The Conference of the Parties
1. Notes that there has been significant experience in implementing the ecosystem approach by some Parties operating under the Convention, as well as experience in implementation of similar approaches to management under other national, regional and international processes, but that additional efforts are needed to ensure effective implementation of the approach by all Parties and other Governments. The scale of application of the ecosystem approach should be decided within countries according to their needs and circumstances;
2. Agrees that the priority at this time should be on facilitating the implementation of the ecosystem approach as the primary framework for addressing the three objectives of the Convention in a balanced way, and that a potential revision of the principles of the ecosystem approach should take place only at a later stage, when the application of the ecosystem approach has been more fully tested;
3. Welcomes the implementation guidelines and annotations to rationale as outlined in annex I to the present decision and calls on parties and other governments to implement the ecosystem approach, keeping in mind that in applying the ecosystem approach, all principles need to be considered, with appropriate weight given to each, in accordance with local conditions, and keeping in mind also that the implementation of the ecosystem approach and all principles need to be considered as voluntary instruments and should be adapted to local conditions and implemented in accordance with national legislation;
Table 1: The 12 Principles of the ecosystem approach and their rationale (decision V/6 of the Conference of the Parties, http://www.biodiv.org/decisions/default.asp?lg=0&dec=V/6), suggested annotations to the rationale and implementation guidelines.
To view for table please refer to page 8 of the decision.
Principle 1: The objectives of management of land, water and living resources are a matter of societal choice.
Rationale
Different sectors of society view ecosystems in terms of their own economic, cultural and societal needs. Indigenous peoples and other local communities living on the land are important stakeholders and their rights and interests should be recognized. Both cultural and biological diversity are central components of the ecosystem approach, and management should take this into account. Societal choices should be expressed as clearly as possible. Ecosystems should be managed for their intrinsic values and for the tangible or intangible benefits for humans, in a fair and equitable way.
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Implementation guidelines
1.1 Involve all stakeholders (interested parties) (including indigenous and local communities) in: • clearly articulating, defining and agreeing upon the goals of management • defining problems • making choices (in principle 12).
1.2 There need to be clearly defined boundaries (in time and space) for the management unit that is the subject of the societal choice process.
1.3 Ensure that those stakeholders that cannot directly represent themselves are adequately represented by someone else.
1.4 Ensure that all stakeholders have an equitable capacity to be effectively involved, including through ensuring equitable access to information, ability to participate in the processes, etc.
1.5 Ensure that the decision-making process compensates for any inequities of power in society, in order to ensure that those who are normally marginalized (e.g. women, the poor, indigenous people) are not excluded or stifled in their participation.
1.6 Determine who the decision-makers are for each decision, how the decisions will be taken (what process will be used), and what are the limits on the discretion of the decision-maker (e.g. what are the criteria for the decision in law, what is the overall policy guidance within which the decision must fit, etc).
1.7 Ensure that the recognition of stakeholder interests occurs within the full range of decisions over time and space and levels. In doing so, however, ensure that “stakeholder fatigue” does not develop, by incorporating known stakeholder views into future decisions, and allowing efficient stakeholder input.
1.8 Where possible, use existing societal mechanisms, or build new mechanisms that are compatible with existing or desired societal conditions.
Principle 2: Management should be decentralized to the lowest appropriate level. Rationale: Decentralized systems may lead to greater efficiency, effectiveness and equity. Management should involve all stakeholders and balance local interests with the wider public interest. The closer management is to the ecosystem, the greater the responsibility, ownership, accountability, participation, and use of local knowledge.
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Implementation guidelines
Note that this is not a complete enough list, and there seems no good reason to particularly identify these.
2.4 Achieving an appropriate level of decentralization requires taking decisions at a higher level to create an enabling and supportive environment, as well as a commitment to devolve those decision-making responsibilities that are currently situated at too high a level.
2.5 In choosing the appropriate level of decentralization, the following are relevant factors that should be taken into account in choosing the appropriate body.
• whether the body represents the appropriate community of interest
• whether the body has a commitment to the intent of the function • whether the body has the necessary capacity for management
• efficiency (e.g. by moving the function to a higher level you may have sufficient work to allow maintenance of the necessary level of expertise to do the function efficiently and effectively).
• whether the body has other functions which represent a conflict of interest • the effect on marginalized members of society (e.g. women, marginalized tribal groups) In some cases problems could be corrected, such as through capacity-building. If no appropriate body is available at the level, a new body might be created, or an existing body modified, or a different level chosen.
