The Convention on Biological Diversity

 

Biodiversity consists of hierarchical levels, encompassing the range of landscapes and ecosystems found on the planet, the communities of organisms found within them; the variety of animal, plant and microorganism species of which these communities consist; and the genetic differences within each species. All of these levels are linked by natural (or semi-natural, or human-induced) processes, from gene-flow at the genetic level through to successional habitat change at the landscape level.

 

It is the combination of life forms and their interactions with each other, and with the rest of the environment, that has made Earth a uniquely habitable place for humans. However, biodiversity is threatened by many factors, including habitat destruction and degradation, pollution, climate change and introduced species. The loss of biodiversity affects food supplies, opportunities for tourism and recreation, sources of medicines, and energy. It also interferes with essential ecological functions.

 

The Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention or CBD) was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992, and entered into force in December 1993. As the first global treaty to provide a legal framework for biodiversity conservation, the Convention established three main goals:

 

 

Contracting Parties are required to create and enforce national strategies and action plans to conserve, protect and enhance biological diversity. They are also required to undertake action to implement the thematic work programmes on ecosystems and a range of cross-cutting issues which have been established to take forward the provisions of the Convention.

 

In January 2002 the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted to supplement the provisions of the Convention. This Agreement, which came into force in September 2003, aims to protect biodiversity from the potential risks posed by genetically modified organisms (GMOs). To find out the latest information on those countries that are now Contracting Parties to the Convention and Contracting Parties to the Biosafety Protocol.

 

 

 

Within Europe, the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy was developed in 1994 to introduce a coordinating and unifying framework for strengthening and building on existing initiatives which support the implementation of the CBD. In 1998 the European Community Biodiversity Strategy was adopted, defining a precise framework for action, by setting out four major themes and specifying sectoral and horizontal objectives to be achieved.

 

In 2001, this was followed by the production of Biodiversity Action Plans for fisheries, agriculture, economic cooperation and development, and conservation of natural resources. These sectoral Action Plans define concrete actions and measures to meet the objectives defined in the strategy, and specify measurable targets. The European Community has also developed its own Clearing House Mechanism to support the implementation of the CBD.

 

The UK ratified the Convention in June 1994. Since this time JNCC has provided technical and scientific support to Defra on issues relating to the CBD, including prominent roles in National Reporting, the Global Plant Conservation Strategy , the Ecosystem Approach, the Global Taxonomy Initiative and JNCC hosts the UK Clearing House Mechanism for biodiversity. Also in 1994 the Government launched the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), a national strategy which identified broad activities for conservation work over the next 20 years, and established fundamental principles for future biodiversity conservation. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) plays host to a Biodiversity Secretariat to help support the implementation of the UK BAP.

 

Following the establishment of devolved schemes in 1998, which included powers over environmental regulation within the UK countries, separate biodiversity strategies have been developed in  England, Northern Ireland Scotland and Wales.  Obligations arising from Treaties and Conventions remain the responsibility of the UK government, with the devolved administrations responsible for implementing obligations that concern devolved matters.  The UK has also identified a number of national focal points to coordinate the implementation of the Convention's thematic work programmes and cross-cutting issues.

 

The JNCC has developed an interactive website for the UK BAP on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Partnership, to support the work of the Biodiversity Secretariat.