Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Momentum Continues to GrowThe Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative (TGCI) continues its efforts to build awareness about the ongoing perilous state of indigenous temperate grasslands around the world. The central message is this: the temperate grasslands biome is the most endangered, the most altered and yet the least protected biome on the planet.Most recently, the TGCI took this message to the World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Jeju, South Korea this past September. The TGCI’s Project Coordinator, Bob Peart delivered two presentations to delegates, and perhaps most importantly, sheparded the TGCI’s motion on the conservation and protection of the world’s temperate grasslands through the IUCN’s Member Assembly. The motion passed unanimously and without alteration, calling for the IUCN to support the conservation and protection of this biome throughout the breadth of its global and regional programmes. The motion also calls on the governments of the world to protect indigenous grasslands toward meeting the new Aichi Target 11 of effectively conserving 17% of the biome by 2020. In the months leading up to the WCC, the TGCI team has also been pursuing a closer relationship with the IUCN Drylands Programme, which led to the TGCI’s inclusion in the new book Conserving Dryland Biodiversity that was released at the
Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative
Mongolia Steppes
Newsletter 8 – November 2012
WCC. New linkages were also made with the World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP), now a member of the TGCI team. With this increased collaboration among the TGCI, WISP and the IUCN Drylands Programme, the intent is to promote the significant role that large, intact areas of indigenous grasslands can play in the conservation and protection of both biodiversity and mobile, pastoral cultures.However, not all the news delivered at the WCC was what we had hoped for. The Protected Planet Report 2012 was released by UNEP-WCMC, for which its website reports on the latest statistics for, among other things, protected areas coverage globally by biome. As shown by the 2010 data in the table adjacent, there has been considerable progress in the growth of protected areas in many terrestrial biomes since 1990, some doubling to exceed 20% with most exceeding 10%” (all data available at: http://www.unep-wcmc.org/ppr2012_903.html). Temperate grasslands, however, have come in at 3.4%, far less than previously understood, and even less than half of the next most poorly represented ecosystem, Mediterranean forests and woodlands! Previous UNEP-WCMC assessments in 2009 and 2007 reported 4.1% and 5% respectively for temperate grasslands. Assuming that this most recent assessment is more accurate than previous work, we have much more work ahead of us than thought. We will continue to work with WCMC to obtain the latest data possible for the status and trends in the temperate grassland biome.
Bill Henwood, TGCI Project Leader
Boreal forests/taiga 15,077,945 8.6Deserts and xeric shrublands 27,984,645 9.0Flooded grasslands and savannas 1,096,130 19.1Mangroves 348,519 20.7Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub 3,227,268 8.3Montane grasslands and shrublands 5,203,411 24.7Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests 12,835,688 10.0Temperate coniferous forests 4,087,095 14.7Temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands 10,104,108 3.4Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests 712,616 10.9Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests 3,103,500 10.3Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas 20,295,446 12.2 and shrublands Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests 19,816,709 20.4Tundra 1,438,000 17.3
TERRESTRIAL BIOME TOTAL KM2 2010 PROT. %
2TGCI Newsletter 8 - November 2012
It was encouraging to see these three Motions adopted. Each, in their own way, speaks to the importance of temperate grasslands both ecologically and socially.
The World Conservation Congress in Jeju, South Korea in September was a prime opportunity for moving the indigenous temperate grasslands agenda forward. There is increasing recognition for the vital role that temperate grasslands have across the broad sweep
of sustainability – the protection of the landscape, the storage of carbon, their importance to the life and cultural survival of mobile indigenous people, poverty and hunger alleviation and maintaining connectivity across the landscape. At the same time there is acknowledgement that temperate grasslands have been modified by human activity to such a degree that little remains in its natural state and are recognized by the IUCN-WCPA as one of the most at-risk ecosystems in the world. The challenge now is to leverage this energy to fulfil the urgent issues that face this biome by:
• Building on the three related motions, adopted by the IUCN Assembly, to further our work and our ability to raise funding support. See below for detail.
