Abstract

This article is concerned with the potential for private action to improve sourcing practices to promote biodiversity. More specifically this article examines the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT) and its verification and certification of ‘sourcing with respect’: that is, sourcing ingredients from biodiversity in a way that is respectful to both the local environment and people. While key international biodiversity treaties and instruments—such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol—encourage public actors to work with private actors to develop methods for the sustainable use of biological resources, our examination of UEBT shows that there are concerns over the standards, implementation and enforcement of private initiatives. In conclusion, we suggest two key ways in which transnational or public/private initiatives can be strengthened. First, via more proactively promoting public/private cooperation, including about how certification is used to reduce inconsistency and consumer overload or confusion. Secondly, by placing greater emphasis on mechanisms that place pressure on supply chain actors to source in ways that promote biodiversity.

中文翻译：

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证明生物多样性：道德生物贸易联盟和寻求道德采购

摘要

本文关注的是私人采取行动以改善采购实践以促进生物多样性的潜力。更具体地说，本文研究了伦理生物贸易联盟（UEBT）及其“尊重采购”的验证和认证：也就是说，以尊重当地环境和人类的方式从生物多样性中采购原料。虽然关键的国际生物多样性条约和文书（例如《生物多样性公约》和《名古屋议定书》）鼓励公共行为者与私人行为者合作，以开发可持续利用生物资源的方法，但我们对UEBT的研究表明存在关注私人倡议的标准，实施和执行。结论，我们提出了加强跨国或公共/私人倡议的两种主要方法。首先，通过更积极地促进公共/私人合作，包括关于如何使用证书来减少不一致和消费者超负荷或混乱的问题。第二，通过更加强调对供应链参与者施加压力的机制，以促进生物多样性的方式进行采购。