ISSUE THEME:   Biodiversity

ISSUE EDITOR: Michael McClain

Welcome to the third issue of Basins and Coasts, which focuses on the theme of biodiversity and includes contributions from leading individuals working in the areas of biodiversity policy, science, and project implementation. Biodiversity loss ranks among the few global issues that have mobilized nearly universal political support and coordinated action among nations, as declared in the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, and many national laws and policies. Development agencies have responded by committing funds to mount and implement biodiversity conservation programs worldwide, and countless governmental and non-governmental organizations have taken up the task of halting biodiversity loss. These efforts are motivated by awareness of the inherent value of Earth’s biodiversity, as well as an increasing recognition that human welfare and socioeconomic systems are heavily dependent on services provided by ecosystems and the species composing them. This issue includes four articles addressing a selection of cutting-edge themes in the global effort to protect biodiversity in freshwater and coastal systems. Robert Naiman of the University of Washington describes an emerging perspective of the Global Water System and its usefulness as a framework for both managing water and conserving aquatic biodiversity. Sabine Brels and David Coates of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity explore the linkages between biodiversity, wetlands, and climate change and the potential role of wetlands in mitigating climate change. Elin Torell and Baraka Kalangahe present a case study from Tanzania examining the interactions between HIV/AIDS and biodiversity conservation. And Robin Abell of WWF introduces two new information and analysis tools to assist conservation efforts worldwide.

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Individual Articles
		The Developing Global Perspective on Fresh Water & BiodiversityRobert Naiman
		Water, Wetlands, Biodiversity and Climate ChangeSabine Brels and David Coates
		Biodiversity Conservation and HIV/AIDS - Understanding the Linkages and Encouraging Behavior ChangeElin Torell and Baraka Kalangahe
		New Tools in the Conservation of Aquatic BiodiversityRobin Abell