• Strengthening our relationships with the IUCN Global Drylands Initiative and WISP. We now plan to sit on each other’s Steering Committees, set up regular skype exchanges and report on our important work
in each other’s newsletters. Longer term we will establish priorities for a common global strategy and regional action plans that will assist in more collaborative programming and fundraising efforts. In particular, we are beginning work now on a joint workshop for the World Parks Congress that will focus on the pastoralism – biodiversity opportunity for protected areas.
• Maintaining the contacts made at the Congress, in particular the persons and organizations from Uruguay and the Kazakh Steppe.
• Having an active presence at both the upcoming 2013 Asian Parks Congress and the 2014 World Parks Congress.
In summary, as a result of Jeju there is increasing respect for the work of the TGCI and the huge challenge ahead to conserve this biome.
Interest Grows Globally About the Threats to Temperate Grasslands
THREE RELATED MOTIONS ADOPTED BY WCC GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TGCI’s Project Coordinator,Bob Peart presenting at the WCC
Actions to increase the
protection and sustainable use
of the pampas and campos of
South America – calls on the
Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
governments to increase the
protection and sustainable land
use practices of these threatened
grasslands; to better coordinate
their management practices
especially related to endangered
species; and calls for additional
funding to allow the development
of sub-regional action plans and
policies.
The conservation and protection of world’s indigenous temperate grasslands – acknowledges the lack of protection, their link with the Aichi Targets; recognizes the need for urgent action by governments, non-government organizations and private interests; and requests the support of international funding mechanisms.
Respecting, recognizing and supporting Indigenous Peoples’ and Community Conserved Territories and Areas – urges the IUCN, governments, non-government organizations and international financial institutions to establish and strengthen policies, programmes, mechanisms and procedures to ensure appropriate recognition of and support for ICCA’s in their role of protecting rights, upholding natural values and potential support for protected area designations.
3TGCI Newsletter 8 - November 2012
Drylands cover more than 41% of the world’s land surface and are home to some of the most unique biological and cultural diversity on the planet. They feature high levels of species endemism, comprise many unique ecosystems, and are home to some of the world’s most charismatic species and most treasured natural heritage. Some two and a half billion people – one third of the world’s population – live in drylands, 90% of them in developing countries. Drylands have particular consequences for the conservation of indigenous temperate grassland biodiversity and for their sustainable management.Information on the IUCN Global Drylands Initiative is available at: http://www.iucn.org/drylands or by contacting Jonathan Davies ([email protected])
BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOTS AND CONSERVATION PRIORITIES IN THE DRYLANDS
Conserving Dryland Biodiversity by Jonathan Davies, et al. 2012. Building on previous dryland publications, this book is intended to raise awareness and galvanize action to boost dryland conservation. Conserving Dryland Biodiversity is also a guide to how dryland conservation and development can be equally pursued. Available from: https://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/conserving_dryland_biodiversity.pdf or contact Jonathan Davies ([email protected])
Now Available – An Excellent Book on the Importance of Conserving Drylands!
Global 200 list of ecoregions identified as priorities for conservation, with those overlapping with drylands in red.
10
Biodiversity hotspots and conservation priorities and in the drylands34.
Conservation Hotspots, with those overlapping with drylands in red.
In addition to large-scale biogeographical variation in species richness, local changes in topography and water availability create strongly contrasting habitats: one may contain very few species, while another contains an abundance of life. Spectacular examples of adaptation to water availability are mist oases found in a few mountainous regions of the Sahara, East Africa and the Arabian Desert. The most overlooked source of water in dryland is the hot desert air. As hot air is lifted up and cools down, its stored humidity is released through condensation. Similarly, as air heated during the day cools during the night, dew will form and in some places in deserts dewfall may be higher than rainfall. Where mist occurs regularly and with high intensity, mist oases can form.
Conserving Dryland
BiodiversityJonathan Davies, Lene Poulsen, Björn Schulte-Herbrüggen, Kathy Mackinnon, Nigel Crawhall, William D. Henwood, Nigel Dudley, Jessica Smith, Masumi Gudka
Conserving Dryland Biodiversity
Map from Conserving Dryland Biodiversity by Jonathan Davies, et al. 2012.
