Integrating biodiversity conservation and sustainable use : lessons learned from ecological networks

Abstract

The importance of strengthening ecological coherence and resilience as necessary conditions for both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development has attracted growing attention in recent years in a wide range of conservation and development fora. The World Summit on Sustainable Development, that was held in Johannesburg in September 2002, adopted the goal of securing by 2010 a significant reduction in the current rate of biodiversity loss. In setting out how this can be achieved within the context of sustainable development, the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation called for the promotion of ‘national and regional ecological networks and corridors’.