degradation and depletion of natural resources will continue. The issue has a global dimension. If the world as
a whole followed traditional patterns of consumption, it
is estimated that global resource use would quadruple
within 20 years (CEC, 2005; EC, 2009). The negative
impact on the environment would be substantial. The
alternative can be to adopt a coordinated approach, anticipating the need to shift to more sustainable-use patterns,
which can result in environmental and economic benefits
at a global scale (CEC, 2005).
Sustainable use: the concept
In 1992, the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro
(Brazil), with objectives built upon the hopes and achievements of Our Common Future Report (also known as the
Brundtland Report), in order to respond to pressing global
environmental problems (UN, 1987). Among other agreements, the United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity was adopted (UN, 1992). This convention, considered a key global instrument on conservation (Höft,
2008), establishes three main goals: (1) the conservation
of biological diversity, (2) the sustainable use of its components, and (3) the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity conveys to decisionmakers that natural resources are not infinite. Thus, it sets
out a new philosophy for the twenty-first century: sustainable use (SCBD, 2000). While past conservation efforts
aimed at protecting particular species and habitats, the
convention recognizes that ecosystems must be used for
the benefit of humans. However, this should be done in
a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term
decline of biological diversity, thus promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity (SCBD, 2000).
Sustainability and sustainable use
The most commonly used definition of the term “sustainable development” is found in the 1987 report, Our Common Future, of the World Commission on Environment
and Development (WCED, 1987). In this report sustainable development is defined as “development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.” Achieving
this in practice requires that economic growth, social
progress, and environmental quality improvement go
together. These three pillars cannot be developed in isolation since they are strongly interdependent. Economic
growth can provide the additional financial resources for
improving the quality of the environment and reinforcing
social cohesion. Social policy underpins economic performance and helps citizens to be responsible. Environmental
policy contributes to preserving the natural resource base
of the economy and to enhance the quality of life (CEC,
2003). Thus, the sustainable use of natural resources constitutes an effective tool to achieve sustainable development; achieving sustainable patterns of resource use
is a key part of achieving sustainable development
(SERI et al., 2009). However, it is not just the natural
resources that must be sustainably managed. All components of ecosystems should be considered. Estuaries provide natural resources (e.g., fish and shellfish) but also
have recreational and aesthetic value such as fishing,
bird-watching, and boating. Additionally, estuaries are
often the cultural centers of coastal communities, serving
as focal points for local commerce, recreation, celebrations, and traditions (Figure 1).
In addition to the resources, sustainable use should also
consider the ecosystems services (e.g., detoxification and
decomposition of wastes, stabilization and moderation of
the climate) (SCBD, 2000), which represent the benefits
human populations derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions (Costanza et al., 1997).
Conditions for sustainable use
The challenge of sustainable use is the following: reversing the degradation of ecosystems while meeting the
increasing demands for their resources and services. In
2004, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity identified the fundamental conditions that
should be taken into account in structuring a sustainableuse approach (SCBD 2004). These include the following:
1. Resources should be used in a manner in which ecological processes, species, and genetic variability remain
above thresholds needed for long-term viability, and
thus all resource managers and users have the responsibility to ensure that use does not exceed these capacities. It is crucial that the ecosystem is maintained or,
in some cases, recovered, to ensure that those ecosystems are capable to sustain the ecological services on
which both biodiversity and people depend.
2. Ecosystems, ecological processes within them, species
variability, and genetic variation change over time
whether or not they are used; therefore, governments,
resource managers, and users should take into account
the need to accommodate change, including stochastic
events that may adversely affect biodiversity and influence the sustainability of a use.
3. Under circumstances where the risk of converting natural landscapes to other purposes is high, encouraging
sustainable use can provide incentives to maintain habitats and ecosystems and the species within them.
4. Biodiversity provides many direct benefits and ecosystem services necessary for life. Increasingly, many
marine species are of value to pharmaceuticals for disease prevention and cure. Finally, local communities
and their cultures often depend directly on the uses of
natural resources for their livelihoods. In all of these
instances, governments should have adequate policies
and capacities in place to ensure that such uses are
sustainable.
5. The supply of biological products and ecological services available for use is limited by intrinsic biological
characteristics of both species and ecosystems,
including productivity, resilience, and stability.
