Includes bibliographical references (pages 172-184) and index.

An introduction to global biodiversity and its regulation : an issue at the core of the environment and development debate -- The fundamental causes of biodiversity's decline : a bio-economic model -- Biodiversity conservation and global development : is it possible to reconcile the two? -- Regulating global biodiversity : channelling diversity's values to developing countries -- The Biodiversity Convention : a meeting of the minds? -- The institutions required for effective biodiversity conservation : the general principals underlying effective conservation -- Contracting for biodiversity : transferring development rights across international boundaries -- International regulation of the wildlife trade : rent appropriation and biodiversity conservation -- Biodiversity conservation and intellectual property rights : capturing information's values -- The conclusion of the Biodiversity Convention : and a future for biodiversity? "At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, the nations of the world adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity. Since then, over 160 countries have ratified the Convention, three Conferences of the Parties have taken place and a permanent secretariat has been established. Despite this, there remains a lot of uncertainty and even controversy about what the Convention was intended to accomplish and how it was to do so." "This book, published in association with IUCN - The World Conservation Union, sets out to answer some of these questions by recounting the history of the movements leading up to the Convention, but especially by analysing the forces giving rise to the problem. It provides a specific set of policy prescriptions intended to facilitate the development of institutions and obligations within the international community which will give real effect to the aspirations of the Convention, and to ensure that it has some real effect at ground level." "The book is an excellent introduction to a very topical debate, and a valuable reference point for conservationists, policy makers and students of development studies, environmental studies, environmental policy and conservation biology."--Jacket.