Download (PDF, 6.71MB) - TEEB
Download (PDF, 6.71MB) - TEEB
Download (PDF, 6.71MB) - TEEB
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
REWARDING BENEFITS THROUGH PAYMENTS AND MARKETS<br />
Box 5.24: Volume and value of fisheries<br />
certified by the Marine Stewardship Council<br />
The MSC is a non-profit organisation which uses ecolabelling<br />
and independently-verified fishery certification<br />
programmes to recognise sustainable fishing practices<br />
and contribute to the health of the world’s oceans.<br />
A fishery has to demonstrate that it meets three principles<br />
(sustainable fish stocks; minimising environmental<br />
impact; effective management) to be certified.<br />
Between 1 April and 30 September 2008, the number<br />
of fisheries involved in the MSC programme rose<br />
by 41% 32 . By 2009, over 2,300 MSC-labelled products<br />
were available in 42 countries, derived from annual<br />
catches of nearly 4 million tonnes33 . The quantity<br />
and value of such products continues to grow rapidly.<br />
Their retail value was expected to reach US$ 1.4 billion,<br />
an increase of US$ 400 million over 2008 sales.<br />
Source: www.msc.org<br />
At the same time, the agricultural sector can provide important<br />
biodiversity benefits through modified management<br />
systems and alternative technologies and practices<br />
(e.g. organic farming, agro-forestry systems, soil conservation<br />
techniques, conservation of riparian forests). Agroforestry<br />
(combining trees and shrubs with crops and/or<br />
livestock) has been part of traditional agriculture for years<br />
(see Tetetay and Tegineh 1991). Trees on farms can have<br />
multiple benefits e.g. soil regeneration, producing highlevel<br />
fruits, fibre and medicines, and maintaining ecosystem<br />
services such as water, carbon sequestration and<br />
biodiversity 34 .<br />
Farmers in many countries are increasingly addressing<br />
environmental concerns through changes in their production<br />
practices. Various labels and certification standards<br />
– such as ‘sustainable’, ‘organic’, ‘free-range’ and<br />
‘fair trade’ – are now used to distinguish farms using environmentally<br />
favourable practices from those using conventional<br />
methods. Depending on how such standards<br />
are implemented, they could enable agri-businesses of<br />
all sizes to promote conservation and sustainable use of<br />
biological resources (Bishop et al. 2008).<br />
Organic agriculture is by far the largest type of certified<br />
agriculture, generating 30.8 billion EUR in 2006. By the<br />
end of that year, nearly 31 million hectares of land were<br />
certified organic (constituting around 0.7% of the agricultural<br />
land analysed in a comprehensive review by Willer<br />
and Yussefi 2007). By the end of 2007, a further 1.5<br />
million hectares had been certified 35 . Global sales of organic<br />
food and drink have been increasing by over US$<br />
5 billion a year, reaching US$ 46 billion in 2007 36 . The<br />
vast majority of organic products are consumed in<br />
Europe or North America (Bishop et al. 2008).<br />
There is much debate about the contribution of organic<br />
farming to biodiversity conservation (Bengtsson et al.<br />
2005; Gibson et al. 2007). Different certification schemes<br />
require different biodiversity measures, leading the International<br />
Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements<br />
(IFOAM) to develop a guide for farmers on biodiversity<br />
management and landscape quality in organic agriculture<br />
(Bosshard et al. 2009).<br />
Other biodiversity-friendly agriculture initiatives include:<br />
• the Rainforest Alliance programme on sustainable<br />
agriculture whose standard, certified by the<br />
Sustainable Farm Certification 37 , aims to protect wildlife,<br />
wildland, workers’ rights and local communities 38 ;<br />
• GlobalGAP (Good Agricultural Practice), a private<br />
sector body that sets voluntary standards for<br />
agricultural product certification around the globe<br />
that cover biodiversity issues. This is a businessto-business<br />
label not directly visible to consumers 39 ;<br />
• Ecoagriculture Partners. This partnership of<br />
organisations from NGOs in developing countries<br />
(e.g. African Conservation Tillage Network) through<br />
to international bodies like WWF and UNEP was<br />
established at the World Summit on Sustainable<br />
Development in 2002 to “enhance rural livelihoods;<br />
conserve biodiversity; and sustainably produce<br />
crops, livestock, fish, and forest products” 40 .<br />
TOWARDS ECOTOURISM LABELLING<br />
The tourism industry is responsible for some 220 million<br />
jobs (or 7% of total employment) and over 9% of<br />
global GDP 41 . Tourism is a key export for 83% of developing<br />
countries: for the world’s 40 poorest<br />
countries, it is the second most important source<br />
of foreign exchange after oil 42 . Several biodiversity<br />
<strong>TEEB</strong> FOR NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL POLICY MAKERS - CHAPTER 5: PAGE 49