Sustainable use

This document is the product of extensive consultation between EC policy advisers and task managers dealing with biodiversity and the environment, and those working on natural resource and non-natural resource issues. The important issue of integrating biodiversity into development cooperation policy and practice is addressed. It highlights the need to realise biodiversity's full potential to support development while addressing the direct and underlying causes of its loss.

Proposes an overview of the concept of sustainable use, drawing from the growing body of literature concerned with common property resources, ecosystem management and community based natural resource management. It also provides a synoptic account of the state of living natural resources in Mesoamerica, taking into account the efforts undertaken in situ and ex situ Conservation.

The symposium was convened to assess experience at integrating developmnet and conservation concerns within natural resource management initiatives, and draw out lessons for policy-makers, institutional development and capacity building. It includes a selection of papers from across English- and French-speaking Africa.