Harnessing markets for biodiversity : towards conservation and sustainable use ; [results of a joint OECD World Bank Institute International Workshop on Market Creation for Biodiversity Products and Services, held in Paris on 25-26 January 2001]

Biodiversity losses continue at an alarming rate. Policies are therefore urgently needed to promote the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. Governments and private sector actors are increasingly recognising the potential of harnessing markets to help arrest the degradation of biodiversity. The private provision of biodiversity products and services is proving to be quite feasible in some circumstances. Some biodiversity products and services are already being profitably marketed. Private markets also need to be supported by appropriate public policies. This publication provides a conceptual framework for market creation in the biodiversity policy arena, as well as several examples of where the use of markets can assist policy makers and society at large in the search for more sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. Annotation Governments and the business sector are increasingly recognising the potential of biodiversity products and services; markets which can help to promote the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity. Some are already being profitably marketed, but private markets also need to be supported by appropriate public policies. This publication provides a conceptual framework to help identify and promote the use of markets in the biodiversity policy arena, and draws on the findings of a joint OECD/World Bank workshop held in Paris in January 2001. It discusses the concept of 'public goods' and considers four examples of emerging markets: organic agriculture; sustainable forestry; non-timber forest products, such as natural cosmetics and herbal medicines; and genetic resources