Tarasofsky, Richard G.

This action guide is the culmination of a four-year IUCN project on the convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the international trade regime. The point of departure for the project was the assumption that both the CBD and the World Trade Organization (WTO) represent regimes whose successful implementation is necessary in order to achieve sustainable development. The project yielded a rich set of recommendations on three themes relating to the core of the CBD: forests, fisheries and intellectual property rights (IPRs).

Provides an assessment of the international forest regime, in reponse to calls from many quarters, including the UN Intergovernmental Forum on Forests (IFF) and the World Commission on Forests and Sustainable Development, as well as several NGOs. The focus is mainly on action taken by countries at the global level, in the framework of legally binding instruments and institutions. It builds on previous analyses of the international forest regime by looking beyond the legal mandates to begin exploring the actual performance of the components against their mandates.

It is not surprising that the issues involved in what is known as the "trade and environment" debate are manifold and complex. What is involved is an intersection of objectives which address economy, development, enviornment and equity. All this in an attempt to find the appropriate balance between free and controlled markets. As the reach of both globalization and environmental policies increase, it becomes ever necessary to fulfil the aim stated in Agenda 21 of ensuring that trade and environment are mutually supportive.

Synthesis of the various components of international law that have an impact on forests and provides a policy framework for conservation and sustainable use, against which any future global forest regime shoud be measured.