Marine conservation and integrated marine management in New Zealand : Towards meeting obligations to the 1992 convention on biological diversity: Prepared in partial fulfilment of the MSc (Resource Management)

Abstract

In 1992, New Zealand became a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which was developed during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development. This came from recognition that the world's biological diversity has, for some time, been under increasingly serious threat. The CBD has three main objectives: 1. the conservation of biological diversity 2. the sustainable use of its components; and 3. the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources

The underlying 'thesis' proposed in this research is that under New Zealand's current framework for marine conservation and overall marine resource management, the objectives of the CBD will not be effectively met in the foreseeable future. In order to meet this objective, the following subsidiary objectives were formulated: - Define the concept of biological diversity, why it has arisen, its importance, and the requirements and implications of the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. - Describe current marine conservation mechanisms in New Zealand, and assess whether these are adequate to meet Article 8 of the CBD - Describe New Zealand's overall framework for marine management to identify key issues regarding whether arrangements are conducive to integrating conservation with sustainable use mechanisms, (signalled by Articles 6 (b) and 10 (a) of the CBD). - Draw conclusions about New Zealand's current status, in order to better meet CBD requirements.