Guidance for a rapid biodiversity and development linkages diagnostic
Purpose: To prepare a background paper of approximately 15-20 pages, addressing the
extent to which biodiversity issues are integrated in development decisions and institutions.
Coverage: The background paper will address the following five questions,
1. What are the main information sources on poverty-biodiversity issues, and where are the
main gaps? Compile a list of key references, data and information sources concerning
the interaction of poverty with biodiversity, wildlife conservation, protected area
management etc. Briefly summarise this information and identify particular areas of
strength or weakness (3pp).
2. What attempts have been made to integrate poverty reduction and biodiversity
conservation? Briefly describe the range of activities (5pp):
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government processes, e.g. development planning; natural resource management
planning (including for REDD); state of environment reports; reports to CBD;
evidence of compliance with international norms and standards, etc
community-based processes, e.g. achievements of: collaborative management of
protected areas, community conservation activities, involvement in e.g. wildlife
tourism
civil society e.g. achievements of: watchdog roles and other provisions for
transparency; the different ways in which local issues surrounding land rights, social
impacts of protected areas etc have been dealt with
media e.g. how the different media have investigated and promoted biodiversitydevelopment interactions
business activities e.g. achievements of: ways to access and develop biodiversity
markets such as tourism, forest products; promotion of environmental standards
development assistance in support of the above or other initiatives
3. How successful have these initiatives been at integrating biodiversity and poverty and/or
biodiversity and broader environment issues (forest management, environmental
mainstreaming, climate change? Within the limitations of information described at 1
above, summarise progress resulting from initiatives at 2 above (3pp):
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Improved awareness of p/b issues
Improved information base on p/b issues (see 1)
Improved participation and voice to discuss/make demands on p/b issues
Improved policy, law, strategy addressing p/b issues
Improved capacity to address p/b issues
Improved budget and finance to tackle p/b issues
Improved livelihoods and environmental outcomes
4. What constraints still stand in the way of biodiversity being more fully integrated into key
decisions and institutions? E.g. in policy, regulations, government planning, coordination
and administration, capacity, information and monitoring, budgeting and finance,
business, community and other processes (5pp)
5. What are the new big challenges for poverty-biodiversity mainstreaming and what
solutions might best meet the challenges? The paper should note emerging imperatives
and opportunities for mainstreaming, e.g.: (4pp)
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changing international and domestic market requirements for conservation – eg
REDD - and potential tradeoffs between carbon and biodiversity
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‘green economy’, ‘green investment’ and ‘green jobs’ opportunities in agriculture,
forestry, fisheries, energy, tourism, etc
technological improvements supporting pro-poor sustainable NR use
particular trade-offs e.g. between biodiversity and mining
Source: IIED and the Poverty and Conservation Learning Group