What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?

Biodiversity between conservation and sustainable use

Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. This diversity is often understood in terms of the wide variety of plants, animals, micro organisms and fungi. It also includes genetic differences within each species and the variety of the world's ecosystems. 

The significant reduction or loss of biological diversity calls for solid counteractions and internationally coordinated action. These are key issues with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Since the United Nations Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972 biodiversity has been regarded as common inheritance of humankind. According to international law, the CBD stresses the sovereign rights of states over their own biological resources. For the first time in history biodiversity has been assigned an intrinsic value according to international law. The CBD also underlines the common responibility of humankind to conservation and sustain the use of these resources.

The CBD is one of the key agreements adopted at the Earth Summit in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro. with its 190 contracting states it is one of the most important internationally binding agreements to date.

The Convention establishes three main goals:

• the conservation of biological diversity 
• the sustainable use of its components
• and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.