Plant+protection

PLANT PROTECTION Main environmental agreements • Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 1992 Agreed by over 170 countries, at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), 1973. Agreed by over 130 countries. This bans trade in certain species and regulates trade in other endangered species. Wildlife trade is estimates at $20 billion per year, including illegal trade of approximately $5 billion. • Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar Convention), 1971. Agreed by over 100 states. The only convention covering a specific eco-system, including marshes, swamps, peat land, lakes, shallow marine waters etc. These areas are important as fish and bird breeding grounds. • Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn Convention), 1979. Agreed by about 50 parties to protect 55 migratory animals. Other conventions include those on The Law of the Sea, Climate Change and Desertification. The World Heritage Convention protects some of the most significant natural sites e.g. the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. There are several hundred Biosphere Reserves designated by UNESCO* and the European Network of Biogenetic reserves as adopted by the Council for Europe. Most countries have their own protected sites. The total global land area (excluding Antarctica) protected is about 7%. Farmland takes up about 38%. TASK 1 As a group, discuss these questions: ?? Why do plants need protecting? ?? What are the main pressures in your area that might affect plants and biodiversity? You could choose to write a poem or a slogan to present this information. TASK 2 Investigate laws in your country that protect plants. Give one example. ?? Who made this law? ?? Was it made through international agreement, through your own national government, or through a national or local environmental group? Plants in our lives students’ pages 11 Who is responsible for enforcing this law? Is the law effective? What does your local community think of this law? How does it affect the community?