Call for Papers: Yearbook of International Environmental Law

The Yearbook of International Environmental Law has issued a call for papers for its volume 21 (2010). The theme is "Conserving Biodiversity." Here's the call:

Call for Papers

Yearbook of International Environmental Law vol. 21 (2010)

The editors of the Yearbook of International Environmental Law is pleased to issue this call for contributions to its 2010 volume.

Conserving biodiversity

1. In 2002 the sixth COP of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the following target as part of its Strategic Plan: “to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on earth." This objective was subsequently noted among the key outcomes from the Johannesburg Summit and included among the Millenium Development Goals (Goal 7B). When declaring 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity, the UN General Assembly acknowledged “that an unprecedented effort would be needed to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction in the rate of loss of biological diversity” (A/RES/61/203). The 2010 Millenium Development Report concluded: “The world has missed the 2010 target for biodiversity conservation, with potentially grave consequences” (at 55). We invite contributions that trace the work of international institutions to fulfil the target and analyse reasons why efforts have failed, with a particular focus on the role of international environmental law and institutions.

2. As part of the process to enhance cooperation and coordination among multilateral environmental agreements, treaties focusing on biodiversity established the Biodiversity Liaison Group in 2004. In 2010 the Group participated in the preparation of the new Strategic Plan of the CBD. This is a unique example of coordination of strategic planning among MEAs. On the other hand, when adopting its guidelines for reporting, the CBD explicitly mentions treaties participating in the Joint Liaison Group of the Rio Conventions and not those that participate in the Biodiversity Liaison Group. In light of the various efforts to reform the regime for international environmental governance, we invite contributions assessing the international governance for biodiversity conservation, including the achievements and prospects for cooperation and coordination among the biodiversity-related treaties as well as other relevant regimes or institutions.

3. Management of the interface between science and policy decisions has been debated extensively, in particular in relation to the climate regime. In 2010, the UN General Assembly considered establishment of an Intergovernmental science-policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). We invite contributions that address the interface between science and policy in the field of biodiversity from legal and institutional perspectives, as well as from broader comparative perspectives taking in particular into account experiences with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and relevant initiatives to establish mechanisms for the marine environment. Articles that relate advances in scientific knowledge regarding biodiversity to possible future policy and legal developments are also encouraged.

4. Ten years after adopting the Cartagena Protocol, the CBD adopted its second protocol in 2010, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization. We invite contributions addressing experiences so far with the Cartagena Protocol, or the negotiation process, content and future of the Nagoya Protocol, as well as broader issues concerning protocols under the CBD.

5. Biodiversity treaties, such as the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, the World Heritage Convention and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, have been leading in establishing partnerships with governmental and non-governmental actors. We invite contributions analysing such public-private partnerships from legal and institutional perspectives.

We encourage contributions from developing country authors that address perspectives from the Global South. We will accept up to six articles of 10,000-15,000 words each, including footnotes. Proposed topics and outlines should be sent to by December 10. Our review of proposals will be ready by December 20, and the deadline for submitting final articles will be March 31, 2011.