4TGCI Newsletter 8 - November 2012
After some years of hearing about each other’s activities WISP and the TGCI are closing ties in an effort to cooperate on our common goal to conserve and sustainably manage the world’s indigenous grassland ecosystems. The great opportunity for collaboration is the role that pastoralists have with sustainable management practices as custodians of the world’s large grazing ecosystems. Protecting the large-scale migrations of wildlife such as the Saiga antelope or the wildebeest has proven to be challenging. But if pastoralist mobility is integrated with management as an economically profitable activity, these same pastoralists can maintain the connectivity corridors needed by wildlife, thus preventing such barriers as fencing. Biodiversity can provide income-generating activities to local pastoralists, thereby creating win-win situations to diminish the pressure on wildlife and guarantee the conservation of biodiversity. Sustainable management can augment traditional monitoring to boost the production of rangelands while guaranteeing land health and controlling misuse.The WISP portfolio is currently working with IFAD and the Ford Foundation in composing, improving and updating a synthesis document on sustainable pastoralism practices, the so-called Minimum Standards on Sustainable Pastoralism. Work is also being done with the CoCooN consortium from the Netherlands Science Organization on conflicts over water and grazing in pastoralist areas of Kenya. Specific areas in sight for project development include the Chaco and Patagonian regions of South America, East and West Africa, the Middle East, the Caucasus and the Siberian taiga - the latter hosting the fairytale reindeer and their pastoralists.
Introductory Message from WISPGlobal Coordinator, Pablo Manzano
Spanish Pastoralist family Photo: WISP
The World Initiative for Sustainable Pastoralism (WISP)WISP is a global initiative that supports pastoralism to sustainably manage drylands, mountains and other grazing ecosystems. WISP enables pastoralists to demonstrate that their land use and production system is an effective and efficient way of harnessing the natural resources of the world’s rangelands.Information on WISP is available at: http://www.iucn.org/wisp/ or by contacting its team at [email protected].
At a UNESCO World Heritage meeting held February 14-18, 2012, in Russia, a delegation from the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, Environment and Tourism (MNET) petitioned to add the Mongol Daguur Strictly Protected Area (SPA) to the UNESCO World Heritage List of “natural sites” considered as having outstanding universal value. The Mongolian delegation worked with the delegation from the Russian Federation to present their joint proposal of “Steppes of the Dauria” combining Mongol Daguur SPA of Mongolia with the Daursky State Biosphere Reserve for designation as a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage site. A final decision on the designation of the site is expected in 2014. The Dauria International Protected Area has been protected by a trilateral agreement among Mongolia, Russia, and China since 1994.
STEPS TAKEN TO PROTECT THE STEPPES OF THE DAURIA
Photo: http://www.dauriareserve.narod.ru/mongol_eng.html
WISP supports pastoralist empowerment and efforts to strengthen their existing network - many in relation with the World Alliance of Mobile and Indigenous Peoples (WAMIP), also an IUCN affiliate. For example, the Francophone Communication Platform for African Pastoralists (PFCPA) has been constituted to facilitate communication on issues as important as the current refugee crisis in the Western Sahel. A similar one for Anglophone Africa is being discussed.In closing, in November a workshop was held in Algeria, in collaboration with IUCN-MED and the Algerian High Commission for the Development of the Steppe. Experts highlighted the similarities between this region and other cold temperate steppes in Mongolia and Patagonia. Only further evidence why it is important for global programs such as WISP and TGCI to collaborate on such issues as governance, trans-boundary pastoralism and social change in pastoralism societies. We want to encourage exchange between TGCI and WISP members so please, if you have any questions about this article or WISP in general contact me at: [email protected].
