Living in harmony with nature

Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international legally-binding treaty with
three main goals: conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Its overall objective is
to encourage actions which will lead to a sustainable future.
The conservation of biodiversity is a common concern of humankind. The CBD covers
biodiversity at all levels: Ecosystems, species and genetic resources. It also covers
biotechnology through the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In fact, it covers all possible
domains that are directly or indirectly related to biodiversity and its role in development, ranging
from science, politics and education to agriculture, business, culture and much more.
The governing body of the CBD is the Conference of the Parties (COP). This ultimate authority
of all governments (or Parties) that have ratified the treaty meets every two years to review
progress, set priorities and commit to work plans.
In 2010, Parties to the CBD adopted the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, a ten-year
framework for action by all countries and stakeholders to safeguard biodiversity and the
benefits it provides to people.
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) is based in Montreal,
Canada. Its main function is to assist governments in the implementation of the CBD and
its programmes of work, to organize meetings, draft documents, and coordinate with other
international organizations and collect and spread information. The Executive Secretary is the
head of the Secretariat.

www.cbd.int
Fast Facts
n The Convention on Biological Diversity was but in a way that does not lead to the
opened for signature at the Earth Summit in decline of biodiversity
Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered n Substantial investments are required to
into force on 29 December 1993 conserve biodiversity, but it will bring
n To date, there are 193 Parties significant environmental, economic and
n Components of biodiversity are all the social benefits in return
various forms of life on Earth including n The Ecosystem Approach, an integrated
ecosystems, animals, plants, fungi, strategy for the management of resources, is
microorganisms, and genetic diversity the framework for action under the Convention
n With its three objectives, the CBD is often n The precautionary principle states that
seen as the key international instrument for where there is a threat of significant
sustainable development reduction or loss of biodiversity, lack of full
n Ecosystems, species and genetic resources scientific certainty should not be used as a
should be used for the benefit of humans, reason for postponing measures to avoid or
minimize such a threat

Learn More
Biodiversity—Sustaining Life on Earth n www.cbd.int/iyb/doc/prints/cbd-sustain-en.pdf
Full text of the Convention on Biological Diversity n www.cbd.int/convention/convention.shtml
The Conference of the Parties (COP) n www.cbd.int/convention/cops.shtml
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety n www.cbd.int/biosafety/about.shtml
The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) n www.cbd.int/biosafety/bch.shtml
The Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) n www.cbd.int/chm
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species n www.iucnredlist.org
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) n www.unep.org
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
n http://unfccc.int/2860.php
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) n www.unccd.int
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) n www.fao.org
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
n www.cites.org
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands n www.ramsar.org
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) n www.cms.int
Biodiversity Synthesis Report of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
n www.millenniumassessment.org/en/Synthesis.aspx

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int
 Living in harmony with nature

Strategic Plan for Biodiversity

2011–2020
In 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity 2011–2020, a ten-year framework for action by all countries and stakeholders to
safeguard biodiversity and the benefits it provides to people. As part of the Strategic Plan 20
ambitious but realistic targets, known as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, were adopted.
Governments have committed to establishing national targets in support of the Aichi Biodiversity
Targets. The development of national targets and their incorporation into updated National
Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) is a key process in fulfilling the commitments
set out in the Strategic Plan. National Biodiversity Strategies Action Plans reflect how a country
intends to fulfill the objectives of the CBD and the concrete actions it intends to take.
The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity is comprised of:
The vision—“By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining
ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.”
The mission—“Take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to
ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services,
thereby securing the planet’s variety of life, and contributing to human well-being, and poverty
eradication. To ensure this, pressures on biodiversity are reduced, ecosystems are restored,
biological resources are sustainably used and benefits arising out of utilization of genetic
resources are shared in a fair and equitable manner; adequate financial resources are provided,
capacities are enhanced, biodiversity issues and values mainstreamed, appropriate policies are
effectively implemented, and decision-making is based on sound science and the precautionary
approach.”

www.cbd.int/sp
20 targets, under five strategic goals
Strategic Goal A Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming
biodiversity across government and society
Strategic Goal B Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use
Strategic Goal C Improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species
and genetic diversity
Strategic Goal D Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services
Strategic Goal E Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge
management and capacity building

Fast Facts
nn In recognition of the urgent need for nn Parties have agreed to develop national and
action in support of biodiversity, by all regional targets and report thereon to the
stakeholders at all levels, countries agreed Conference of the Parties at its eleventh
to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity meeting (COP-11)
nn To support countries in their efforts to nn Parties have committed to revising and/
achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, or updating their National Biodiversity
the Secretariat of the CBD, together Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
with various partners, is convening a in light of the new strategic plan and to
series of capacity-building workshops: implement them as policy instruments by
www.cbd.int/nbsap COP-12

