IUCN Policy Statement on Sustainable Use of Wild Living Resources

This IUCN policy affirms that sustainable use of wildlife can be consistent with, and contribute to, biodiversity conservation This fundamental principle applies to all species, whatever their level of extinction risk. However, stringent safeguards and a high level of precaution are required when considering whether or not the harvest of a threatened species can be justified.

How to use

gsap
Visit page

Related content

Unselective, unsustainable, and unmonitored trawl fisheries?

In 2016, the term UUU (unselective, unsustainable and unmonitored) fishing was developed and a Resolution of the World Conservation Congress, adopted by Members, tasked IUCN’s Species Survival Commission with reporting on the concept. The resulting situation analysis utilises the trawl fisheries of China, Thailand and Vietnam to explore how some of the issues associated with UUU fishing can be linked back to these three elements. The report found considerable variation in each component of UUU across the case study countries but that uncontrolled fishery development resulting in excess fishing capacity is commonly a root cause, leaving long standing impacts which have proven very challenging to solve. Whilst the report does not provide recommendations for action, it does identify 14 areas where further work would help accelerate progress on sustainable use, the protection of species of conservation concern and help safeguard the marine ecosystem.

Species use database

The Species Use Database (SpUD) has been created by the IUCN Sustainable Use and Livelihoods Specialist Group (SULi) to help address this problem by collecting and synthesising information on the utilization of wild species globally, and specifically on the sustainability of that use.

The database is intended to appeal to a broad spectrum of users, from those in policy and decision-making, to academia and educators, conservation practitioners, civil society and NGOs, as well as any individuals interested and keen to learn more about the use of wild species. The individual records – and the periodic syntheses of these – can be used to guide and feed into sound policies and decision-making, that enhance legal, sustainable, equitable wildlife management practices and draw attention to those that are illegal, unsustainable and inequitable.

Universal Ranger Support Alliance (URSA)

A coalition of conservation organisations supporting and promoting the International Ranger Federation to build a network of well-supported, professional, and capable rangers, who can act effectively as custodians of the natural world. It has produced numerous guidelines and standards of relevance to professionalizing the ranger work-force, including a Code of Conduct, ranger competences, and a document on how rangers support delivery of 30×30. There are 8 organizations URSA can be linked with (for filtering purposes).

WildLabs Conservation Technology Community

WILDLABS is home to the global conservation technology community of 8,600 people in 120 countries discussing 1,500 topics like biologging, camera traps, and machine learning. With engaging spaces to ask questions and collaborate together, share your own work, and discover new ideas and innovations, WILDLABS is your platform to connect with #Tech4Wildlife experts and projects from around the world.

Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: An Indicator to Monitor the Threats to Inland Fisheries, as a Component of Target 5

Achieving effective conservation and sustainable development of inland aquatic ecosystems is dependent on inland fisheries*, but they are frequently absent from associated policy because of the lack of a globally applicable method for monitoring their status (see section 4). To address this problem, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) have developed an indicator for assessing threats to inland fisheries. Providing a means to assess the
threats to inland fisheries will help conservation and management of this critical source of nutrition and livelihoods, especially for poverty and food security issues, considering climate change, land use and human development impacts on fisheries.

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022

The 2022 edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture coincides with the launch of the Decade of Action to deliver the Global Goals, the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. It presents how these and other equally important United Nations events, such as the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture (IYAFA 2022), are being integrated and supported through Blue Transformation, a priority area of FAO’s new Strategic Framework 2022–2031 designed to accelerate achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in food and agriculture. The concept of Blue Transformation emerged from the Thirty-fourth Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries in February 2021, and in particular the Declaration for Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture, which was negotiated and endorsed by all FAO Members. The Declaration calls for support for “an evolving and positive vision for fisheries and aquaculture in the twenty first century, where the sector is fully recognized for its contribution to fighting poverty, hunger and malnutrition.” In this context, Part 1 of this edition of The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture reviews the world status of fisheries and aquaculture, while Parts 2 and 3 are devoted to Blue Transformation and its pillars on intensifying and expanding aquaculture, improving fisheries management and innovating fisheries and aquaculture value chains. Blue Transformation emphasizes the need for forward-looking and bold actions to be launched or accelerated in coming years to achieve the objectives of the Declaration and in support of the 2030 Agenda. Part 4 covers current and high-impact emerging issues – COVID-19, climate change and gender equality – that require thorough consideration for transformative steps and preparedness to secure sustainable, efficient and equitable fisheries and aquaculture, and finally draws some outlook on future trends based on projections. The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture aims to provide objective, reliable and up-to-date information to a wide audience – policymakers, managers, scientists, stakeholders and indeed everyone interested in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.

