Landscape and ecosystem approach to biodiversity conservation

Abstract

In the evolution of the models for the establishment and management of protected natural areas, we assist to the transition from “sanctuaries” of nature, where men are considered exclusively a threat or an interference to eliminate, to tools for conservation of biological diversity in situ through the involvement of local communities. This vision of protected natural areas has been formalised in the International Convention on Biological Diversity and its Action Plans. To implement the CBD in 2000, a new method has been developed that considers the human communities as part of the ecosystems and of their governance assets, called “ecosystem approach”. The ecosystem approach recognises that human activity affects ecosystems interacting with their structure and composition, resulting in an irreversible loss of ecosystem functionality once some boundaries are crossed. At the same time the ecosystem approach recognises particular importance to the role of local communities and traditional knowledge in the definition of strategies and programmes for the conservation of biodiversity. The ecosystem approach requires the definition of clear targets of biodiversity conservation and the identification of the most appropriate community to deal with its management. The introduction of territory’s perception by local communities in defining the European Landscape Convention is echoed in the approach of the CBD ecosystem, particularly for Italy, where the high biodiversity is matched by a high cultural diversity of local traditions and customs. The application of the ecosystem approach to the landscape scale requires a coherent planning approach that includes a proper biodiversity’ conservation plan. These targets must be identified not only for the conservation of each species or habitat but rather for the maintenance of the structure and functionality of the ecosystems.