Island Biodiversity
Chapter 12 in Biodiversity and Nature Protection Law, edited by E Morgera and J Razzaque (Edward Elgar, 2017)
Posted: 15 Feb 2017
Date Written: February 11, 2017
Abstract
Islands are home to important and often unique biological resources. Paradoxically, the small size and isolation of many islands that contributes to this biodiversity also mean that islands are particularly vulnerable to threats to biodiversity. They also present particular and difficult challenges for island States when responding to biodiversity threats. Although the importance of biodiversity is generally accepted, and addressed through a number of legal instruments, it is only in the last decade or so that the particular challenges for island States have been recognized. There is virtually no dedicated literature on the regulation of island biodiversity. Regulation is typically through general instruments, or soft-law measures. The chapter considers the state of knowledge on island biodiversity, identifying key threats and challenges, and indicates how existing and new regulatory approaches can be developed to face these challenges.
Keywords: Biodiversity, islands, small island developing states; international law
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