NationStates Jolt Archive

The Bioprotection and Economic Treaty (BIOPET)

Zeronia, and many nations of the world and beyond believe that the protection of the environment should be a high priority. The creators of the Bioprotection and Economical Treaty (BIOPET) hope that this will bring more attention to the importance of the environment and biodiversity. To make the treaty more "palatable" to prospective signatories, there is an emphasis on the economical benefits of protecting biodiversity and the environment.

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/allpolitics/0301/sotu.bush.highlights/story.environment.jpg

Nations can benefit much more from the natural resources they have been imbued with when an active plan of sustainable, self-sufficient harvesting of the environment is in place. Protection of biodiversity is not only a reward in its own right, but can benefit nations economically. The vast majority of the world feeds on but a few species of plants and animals, and thus if any problems were to crop up (no pun intended :P ), such as a disease or biological invasion, then there could be major ramifications. As the industry of agriculture shifts from the tractor to the biotechnology laboratories, the preservation of stock crops and the incorporation of less-harvested crops will become just as important as the introduction of transgenic (genetically modified) crops. After six years since beginning to rotate grambud (a hardy, fibrous, slightly bitter native grain) fields with wheat in Zeronia, overall grain production has increased by 96%, and 18% fewer cases of colon polyps have been reported (on account of grambud grain products). The health system has saved money, and the agricultural and food sectors have profited.

http://www.canadianbiodiversity.mcgill.ca/english/conservation/agriculture.jpg

Agriculture is the most obvious application of BIOPET, but there are other benefits. The vast biodiversity of the world's ecosystems contain useful products. Consider the anti-cancer drug Taxol, which is conceived in the bark of the Pacific yew, a seemingly useless tree. Suppose the yew was found only in one particular forest. Now suppose a nation was oblivious to the value of biodiversity and ended up clearing most of its forested areas for urban development and unknowingly brought a small population of yews to extinction. There would be no discovery of Taxol, and cancer treatment could be set back many years. Could there be a new wonderdrug hidden somewhere in the vast wilds of your nation? If an organism like the yew is found to produce a useful product, everything should be done to protect it from over-harvesting. Synthetic methods of production should be sought out.

http://www.aceer.org/source_images/forests/deforestation.jpg

While the protection of the environment and biodiversity is beneficial as it offers economic rewards, it is also beneficial as it can suppress problems of clearing and urban expansion. As another example from home, Zeronia had an outbreak of a previously unknown disease in the northern town of Tener in the early 1980s. Deforestation due to poor agricultural methods unleashed a virus which infected most of the local population. Although it proved non-fatal for all except the old and infirm, it raised concerns about logging and the sustaining of current agricultural fields. Biological invasion can not only devastate native populations (including those of economic interest), but can affect the sentient population as well.

The nature of the treaty itself is to encourage, but not enforce the ethical management of natural resources. Signatories are encouraged to seek each other out for help regarding biotechnology, and the protection of natural resources. Zeronia's Ministry of Environment heads BIOPET and will offer assistance to those wishing to attain maximum sustainable harvesting. If BIOPET is a success, it may expand to offer more direct benefits to signatory nations. BIOPET is based in Zaea Centralis, Zeronia.

Additional information on the importance of biodiversity can be found here (http://www.ucsusa.org/global_environment/archive/page.cfm?pageID=392).

The Bioprotection and Economic Treaty

All nations who have ratified and signed the Bioprotection and Economical Treaty agree:

- that the protection of biodiversity and the environment is important, worthwhile, and yields many rewards on the social and economical

- to take extra care when using transgenic crops in widespread agriculture; execute a stringent protocol of investigation before harvesting transgenic crops on a large scale

- to protect as many native species of plants and animals as possible; in particular, those that may serve an economical purpose

- to attempt to diversify agricultural production; at least approve of the harvesting of one new type of crop or livestock that is safe for consumption

- to carefully plan the harvesting of the environment; attain a maximum sustainable yield

- to share the technological resources and the effort to synthesize useful products that are found in the wild

- that biological invasions are a real threat to biodiversity in the host nation, and many precautions must be made to avert such catastrophes

- to keep records and samples of original crops before using biotechnology to

- that using ethical harvesting practices can yield a higher accretion of resources in the long run

- to use bioprospecting to its full advantage; share resources in bioprospecting

- to seek assistance to protect the environment and biodiversity whenever possible

Note: The People's Republic of Zeronia [Ministry of Environment] reserves the right to edit or append to the policies described above in BIOPET.

Signatory nations:


The People's Republic of Zeronia
The United Provinces of Tanah Burung
The Borderlands of The Iron Fragment
The Ecotopian Grand Duchy of Hell Bovines
The Confederated Republic of Eredron

I won't join up.

A fine effort. The collective presidency of Tanah Burung will sign this treaty and place it before a national referendum for ratification.
La'o hamutuk, mau bere!
Silas Simparieff
People's representative for the environment

An interesting proposal. Being machinery, we have little use for agriculture, but any environmental damage we may cause can eventually have an impact on other nations, and we, being relatively small, would never want to gain a bad reputation amongst humans. We agree to sign the treaty and begin regulating deforestation and landscaping into environment-friendly levels. We will also gladly research any unknown or little-known-of flora and fauna and post results for the benefit of all nations, human or other.

We also propose that to the list of regulations that a nation must accept should be added that a nation must always check if an environmental area has any substantial beneficial use when deforesting the area for industrial or other expansion.

We hope that by signing this and agreeing to the regulations, we can gain trust amongst humans. Despite what the movie Terminator might teach you, not all machines are hell-bent on the destruction of the human race.


The Borderlands of The Iron Fragment

As a nation that has always respected the enviroment and lived in harmony with nature, Hell Bovines proudly signs this treaty, congratulating at the same time the noble government of Zeronia for the great contribution it has made for the welfare of the world and mother nature.
Best wishes,

Mooo IV, Democratically-elected duque of Hell Bovines

bump for the environment

"What a waste of time. Don't they know we produce more air and water pollution each year than they could possibly clean up in a hundred years?"

-Random low-level PCC exec

Bizzump!

I agree with Santa Barbara "What A waste of time". :)

Very well. The few of us will have to reap the benefits alone... :wink:

The Senate of Majorities of the Confederated Republic of Eredron has voted 539-25, in favor of this Treaty.