Learn More
Find out what your country is doing to implement the Convention by accessing your
country’s profile at n www.cbd.int/countries
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans n www.cbd.int/nbsap
National Reports n www.cbd.int/reports
Implementation of Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, including the Aichi
Biodiversity Targets n www.cbd.int/sp/implementation

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int/sp
 Living in harmony with nature

National Biodiversity Strategies and

Action Plans (NBSAPs)
The Convention on Biological Diversity calls for each Party to develop a National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to guarantee that the objectives of the Convention are
undertaken at all levels and in all sectors in each country (Article 6). The national biodiversity
strategy reflects the country’s vision for biodiversity and the broad policy and institutional
measures that the country will take to fulfill the objectives of the Convention, while the action
plan comprises the concrete actions to be taken to achieve the targets of the strategy. The
strategy should include ambitious but realistic and measurable national targets developed in
the framework of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets adopted at the tenth meeting of the Conference
of the Parties. The strategy and action plan are developed by each Party in accordance with
national circumstances and capabilities.
It is essential that all sectors whose activities impact on biodiversity be brought into the NBSAP
process early. This is what is meant by ‘mainstreaming’—all stakeholders in biodiversity
working together to develop and implement the NBSAP. Mainstreaming also means integrating
biodiversity considerations into related legislation, plans, programmes and policy, such as
National Development Plans; National Strategies for Sustainable Development; Poverty
Reduction Strategy Papers; Strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals; National
Programmes to Combat Desertification; National Climate Change Adaptation or Mitigation
Strategies; and relevant private-sector policies.
While the NBSAP can take the form of a single biodiversity planning document, it can also
be conceived as comprising a ‘basket’ of elements on, for example, laws and administrative
procedures; scientific research agendas, programmes and projects; communication, education
and public awareness activities; forums for inter-ministerial and multi-stakeholder dialogue. The
NBSAP should be a living process by which increasing information and knowledge, gained
through the monitoring and evaluation of each phase of implementation, feed an ongoing
review and improvement.

www.cbd.int/nbsap
Fast Facts
nn National Biodiversity Strategies and Action nn A growing number of countries are
Plans are the key instruments for the preparing Biodiversity Strategies and Action
implementation of the Convention Plans at the sub-national and local levels
nn To date, 173 Parties have developed nn COP-10 decided that the fifth national
NBSAPs (of these some 40 Parties have reports are due by 31 March 2014, and that
revised their Strategies) the reports should focus on implementation
nn COP-10 urges Parties to revise and update of the 2011–2020 Strategic Plan for
their NBSAPs in line with the revised and Biodiversity and progress towards the Aichi
updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, Biodiversity Targets
including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, for
the 2011–2020 period

Learn More
Find out what your country is doing to implement the Convention by accessing your
country’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan and National Reports through
the pop-down menu at n www.cbd.int/countries
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans n www.cbd.int/nbsap
National Reports n www.cbd.int/reports

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int/nbsap
 Living in harmony with nature

The Nagoya Protocol on Access

to Genetic Resources and
Benefit-Sharing
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources
is one of the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity. At the tenth Conference
of the Parties, held in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to
Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization
was adopted. It is a new international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising
from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way, thereby contributing to
the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The Nagoya Protocol further builds on
the access and benefit-sharing provisions of the CBD by creating greater legal certainty and
transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources. It does this by establishing
more predictable conditions for access to genetic resources and helping to ensure benefit-
sharing when genetic resources leave the contracting Party providing the genetic resources.
Genetic resources, whether from plant, animal or micro-organisms, are used for a variety
of purposes ranging from basic research to the development of products. In some cases,
traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources that comes from indigenous and
local communities (ILCs), provides valuable information to researchers regarding the particular
properties and value of these resources and their potential use for the development of,
for example, new medicines or cosmetics. Users of genetic resources include research
and academic institutions, and private companies operating in various sectors such as
pharmaceuticals, agriculture, horticulture, cosmetics and biotechnology.
When a person or institution seeks access to genetic resources in a foreign country, it should
obtain the prior informed consent of the country in which the resource is located; this is one of

www.cbd.int/abs
the fundamental principles of access and benefit-sharing. Moreover, the person or institution
must also nego­tiate and agree on the terms and conditions of access and use of this resource.
This includes the sharing of benefits arising from the use of this resource with the provider as a
prerequisite for access to the genetic resource and its use. Conversely, countries, when acting
as providers of genetic resources, should provide fair and non-arbitrary rules and procedures for
access to their genetic resources.

