Three Key considerations for biodiversity conservation in multilateral agreements

It is nearly three decades since the world recognized the need for a global multilateral treaty aiming to address accelerating biodiversity loss. However, biodiversity continues to decline at a concerning rate. Drawing on lessons from the implementation of the current strategic plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2010 Aichi Targets, we highlight three interlinked core areas, which require attention and improvement in the development of the post‐2020 Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity. They are: (1) developing robust theories of change which define agreed, adaptive plans for achieving targets; (2) using models to evaluate assumptions and effectiveness of different plans and targets; and (3) identifying the common but differentiated responsibilities of different actors/states/countries within these plans. We demonstrate how future multilateral agreements must not focus only on what needs to be done but also on how it should be done, using measurable steps, which make sense at the scales at which biodiversity change happens

The many meanings of No Net Loss in environmental policy

‘No net loss’ is a buzz phrase in environmental policy. Applied to a multitude of environmental targets such as biodiversity, wetlands and land productive capacity, no net loss (NNL) and related goals have been adopted by multiple countries and organizations, but these goals often lack clear reference scenarios: no net loss compared to what? Here, we examine policies with NNL and related goals, and identify three main forms of reference scenario. We categorize NNL policies as relating either to overarching policy goals, or to responses to specific impacts. We explore how to resolve conflicts between overarching and impact-specific NNL policies, and improve transparency about what NNL-type policies are actually designed to achieve

A survey of ectoparasites and endoparasites isolated from Rattus norvegicus collected from Calamba, Laguna and Rosario, Cavite and Mus musculus purchased from Cartimar market, Pasay City, Manila

A total of 30 rodent samples were collected from three different sites from July to October 2005. Fifteen samples of Rattus norvegicus were collected from Calamba, Laguna and Rosario, Cavite and 15 samples of albino variety Mus musculus were purchased from different pet shops in Cartimar Market, Pasay City. These rodent species were examined for the presence of ectoparasites and endoparasites. Mus musculus has an infestation rate of 80.0% and an infection rate of 33.3%. Rattus norvegicus, on the other hand, has a 53.4% rate of infestation and also a 53.4% rate of infection. Following the keys of Leidy (1904) and Ewing (1929), ectoparasites ectoparasites isolated were identified from the genius Polypax sp., and from Order Mesostigmata. Endoparasites isolated were from the genus Hymenolepsis sp., and Rictularia sp. An overall percent prevalence of 76.7% was noted. The study was in agreement with previous studies and literatures documenting the incidence of the abovementioned parasites in rodents

Modelling the impact of poaching on metapopulation viability for data-limited species

We developed a spatially-explicit simulation model of poaching behaviour to quantify the relative influence of the intensity, frequency, and spatial distribution of poaching on metapopulation viability. We integrated our model of poaching with a stochastic, habitat-based, spatially-explicit population model, applied it to examine the impact of poaching on northern abalone metapopulation dynamics in Barkley Sound, British Columbia, Canada, and quantified model sensitivity to input parameters. While demographic parameters remained important in predicting extinction probabilities for northern abalone, our simulations indicate that the odds of extinction are twice as high when populations are subjected to poaching. Viability was influenced by poaching variables that affect the total number of individuals removed. Of these, poaching mortality was the most influential in predicting metapopulation viability, with each 0.1 increase in mortality rate resulting in 22.6% increase in the odds of extinction. By contrast, the location and spatial correlation of events were less important predictors of viability. When data are limited, simulation models of poaching combined with sensitivity analyses can be useful in informing management strategies and future research directions.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

Modelling the impact of poaching on metapopulation viability for data-limited species

We developed a spatially explicit simulation model of poaching behaviour to quantify the relative influence of the intensity, frequency, and spatial distribution of poaching on metapopulation viability. We integrated our model of poach