Conservation of Biodiversity Scientific Standards and Practical Realization

Abstract

Ecologists and particularly biocoenologists consider themselves specifically responsible for problems of biodiversity protection. But are they really always equal to this task? In order to answer this question, please try to conclusively explain to a politician in a few, easily comprehensible sentences, what biodiversity is and why it should be conserved. The political understanding for questions of biodiversity is all the more important as at the United Nations’ Conference on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro in 1992 an international convention for the conservation of biodiversity was signed and within two years ratified by the majority of the signatories. A convention must be translated into practical measures; and for these measures laws are necessary which have to be drawn up in close collaboration between politicians and experts. Scientists, especially ecologists and biologists, are expected to make an important contribution to this process.