January 24, 2010

Comments on CBD Post2010 Target

Date: Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:50:20 +0900
I have 2 comments.
1) Ecological footprint
Ecological footprint is used for an indicator to reduce ecological impacts. I recommend this indicator because
1) well known and a longer history of quantitative analysis,
2) affinity with CO2 emission,
3) reducing EF is much easier than reducing CO2 emission, because no countries have ever experience to reduce EF.
We need to make a numerical goal using EF in the future (e.g., numerical goal is established until 2020). This does not mean that the present definition of EF is best. I think definition of EF should be revised by in-depth investigation of international, multi-disciplineary consensus. I hope to make a working group at CoP10 (until 2012 or later).
2) From MSY to maximum sustainable ecosystem services. Even in UNCLOS, the concept of MSY is used in the law. I recommend to maximize the total ecosystem services, rather than fisheries yield (see Matsuda et al. 2008). I expect that CoP10 is a good chance to start a revision process of UNCLOS.

Matsuda H, Makino M, Kotani K (2008) Optimal fishing policies that maximize sustainable ecosystem services . (K. Tsukamoto, T. Kawamura, T. Takeuchi, T. D. Beard, Jr. and M. J. Kaiser, eds.) Fisheries for Global Welfare and Environment, 5th World Fisheries Congress 2008,Terrapub, Tokyo 359-369: