (e.g. global fisheries
crises threaten overall sustainability of productive ecosystems,
often driven by subsidies and inadequate governance arrangements;
introduction of alien species);
(2) food security, quality and safety (e.g. international
trade, environmentally sustainable aquaculture; healthy
river basins and clean water resources);
(3) coastal and marine management (e.g. modest progress
with poverty eradication and continued conflicting demands
on resources, tourism, sea level rise); and
(4) marine and freshwater pollution (e.g. pesticides
and endocrine disrupters, oil, nutrients).
Most of these issues already featured strongly at the
UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in
Rio in 1992 and were addressed in Agenda 21(1).
The question remained, how can the principles enshrined
in Agenda 21 be put into operation? A key element here is
understanding the issues and having adequate scientific
knowledge, both now recognised as crucial for socio?economic
development.
This brochure aims to demonstrate how the European Commission
(EC) has responded to this challenge since Rio, and its
vision for future international cooperation in the strategic
area of knowledge and learning for sustainable development.
In particular, it shows how international scientific cooperation
can mobilise research partnerships from Europe and developing
and emerging economies to develop and share critical knowledge
to help change course. Linking this more effectively with
policy formulation and action is perhaps the greatest challenge
for the future.
What follows is an overview of EC policy in the context
of international agreements on oceans, freshwaters and Aquatic Ecosystems at large, touching on the major instruments implementing
such policies, providing examples of scientific research
and capacity building in collaboration with partners in
developing and emerging economies to promote sustainable
development patterns and an outlook on future cooperation.
Recent developments in oceans,
freshwaters and their ecosystems
Back in 1979, at the UN Conference on Science & Technology
for Development, developing countries were already requesting
scientific cooperation rather than technology transfer.
As a result, in 1983 the Commission set up a programme for
international scientific cooperation with
developing and emerging economies(2)
to mobilise European scientific competence from these countries
around key themes of mutual interest. These related mainly
to sustainable food production and healthy societies. Later,
UNCED highlighted the importance of integrated management
and sustainable development of coastal areas, the oceans
and freshwater resources, and addressed science for sustainable
development. This set the scene for more cross-sectoral
thinking on the subject and provided a fresh focus on people
- women, men and children - and their specific roles, capacities
and needs.
In the aftermath of Rio, the EC's international scientific
cooperation programme added sustainable development of natural
resources and resource systems to its remit. A communication
gap between scientists, policy-makers and the public at
large was identified and acted upon.
One valuable outcome of UNCED was the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD)(3), which provides
an overarching framework agreement for biodiversity conservation,
now recognised as crucial for sustainable provision of food,
other products and services from aquatic ecosystems.
Subsequently, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS)(4) came into force in 1994.
This is a global umbrella mechanism for rights and obligations
of coastal and landlocked states in relation to ocean safety
and pollution control, marine resource use and conservation.
The Commission and EU Member States participated actively
in the development of CBD, UNCLOS and other major agreements,
incorporating key principles and providing knowledge and
partnership.
Perhaps the most important drivers of change in relation
to Aquatic Ecosystems, their resources and the societies
depending on them, are international trade and tourism.
The expansion of international trade in fishery products,
now in excess of 40% of world production, is increasingly
being influenced by food safety standards based on the FAO/WHO
Codex Alimentarius(5). Moreover,
attempts are being made to set environmental standards for
the live fish trade. The EC's development, trade, science
and environment policies are aimed at fisheries and aquaculture
strategies able to create wealth in partner countries without
destroying natural capital, thereby contributing to poverty
alleviation and improving social prospects. The Council
of the European Union adopted a formal resolution on fisheries
and poverty in 2001(6) confirming the
principles of sustainable fisheries development enshrined
in various international agreements and requesting enhanced
action by the EC in this direction.
Tourism has become an important source of income, particularly
for small economies in tropical and sub-tropical regions,
although it is increasingly associated with negative environmental
and social effects, which may often label it as an unsustainable
economic activity.
Understanding the value of
natural systems and the 'sustainability triangle'
EC policies reflect the fact that complete marine and
coastal ecosystems are of far greater value than their most
direct benefits (e.g. resource consumption) might imply.
They are important, for example, in coastal protection,
as nurseries (fisheries), pollution control, climate regulation,
cultural heritage and tourism. Freshwater ecosystems are
also invaluable as sources of food production, juveniles
for culture, but also as pr oviders of aquatic biodiversity
due to their high levels of endemic (unique) species, many
of which may be prone to extinction thereby reducing an
aquatic system's ability to adapt to change. Of even more
immediate significance is the provision of freshwater, natural
purification, drinking water supplies and sanitation, and
their contribution to the overall water balance. Incorporating
these concepts into more complete cost?benefit analysis
is likely to alter the perceived effectiveness and sustainability
of many activities and projects. The EC recognises that
economics, environment and social/institutional dimensions
are integral parts of the 'sustainability triangle'. By
promoting this broader view the Commission supports ecosystem
restoration, particularly where this leads to real benefits
for society and greater equity.
Knowledge as the fountain
for sustainable use
The EC sees knowledge, learning and associated actions
as the heart of sustainable development. Through dialogue,
partnership, voluntary cooperation and co-ordination, knowledge
can be developed and used at many levels. Using international
scientific cooperation, the Commission mobilises partnerships
able to provide inputs ranging from global policy to the
application of knowledge at local grass-root level.
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Recognising nature’s
contributions to sustainable development
Jar with lotus
pond; porcelain with polychrome overglaze
decoration.
Ming (1368-1644), Jiangxi |
Goods and services generated by aquatic ecosystems
have sustained human society since earliest
history.
Today, harvested seafood provides about 17%
of animal protein for human consumption. The
oceans also help regulate climate and perform
a wide range of other functions but, because
we do not understand exactly how they function
and impact on our daily lives, we tend to take
them for granted. To rebalance what, in many
places, is now out of equilibrium, we must become
aware of the greatness of the oceans and the
ecosystems in seas and freshwaters while recognising
the degree to which we have already affected
them.
Coral reefs, for example, are amongst the
greatest manifestations of life on earth, dwarfing
even the most ambitious engineering structures
created by modern technology. They are invaluable
for defence and coastal protection, especially
for low-lying island states, such as the Marshall
Islands and Maldives. Coral reefs act as 'self-repairing
breakwaters' - but only if they remain a renewable
resource. Biologically, reefs represent nature's
own 'solar-powered coastal food factories'.
Reservoirs, lakes and rivers sustain both humans
and wildlife with freshwater to support nature
and agriculture and by providing aquatic foods,
drinking, urban and industrial water.
Hence, Aquatic Ecosystems matter to everyone,
and feature strongly in the Commission's international
cooperation activities towards knowledge-based
sustainable development.
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