Convention on Biological Diversity

CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

By Anton Antonio

January 6, 2016

What is biological diversity of biodiversity.  Biological diversity or biodiversity is the variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species and of ecosystems.

“The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is a multilateral treaty.  The Convention has three main goals: (1) conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); (2) sustainable use of its components; and, (3) fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.  In other words, its objective is to develop national strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.  It is often seen as the key document regarding sustainable development.  The Convention was opened for signature at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993.  2010 was the International Year of Biodiversity.  The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is the focal point for the International Year of Biodiversity.  At the 2010 10^th Conference of Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biodiversity in October in Nagoya, Japan, the Nagoya protocol was adopted.  On 22 December 2010, the UN declared the period from 2011 to 2020 as the UN Decade on Biodiversity.  They, hence, followed a recommendation of the CBD signatories during COP10 at Nagoya in October 2010.  The convention recognized for the first time in international law that the conservation of biological diversity is “a common concern of humankind” and is an integral part of the development process.  The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.  It links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably.  It sets principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, notably those destined for commercial use.  It also covers the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology through its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, addressing technology development and transfer, benefit-sharing and biosafety issues.  Importantly, the Convention is legally binding, countries that join it (“Parties”) are obliged to implement its provisions.  The convention reminds decision-makers that natural resources are not infinite and sets out a philosophy of sustainable use.  While past conservation efforts were aimed at protecting particular species and habitats, the Convention recognizes that ecosystems, species and genes must be used for the benefit of humans.  However, this should be done in a way and at a rate that does not lead to long-term decline of biological diversity.  The convention also offers decision-makers guidance on the precautionary principle that where there is a threat of significant reduction or loss of biodiversity, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to avoid or minimize such a threat.  The Convention acknowledges that substantial investments are required to conserve biological diversity.  It argues, however, that conservation will bring us significant environmental, economic and social benefits in return.  The Convention on Biological Diversity of 2010 would ban some form of geoengineering.”  (Wikipedia)

Over utilization is the primary cause of depletion.  We should be glad that there are binding international accords that prevents the extinction of species.  One such multilateral treaty is the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Thoughts to promote positive action…

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REFERENCE:

Wikipedia, (2016).  “Convention on Biological Diversity”.  Retrieved on January 6, 2016 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversity