Download The UN Convention on Biological Diversity

NORDIC NATURE – TRENDS TOWARDS 2010
The UN Convention on Biological
Diversity
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted in Rio de
Janeiro in 1992. At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in
Johannesburg the heads of more than 150 states confirmed that the CBD
is the most important tool for conserving biodiversity at global level.
So far 190 states are parties to the CBD, including all of the Nordic
Countries.
Biological diversity
Biological diversity, or biodiversity for short, encompasses all the diversity of
plants, animals and micro-organisms, as well as the variety of ecosystems and
the genetic diversity within species.
The UN Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of 2005 indicated that people’
s
actions over the last 50 years have changed the world’
s ecosystems more than
at any previous stage of the history of humanity. Current species extinction
rates are 50–100 times higher than natural levels. The most important factors
behind these trends include habitat destruction, invasive alien species, the
unsustainable use of natural resources, climate change and pollution. The UN
report emphasises the vital importance of biodiversity for the continuing survival
of humanity, and for our prosperity, well-being and enjoyment.
The 2010 Biodiversity target
At the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development the parties to the CBD
resolved that a significant reduction should be achieved by 2010 in the rate of
biodiversity loss as a consequence of human actions. The EU has decided on a
more ambitious target, to halt the loss of biodiversity altogether.
Aims and implementation of the convention
The convention sees people as part of nature, and recognises their right to use
natural resources while at the same time carefully monitoring the impacts of
resource exploitation on ecosystems. The convention aims to conserve
biodiversity, to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources, and to
guarantee the equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of
genetic resources.
Parties are obliged to draw up national strategies and action plans for the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and report on their
implementation of the CBD. Key obligations concern the establishment and
maintenance of protected areas, the protection of threatened species and
populations, and the monitoring of biodiversity. Protected areas should
eventually comprise an extensive network covering 10% of the total area of
each habitat type. This goal has not yet been realised for all habitats.
The rich countries are responsible for helping poor countries to implement the
CBD through financial assistance and technology transfer. This obligation also
applies to the Nordic Countries and their development co-operation partners.
The convention is put into practice through legislation and other policy
instruments applied nationally or by international communities such as the EU.
Finnish Environment Institute SYKE - www.environment.fi/nordicnature
Genetic resources and ecosystem services
Genetic resources have great economic importance as raw materials in the
fields of biotechnology, medicine, cosmetics, agriculture and food processing.
An estimated 40% of the global economy is based on biological products and
the natural processes provided by the world’
s ecosystems for humanity –
known as ecosystem services.
The developing countries have the lion’
s share of the world’
s genetic resources,
but the technology for their commercial exploitation is largely owned by the
industrialised countries. The CBD urges that mechanisms should be devised to
ensure that the benefits of the exploitation of genetic resources are shared
equitably.
Indigenous peoples and traditional knowledge
The CBD has a special programme of work concerning the traditional
knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities. The
convention stresses that indigenous peoples’traditional knowledge of
biodiversity and ways to use it sustainably should be duly respected. The
benefits of the use of this knowledge should also be shared equitably.
COP 9
The 9th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the
CBD is being held in Bonn 19–30 May 2008. COP 9
will focus on various issues related to the CBD,
including the biodiversity of farmland and forest
habitats, invasive alien species, the ecosystem
approach, the development of incentives, the Global
Strategy for Plant Conservation, progress towards
the 2010 target and the Millennium Development
Goals, and economic resources and mechanisms.
Apart from these main issues also other topics are
discussed. Interesting topics from a Nordic
perspective include:
- protected areas
- biodiversity and climate change
- biodiversity of inland waters
- marine and coastal biodiversity
- island biodiversity
- communication, education and public awareness
Information and public awareness
It is vital that people should understand the urgency of conserving biodiversity.
The parties to the CBD have committed themselves to inform their citizens
about the importance of species and habitats. Each country is obliged to set up
a national Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) for the dissemination of
biodiversity data. Issues related to the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity should also be incorporated into communications and educational
programmes at all levels.
Organisation of the convention
The most important organisational bodies of the CBD are the Conference of the
Parties, (COP), the CBD Secretariat, and the CBD’
s Subsidiary Body on
Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA). COP conferences
are held every two years to decide on issues including possible changes to
agreements and protocols, the implications of new scientific data, reporting
processes, and other necessary development work.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
In January 2000 the parties to the CBD signed a supplementary agreement
known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, concerning living modified
organisms (LMOs). The Protocol aims to ensure adequate protection for the
environment whenever LMOs are transferred over national borders or used
internationally, in agriculture and food production, for instance.
Nordic co-operation
Under the leadership of the Nordic Council of
Ministers, the Nordic Countries have jointly
developed a Nordic Genetic Resource Strategy to
enhance the conservation and sustainable use of
genetic diversity in agriculture, forestry, fishing and
food production. Such co-operation also helps to
implement the CBD with regard to the availability of
genetic resources and related rights.
All of the Nordic Countries are also involved in the
North European and Baltic Network on Invasive
Alien Species (NOBANIS). This collaborative project
covers all terrestrial, marine and freshwater
ecosystems. It has produced a database on invasive
alien species, a list of related regulations, a
database of related literature, and informative
leaflets about several invasive alien species. The
network also has close links with other regional and
global networks and projects working to combat the
harmful impacts of invasive alien species.
Sources:
- Convention on Biological Diversity (with annexes).
Concluded at Rio de Janeiro, 5th June 1992.
- Nordic Council of Ministers 2006: For a richer future –
13 conventions on the natural and cultural environment.
TemaNord 2006:565.
- Ulkoasiainministeriö 2007: Kansainväliset
ympäristösopimukset ja Suomen kehityspolitiikka 2007.
(Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs 2007: International
environmental agreements and Finland’
s development
policies 2007.)
- Phillips, B. & Jones, T. 2007: "Mountains to the sea" Implementation Framework for the Convention on
Biological Diversity's cross-cutting programmes of work.
WWF.
- www.cbd.int
Finnish Environment Institute SYKE - www.environment.fi/nordicnature
19 May 2008