WHAT’S NEW? • International Connectivity Conservation Network
seeks to bring together those individuals and organizations working on terrestrial and marine large-scale connectivity conservation projects around the world. For more information or to become a member please visit: www.connectivityconservation.net
• Protected Planet Report 2012 Recently released by the IUCN-WCPA this report tracks progress towards achieving the global target of at least 17% of the world’s terrestrial and 10% of the marine areas be conserved by 2020. An update will be released at the 2014 World Parks Congress. www.protectedplanet.net
• Prairie: A Natural History of the Great Plains Candace Savage. Vancouver Greystone Books, 2011
UPCOMING MEETINGS• VII Southern Connection Congress
January 21-25 2013 in Dunedin, New Zealand. A special symposium on the conservation and sustainable management of indigenous temperate grasslands will be held. For information: www.otago.ac.nz/V11-southern-connection, or contact Dr. Alan Mark ([email protected]).
• The 22nd International Grassland Congress/ IGC2013 September 15-19 2013 in Sydney, Australia. For information: http://www.igc2013.com
• 10th World Wilderness Congress in Salamanca, Spain October 4-10 2013. For more information: http://www.wild.org/main/world-wilderness-congress
• The First Asia Park Congress November 14-17 2013 in Sendai, Miyagi Japan. This will be the first ever gathering to focus on the governance of protected areas in Asia. A workshop on the transboundary grasslands of the Daurian and Amur River Basin is being planned. For information contact Amanda Fine ([email protected]) or Scott Perkin ([email protected]).
• 6th IUCN/WCPA World Park Congress Fall 2014. Held every 10 years, this is a landmark global forum on protected areas, and the TGCI will be having a strong presence. The congress will be held in Sydney, Australia. http://www.iucn.org/about/work/programmes/gpap_home/gpap_events/gpap_wpc/
5TGCI Newsletter 8 - November 2012
Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative
www.iucn.org/wcpagrasslands
AcknowledgementsThe Temperate Grasslands Conservation Initiative and the progress that we have made would not be possible without the generous funding support of the J.M. Kaplan Fund.
?Want to be part of the TGCI Team?
■ Know someone who you think would like to
get this newsletter?
■ Want to be added to our distribution list?
■ Want more information on the TGCI?
■ Want to send us an article for the newsletter?
We look forward to hearing from you. Please contact
Bob Peart, Project Coordinator.
c/o 2429 Kilmarnock Crescent North Vancouver, British Columbia Canada V7J 2Z3 Tel: 1-604-985-5122
Project Leader: Bill Henwood, [email protected]
Project Coordinator: Bob Peart, [email protected]
Project Team:Naomi Doak, Australia Amanda Fine, MongoliaBill Henwood, WCPA CanadaPablo Manzano, WISP KenyaDr. Alan Mark, New Zealand Andrea Michelson, ArgentinaBob Peart, WCPA CanadaScott Perkin, ThailandAlvaro Soutullo, Uraguay
& DON’T FORGET...We have developed concept notes outlining our global strategy and for each of our four priority areas: East Asia, South America, North America and Eurasia. These notes are available on our website: www.iucn.org/wcpagrasslands
TEMPERATE GRASSLANDS OF THE WORLD
photo: Karsten Wesche
Páramo
Greatest Potential for Indigenous Temperate Grasslands Conservation at a Landscape Scale
Temperate Grasslands
The North American Prairie includes the Northern Great Plains of Canada and the United States, and the Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands of Mexico
photo: Krista Connick Todd
The Daurian Steppe and Amur River Basin spanning China, Mongolia and Russia
photo: Vadim Kiriliuk
South American Patagonia Steppe
photo: Adriano Becker photo: Alan Mark
South American Pampas
photo: Bridget Besaw/TNC
Ethiopian Mountain Grasslands
New Zealand’s mid-elevation grasslands
Mongolian Steppes
Intermontane Grasslands
Chihuahuan Desert Grasslands
Central Andean Puna
Eurasian Steppe
Kazakh Steppe
Mountain Grasslands of Eastern Africa Mountain
Steppes of Southeastern Asia
Northern China
Daurian Steppe and Amur River Basin
New Guinea
Southeastern Australia
New Zealand
South African Veld Grasslands
Pampas and Campos
Patagonia Steppe
North American Prairie
Northern Great Plains
The World’s Temperate Grasslands Conservation Priorities
cartography: Ole HeggenDepartment of Geography
University of Victoria
