Goodwin E.J. International Environmental Law and the Conservation of Coral Reefs

London, New York: Routledge, 2011. — 320 p. — (Routledge Research in Environmental Law). — ISBN: 0415489806, 0415859581Tropical coral reefs are important ecosystems. They are economically important to coastal communities living in predominantly developing countries, and also provide shoreline protection, catalyse land formation enabling human habitation, act as a carbon sink and are a repository for genetic and species diversity rivalling rainforests. In the face of mounting man-made pressure from pollution, climate change and over-exploitation, these ecosystems increasingly need action to be taken to ensure their conservation and long term sustainable development. Breaks new ground by providing the first in-depth account of the ways in which multilateral environmental treaty regimes are seeking to encourage and improve the conservation of tropical coral reef ecosystems. In so doing, the work aims to raise the profile of such activities in order to reinforce their status on the environmental agenda. The book also has wider implications for international environmental law, arguing that sectorial legal action, provided it remains co-ordinated through a global forum that recognises and reflects the inter-connections between all elements of the natural environment, is the most effective way for international law to enhance the conservation of certain habitats.This book will be invaluable to environmental lawyers, legal researchers, marine conservationists and other stakeholders in coral reefs.List of conventionsPreliminaries
Coral reefs
The role of international law
International law and maritime jurisdiction
The multilateral environmental agreements
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the regional seas agreements
Coral reefs and the conservation of biological diversity
The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Coral reefs as world heritage
CITES and the regulation of international trade in coral reef specimens and products
Coral reefs and CO2 emissionsImproving governance