The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD)
During the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro (1992) two conventions were signed by the international community: the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Convention on Climate Change.
The main objectives of the CBD are:
- The conservation of biological diversity,
- the sustainable use of its components,
- the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding.
The CBD opened for signature at the "Rio Earth Summit" and entered into force on 29 December 1993, 90 days after the 30th ratification. At the moment there are 190 'Parties'to the Convention; 168 countires have signed the convention. The Netherlands ratified the CBD in 1994.
For the Convention text click here.
The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 29 January 2000. The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
The following web sites provide more detailed information about the CBD:
- Website of the CBD: Here information can be found on the Convention as presented by the CBD Secretariate
- Website of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin on Biodiversity: Here information can be found of the reporting services by ENB of the international meetings related to the Convention.