AEWA Guidance on Measures in National Legislation for Different Populations of the Same Species, Particularly with Respect to Hunting and Trade

Resolution 4.3 requested the Technical Committee, amongst other things, to advise on a more adequate implementation of the AEWA Action Plan’s population approach in the national legislation, particularly with regard to a ban on hunting and trade, and, if needed, provide guidance on its consequences for Parties. Such guidance may clarify the question how to deal with different populations of the same species in a country. This task was taken up by the Technical Committee in its Work Plan 2012-2015 under Working Group 1 (WG1). The Technical Committee examined and agreed on this guidance at its 12th meeting in March 2015.

CMS Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT)

The Intergovernmental Task Force on Illegal Killing, Taking and Trade of Migratory Birds in the Mediterranean (MIKT) has been convened by the CMS Secretariat in conjunction with the Secretariat of AEWA, the Raptors MOU Coordinating Unit and the African-Eurasian Migratory Landbirds Action Plan (AEMLAP) Working Group. It brings together governmental representatives of CMS Parties from the Mediterranean region, including European Union Member States, and other interested Parties. Representatives from non-CMS Parties as well as relevant international organizations and networks are also part of MIKT as observers.

AEWA Implementation Review Process (IRP)

The AEWA Implementation Review Process (IRP) was established by the Parties to the Agreement at their 4th Meeting (MOP4) in September 2008 through Resolution 4.6 in order to support the implementation of AEWA.
MOP4 also decided that the AEWA Standing Committee will undertake the IRP. The IRP will look at issues that have adverse effects or potential adverse effects on either migratory waterbirds or on their sites and habitats as a result of human activities.
The AEWA Technical Committee developed an information sheet on possible cases, which is meant to provide basic information for assessment by the Agreement’s governing bodies. All stakeholders can use this form to submit issues of concern with regard to sites important for migratory waterbirds, waterbird species/populations or any other issue, which in their opinion constitutes non-compliance with the provisions of AEWA, to the AEWA Secretariat.

AEWA Strategic Plan 2019-2027 Adopted at the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties

The first AEWA Strategic Plan was adopted at the 4th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP4) in 2008 through Resolution 4.7 and covered the period 2009-2017. Noting that MOP7 will not have taken place before 2018, in November 2015, MOP6 decided to extend the Strategic Plan until 2018 as per Resolution 6.14. Through the same Resolution, the MOP instructed the Standing Committee, working with the Technical Committee and supported by the UNEP/AEWA Secretariat, to revise the AEWA Strategic Plan taking into account the CMS Strategic Plan for Migratory Species 2015-2023, and to present a draft plan for the period 2019-2027 for consideration and adoption by MOP7. The current Strategic Plan for the period 2019-2027 was adopted at the 7th Session of the Meeting of the Parties on 4-8 December 2018 in Durban, South Africa.

Agreement Text and its Annexes as amended by the 8th Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP8)

The Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) is an intergovernmental treaty dedicated to the conservation of migratory waterbirds and their habitats across Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Greenland and the Canadian Archipelago.

Developed under the framework of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and administered by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), AEWA brings together countries and the wider international conservation community in an effort to establish coordinated conservation and management of migratory waterbirds throughout their entire migratory range.

CMS Review Mechanism and National Legislation Programme

Strengthening of compliance with specific obligations contained in the Convention has been identified as a critical issue for the effective conservation and management of migratory species. With the aim to facilitate the implementation of the Convention and promote its effectiveness, the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (Manila, 2017) adopted Resolution 12.09 to establish a Review Mechanism and a National Legislation Programme.

The Review Mechanism and the National Legislation Programme are supportive, non-adversarial and facilitative processes focused on providing support to Parties that are experiencing difficulties with the implementation of the Convention. Pursuant to Article VII of the Convention, the two processes facilitate Parties’ attempts to identify gaps in their legislation and domestic matters that need to be addressed with corrective measures to ensuring both the long-term compliance with Articles of the Convention and the adequate protection of migratory species.