Fast Facts
Example of uses: the user of genetic resources sets up
labora­tories or a drug manufacturing facility
n The development of compounds called
in the provider country
Calanolides, derived from the latex of a tree
(Calophyllum species) found in the Malaysian n Payment of royalties: royalties generated
rainforest, as a potential treatment for HIV from the commercialization of a product
(type 1) and certain types of cancer based on genetic resources are shared
between the provider and the user of
n The use of indigenous plant resources for
genetic resources and associated traditional
breeding programmes and cultivation, e.g.
knowledge
the so-called “Mona Lavender”, a hybrid
of two Plectranthus species indigenous to n Preferential access for the provider country
South Africa, is now commercially available to any medicine derived from genetic
as an ornamental plant throughout Europe, resources and associated traditional
the US and Japan. knowledge: preferential rates to purchase
medicine
Examples of benefit-sharing:
n Joint ownership of intellectual property
n Research exchanges: a researcher from a
rights (IPRs): when the user and provider of
provider country collaborates with research
genetic resources seek joint ownership of
staff from the user country
IPRs for patented products based on the
n Provision of equipment, improvement of genetic resource used
infrastructure and sharing of technologies:

Learn More
Awareness-raising material on ABS n www.cbd.int/abs/awareness-raising

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int/abs
 Living in harmony with nature

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety,

and its Nagoya—Kuala Lumpur
Supplementary Protocol on Liability
and Redress
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an additional agreement to the Convention on Biological
Diversity. It aims to ensure the safe transport, handling and use of living modified organisms
(LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biodiversity, also
taking into account risks to human health. The Protocol establishes procedures for regulating
the import and export of LMOs from one country to another.
There are two main sets of procedures, one for LMOs intended for direct introduction into the
environment, known as the advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure, and another for
LMOs intended for direct use as food or feed, or for processing (LMOs-FFP).
Under the AIA procedure, a country intending to export an LMO for intentional release into the
environment must notify in writing the Party of import before the first proposed export takes
place. The Party of import must acknowledge receipt of the notification within 90 days and
must communicate its decision on whether or not to import the LMO within 270 days. Parties
are required to ensure that their decisions are based on a risk assessment of the LMO, which
must be carried out in a scientifically sound and transparent manner. Once a Party takes a
decision on the LMO, it is required to communicate the decision as well as a summary of the
risk assessment to a central information system, the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH).
Under the procedure for LMOs-FFP, Parties that decide to approve and place such LMOs
on the market are required to make their decision and relevant information, including the risk
assessment reports, publicly available through the BCH.

http://bch.cbd.int/protocol
The Protocol also requires Parties to ensure that LMOs being shipped from one country to
another are handled, packaged and transported in a safe manner. The shipments must be
accompanied by documentation that clearly identifies the LMOs, specifies any requirements for
the safe handling, storage, transport and use and provides contact details for further information.
The Cartagena Protocol is reinforced by the Nagoya—Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol
on Liability and Redress. The Supplementary Protocol specifies response measures to be taken
in the event of damage to biodiversity resulting from LMOs. The competent authority in a Party
to the Supplementary Protocol must require the person in control of the LMO (operator) to take
the response measures or it may implement such measures itself and recover any costs incurred
from the operator.

Fast Facts
n The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was n Modern biotechnology involves modifying
adopted on 29 January 2000 and entered the genetic material of an organism with
into force on 11 September 2003. As of May the aim of developing or improving one
2011, 160 countries and the European Union or more characteristics in the organism.
have ratified or acceded to the Protocol While this technology has the potential
to generate benefits for humankind and
n The Nagoya—Kuala Lumpur Supplementary
contribute to sustainable development,
Protocol on Liability and Redress to the
there are concerns that living modified
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was
organisms resulting from biotechnology
adopted on 15 October 2010 in Nagoya,
may have negative effects on biodiversity
Japan. It opened for signature on 7 March
and human health
2011

Learn More
The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety n http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/NKL_Protocol.shtml
Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) n http://bch.cbd.int
Strategic Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety for the period 2011-2020
n http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/issues/cpb_stplan_txt.shtml
Biosafety Protocol News n http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_newsletter.shtml
Publications on the Cartagena Protocol n http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/cpb_publications.shtml
Biosafety Information Resource Centre n http://bch.cbd.int/database/resources

