International Environmental Law And The Conservation Of Coral Reefs (routledge Research In International Environmental Law)

Tropical coral reefs are important ecosystems. They are economically important to coastal communities living in predominantly developing countries, and also provide shoreline protection, catalyse land formation enabling human habitation, act as a carbon sink and are a repository for genetic and species diversity rivalling rainforests. In the face of mounting man-made pressure from pollution, climate change and over-exploitation, these ecosystems increasingly need action to be taken to ensure their conservation and long term sustainable development. __International Environmental Law and the Conservation of Coral Reefs__ breaks new ground by providing the first in-depth account of the ways in which multilateral environmental treaty regimes are seeking to encourage and improve the conservation of tropical coral reef ecosystems. In so doing, the work aims to raise the profile of such activities in order to reinforce their status on the environmental agenda. The book also has wider implications for international environmental law, arguing that sectorial legal action, provided it remains co-ordinated through a global forum that recognises and reflects the inter-connections between all elements of the natural environment, is the most effective way for international law to enhance the conservation of certain habitats. This book will be invaluable to environmental lawyers, legal researchers, marine conservationists and other stakeholders in coral reefs. International Environmental Law and the Conservation of Coral Reefs 4 Copyright 5 Contents 6 List of figures 9 List of tables 10 List of conventions 11 List of abbreviations 15 Preface 17 PART I Preliminaries 20 1 Coral reefs 22 1 Introduction 22 2 Scope of the study: hermatypic corals and tropical coral reefs 23 3 Reef building and reef distribution 25 4 Coral reef ecosystems: a marine oasis 29 5 Interaction, predation and grazing upon corals and algae 30 6 How do coral reef ecosystems help humankind? 31 7 Human impacts 34 8 Respon ses 42 9 Conclusion: the future for coral reefs 45 2 The role of international law 48 1 Introduction 48 2 Multilateral legal responses 48 3 The benefits of involving the international community 52 4 Initiatives beyond this study’s boundaries 54 5 Conclusions 60 3 International law and maritime jurisdiction 61 1 Introduction 61 2 Dividing the oceans under the law of the sea 62 3 The significance of the distribution of coral reefs between the maritime zones 73 PART II The multilateral environmental agreements 80 4 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the regional seas agreements 82 1 Introduction to protection of the marine environment under the law of the sea 82 2 The Convention on the Law of the Sea and the promotion of marine protected areas 84 3 Fisheries regulation 88 4 Land-based sources of pollution and coral reef conservation 91 5 Regional seas governance 96 5 Coral reefs and the conservation of biological diversity 122 1 Introduction 122 2 The Convention on Biological Diversity: from early beginnings to signature 124 3 The CBD’s conservation provisions 126 4 Administering the CBD 140 5 The role of protected areas under the CBD 142 6 The Jakarta Mandate 146 7 Addressing coral reefs 150 8 National implementation by coral reef states 152 9 Conclusions 154 6 The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance 156 1 Introduction 156 2 The Ramsar Convention 157 3 Marine protected areas under Ramsar 164 4 Legal competence under Ramsar 166 5 Geographical coverage through membership of states 173 6 Promoting action by contracting parties 176 7 Listing of coral reef ecosystems as wetlands of international importance 179 8 Ramsar and the international community 181 9 Conclusions 185 7 Coral reefs as world heritage 188 1 Introduction 188 2 An overview of the WHC’s provision s and structure 189 3 Geographic coverage 208 4 Promoting the conservation of coral reef ecosystems under the WHC 209 5 Listing of coral reefs as World Heritage Sites 213 6 Practical implications of the WHC and listing for coral reefs 217 7 Conclusions 223 8 CITES and the regulation of international trade in coral reef specimens and products 225 1 Introduction 225 2 The CITES system for regulating trade 226 3 International trade in coral reef species 236 4 CITES regulation of coral reef species 241 5 Engaging coral reef nations and other signifi cant states 247 6 Limitations of CITES for coral reef conservation 248 7 Conclusions 253 9 Coral reefs and CO2 emissions 255 1 Introduction 255 2 Climate change 256 3 Ocean acidifi cation 273 4 Conclusions 278 PART III Conclusions 280 10 Improving governance 282 1 Conservation of coral reefs: a non-regime? 282 2 Current international agreements: adequate for purpose? 283 3 Making adjustments as the next step to enhance the conservation of coral reefs 289 Appendices 292 Bibliography 300 Index 308 Coral Reefs -- The Role Of International Law -- International Law And Maritime Jurisdiction -- United Nations Convention On The Law Of The Sea And The Regional Seas Agreements-- Coral Reefs And The Conservation Of Biological Diversity -- The Ramsar Convention On Wetlands Of International Importance -- Coral Reefs As World Heritage -- Cites And The Regulation Of International Trade In Coral Reef Specimens And Products -- Coral Reefs And Co2 Emissions -- Improving Governance. Edward J. Goodwin. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [281]-288) And Index. The book critically analyses the environmental treaty regimes which are designed to conserve coral reef ecosystems. The book looks at the subject from a number of coral reef perspectives such as coverage of these ecosystems, internal promotion of conservation, national implementation, and discusses the wider implications for international environmental law.