Towards a political economy approach to the Convention on Biological Diversity

A social–ecological systems analysis of impediments to delivery of the Aichi 2020 Targets and potentially more effective pathways to the conservation of biodiversity

“…Inclusion of hard-instrument regulatory provisions into the CBD mechanisms is a potential pathway towards equalising power differentials between the international conservation, development and finance instruments which currently masks feedbacks such as those from climate change impacts and infrastructure development (Boisvert and Vivien, 2012;Laurance et al, 2015). The World Trade Organization (WTO) and Agreements have enforceable powers, for example for breaching rules of the WTO, whereas Aichi Targets have no penalty imposed for failure (Jó hannsdó ttir et al, 2010).…”

Rethinking the biopolitical

“…On the one hand, the CBD is a framework convention for several international treaties of relevance to species and ecosystems conservation. Its negotiation took ten years, and the end-result was a treaty that has its premise that quick financial returns on the destruction of natural resources need to be replaced with economic incentives that allow governments to focus on biodiversity (see Boisvert and Vivien 2012 ). On the other hand, the references to market-based conservation are explicitly imagined as a response to the development of plant biotechnology.…”

“…Notably, the INBio deal involved a substantial amount of money and resources, which to some has qualified it as a success, suggesting potential for more direct and decentralised models with flexible norms as a 'value-added approach' to market-based conservation ( Safrin 2004 ). Others, however, have pointed out that the payments went towards the training and equipment necessary 'to access, identify, classify, and collect biological materials on Merck's behalf' and that it is 'difficult to underestimate' the significance of this example for the implementation of the CBD as it took 'on the force of fact on the basis of little more than hypnotic reiteration' , 120-122, 216, see also Brush 2005bBoisvert and Vivien 2012 ). Here, however, the lack of convincing examples of bio-prospecting and its demise as a business model is more relevant.…”

Recoding Life

“…In other words, profiting from bio-prospecting turned out to be more complicated than Diversa's mission statement suggested. The screening of samples and the commercialisation were neither easy nor quick, which is reflected in how many other pioneers of the field went out of business (e.g., California-based Shaman Pharmaceuticals) and in reports that suggest that the larger companies allocate a much more limited amount of their research funding to prospecting (Boisvert and Vivien 2012;Firn 2003 ).…”

“…Notably, the INBio deal involved a substantial amount of money and resources, which to some has qualified it as a success, suggesting potential for more direct and decentralised models with flexible norms as a 'value-added approach' to market-based conservation ( Safrin 2004 ). Others, however, have pointed out that the payments went towards the training and equipment necessary 'to access, identify, classify, and collect biological materials on Merck's behalf' and that it is 'difficult to underestimate' the significance of this example for the implementation of the CBD as it took 'on the force of fact on the basis of little more than hypnotic reiteration' ( Parry 2004 , 120-122, 216, see also Brush 2005b , 19-20;Boisvert and Vivien 2012 ). Here, however, the lack of convincing examples of bio-prospecting and its demise as a business model is more relevant.…”