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int http://bch.cbd.int/protocol
Fast Facts
n Close to a quarter of the world’s population n Deforestation in the tropics and sub-tropics,
(1.3 billion people) work in agriculture driven in many places by agriculture, can
lead to a reduction in regional rainfall—
n Over 826 million people are chronically hungry
undermining sustainable water supplies for
and need 100–400 more calories per day
agriculture
n 32% of pre-school children worldwide are
n 20% of the 6,500 breeds of domesticated
underweight
animals face extinction
n Agriculture accounts for 44% of methane
n 20% of CO2 emissions in the 1990s
emissions and about 70% of nitrous oxide
originated from land use changes, much of
gases
this was through deforestation for agriculture
n Globally, agriculture accounts for about
n There are over 25,000 bee species, but
70% of the water used by humans, and the
populations are declining. One-third of the
sustainable limit of water withdrawal has
world’s crop production must be pollinated
already been reached or exceeded in many
to produce seeds and fruits
areas
n Soil worldwide is being lost 13 to 18 times
faster than it is being formed

Learn More
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) n www.fao.org/biodiversity
Land Resources, Management, Planning and Use (FAO) n www.fao.org/nr/land/en
Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture n www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/en
Bioversity International n www.bioversityinternational.org
World Agroforestry Centre n www.worldagroforestry.org
Ecoagriculture Partners n www.ecoagriculturepartners.org
The Global Crop Diversity Trust n www.croptrust.org
International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) n www.icarda.org
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) n www.ilri.org
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) n www.cgiar.org
Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) n www.cbd.int/biosafety
International Potato Center (CIP) n www.cipotato.org
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
n www.ifoam.org/partners/advocacy/Biodiversity_Campaign.html

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int/agro
Fast Facts
n Dry and sub-humid lands are home to n The sociable weaver of southern Africa
about two billion people (35% of the global builds communal nests weighing up to
population) 1,000 kg to maximize insulation from
extreme temperatures
n Encompass approximately 44% of the
world’s cultivated systems n The Gemsbok of the Kalahari Desert
can survive for weeks without water
n 90% of people inhabiting dry and sub-humid
lands live in developing countries n Dry and sub-humid lands include important
areas of extraordinary endemism, such as
n Six countries (Botswana, Burkina Faso, Iraq,
the Mediterranean Basin, home to more
Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova and
than 11,700 endemic plant species
Turkmenistan) have at least 99% of their area
classified as dry and sub-humid lands n Some 2,311 known dry and sub-humid
lands species are endangered or threatened
n Because of harsh conditions (irregular rainfall,
with extinction
high temperatures, etc.), many species have
developed unique adaptations:
n Desert toads lie dormant below the sand
for months until the rain returns

Learn More
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Drylands Development Centre
n www.undp.org/drylands
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) n www.unccd.int
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) n www.fao.org
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
n www.unesco.org
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) n www.unep.org
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) n http://unfccc.int
World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) n www.unep-wcmc.org

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int/drylands
Fast Facts
n Tropical, temperate and boreal forests host n Approximately 13 million hectares of the
the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial world’s forests are lost to deforestation
species each year, an area the size of Greece
n Some 80% of people in developing n Emissions resulting from deforestation
countries rely on traditional medicines–up to may contribute up to 20% of annual global
half of these medicinal substances originate greenhouse gas emissions
from plants found mainly in tropical forests
n Natural forests are among the best stores
n Two thirds of all major cities in developing of carbon. The world’s forests contain more
countries depend on surrounding forests for carbon than the entire atmosphere
their supply of clean water
n Over three quarters of the world’s
n Over the last 8000 years about 45% of the accessible fresh water comes from forested
Earth’s original forests has disappeared, watersheds
most of which was cleared during the past
n More than six million hectares of primary
century
tropical forests, which are especially rich in
biodiversity, are lost each year

Learn More
CBD Technical Series 41, 43 and 47 n www.cbd.int/ts
UNEP Climate Change Science Compendium n www.unep.org/compendium2009
UN Forum on Forests (UNFF) n www.un.org/esa/forests
Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) Forestry Department
n www.fao.org/forestry
Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) n www.cifor.cgiar.org
UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation in Developing Countries (UN REDD) n www.un-redd.org
Montréal Process n www.rinya.maff.go.jp/mpci
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) n www.fsc.org
WWF Ecological Footprint n http://footprint.wwf.org.uk

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Tel.: +1 514 288 2220
Montreal, Quebec, H2Y 1N9 Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Canada UNBiodiversity@cbd.int www.cbd.int/forest