Integrating Biological Diversity

Description:
The beginning of a learning process / The report analyses the findings from three cases studies and discusses the experiences from work with biodiversity integration at Sida. It is noted that in spite of both relevance and need for coherently and pro-actively addressing biodiversity issues within Natural Resources
Management-programmes it is seldom done. A combination of "mainstreaming fatigue", time constraints and a perceived lack of relevance of biodiversity all contributed to the lack of attention to biodiversity issues. Biodiversity is often perceived as mainly conservation of species and areas, and of low relevance to main development objectives such as poverty alleviation and food security. Recommendations include:
a) integrate biodiversity concerns as early as possible during project preparation, and ensure that they are adequately covered in project/programme design,
b) more information among Sida-staff which is closely tailored to the needs of the respective target group, and starts from a very basic level,
c) development of mechanisms to ensure implementation of existing environmental guidelines (e.g. EIA guidelines) at Sida, and
d) initiation of biodiversity mainstreaming activities at other Sida departments.