Biodiversity and the Law

'Improving the international governance of biodiversity is a very necessary but enormous challenge. These top quality essays which comprise the finest collection published so far on this controversial subject provide a rich and diverse source of informed perspectives.' Graham Dutfield Centre for International Governance University of Leeds 'This book provides a detailed examination of the contemporary debate on how to reconcile global economic development with the preservation of our biological and cultural diversity. This debate brings into tension human rights with intellectual property and industrial development with food security. Professor McManis is to be commended for compiling this important inter-disciplinary compendium of perspectives.' Michael Blakeney Professor of Law Queen Mary College University of London 'Biodiversity and the Law is a very timely and relevant publication. It has managed to capture and present most of the key and critical issues surrounding debates over and relations between biodiversity biotechnology intellectual property and traditional knowledge. A must read for anyone seeking to understand the far reaching policy legal economic and social implications of current discussions over these issues.' Manuel Ruiz lawyer with the Peruvian Environmental Law Society How do we promote global economic development while simultaneously preserving local biological and cultural diversity? This authoritative volume written by leading legal experts and biological and social scientists from around the world aims to address this question in all of its complexity. The first part of the book focuses on biodiversity and examines what we are losing why and what is to be done. The second part addresses biotechnology and looks at whether it is part of the solution or part of the problem or perhaps both. The third section examines traditional knowledge explains what it is and how if at all it should be protected. The fourth and final p