652
SUSTAINABLE USE
a whole followed traditional patterns of consumption, it
is estimated that global resource use would quadruple
within 20 years (CEC, 2005; EC, 2009). The negative
impact on the environment would be substantial. The
alternative can be to adopt a coordinated approach, anticipating the need to shift to more sustainable-use patterns,
which can result in environmental and economic benefits
at a global scale (CEC, 2005).
Sustainable use: the concept
In 1992, the Earth Summit was held in Rio de Janeiro
(Brazil), with objectives built upon the hopes and achievements of Our Common Future Report (also known as the
Brundtland Report), in order to respond to pressing global
environmental problems (UN, 1987). Among other agreements, the United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity was adopted (UN, 1992). This convention, considered a key global instrument on conservation (Höft,
2008), establishes three main goals: (1) the conservation
of biological diversity, (2) the sustainable use of its components, and (3) the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. The United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity conveys to decisionmakers that natural resources are not infinite. Thus, it sets
out a new philosophy for the twenty-first century: sustainable use (SCBD, 2000). While past conservation efforts
aimed at protecting particular species and habitats, the
convention recognizes that ecosystems must be used for
the benefit of humans. However, this should be done in
a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term
decline of biological diversity, thus promoting the sustainable use of biodiversity (SCBD, 2000).
Sustainability and sustainable use
The most commonly used definition of the term “sustainable development” is found in the 1987 report, Our Common Future, of the World Commission on Environment
and Development (WCED, 1987). In this report sustainable development is defined as “development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.” Achieving
this in practice requires that economic growth, social
progress, and environmental quality improvement go
together. These three pillars cannot be developed in isolation since they are strongly interdependent. Economic
growth can provide the additional financial resources for
improving the quality of the environment and reinforcing
social cohesion. Social policy underpins economic performance and helps citizens to be responsible. Environmental
policy contributes to preserving the natural resource base
of the economy and to enhance the quality of life (CEC,
2003). Thus, the sustainable use of natural resources constitutes an effective tool to achieve sustainable development; achieving sustainable patterns of resource use
is a key part of achieving sustainable development
(SERI et al., 2009). However, it is not just the natural
resources that must be sustainably managed. All components of ecosystems should be considered. Estuaries provide natural resources (e.g., fish and shellfish) but also
have recreational and aesthetic value such as fishing,
bird-watching, and boating. Additionally, estuaries are
often the cultural centers of coastal communities, serving
as focal points for local commerce, recreation, celebrations, and traditions (Figure 1).
In addition to the resources, sustainable use should also
consider the ecosystems services (e.g., detoxification and
decomposition of wastes, stabilization and moderation of
the climate) (SCBD, 2000), which represent the benefits
human populations derive, directly or indirectly, from ecosystem functions (Costanza et al., 1997).
Conditions for sustainable use
The challenge of sustainable use is the following: reversing the degradation of ecosystems while meeting the
increasing demands for their resources and services. In
2004, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological
Diversity identified the fundamental conditions that
should be taken into account in structuring a sustainableuse approach (SCBD 2004). These include the following:
1. Resources should be used in a manner in which ecological processes, species, and genetic variability remain
above thresholds needed for long-term viability, and
thus all resource managers and users have the responsibility to ensure that use does not exceed these capacities. It is crucial that the ecosystem is maintained or,
in some cases, recovered, to ensure that those ecosystems are capable to sustain the ecological services on
which both biodiversity and people depend.
2. Ecosystems, ecological processes within them, species
variability, and genetic variation change over time
whether or not they are used; therefore, governments,
resource managers, and users should take into account
the need to accommodate change, including stochastic
events that may adversely affect biodiversity and influence the sustainability of a use.
3. Under circumstances where the risk of converting natural landscapes to other purposes is high, encouraging
sustainable use can provide incentives to maintain habitats and ecosystems and the species within them.
4. Biodiversity provides many direct benefits and ecosystem services necessary for life. Increasingly, many
marine species are of value to pharmaceuticals for disease prevention and cure. Finally, local communities
and their cultures often depend directly on the uses of
natural resources for their livelihoods. In all of these
instances, governments should have adequate policies
and capacities in place to ensure that such uses are
sustainable.
5. The supply of biological products and ecological services available for use is limited by intrinsic biological
characteristics of both species and ecosystems,
including productivity, resilience, and stability.
652
SUSTAINABLE USE