The Convention on Biological
Diversity
Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to
the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. The
biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of
evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the
influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an
integral part and upon which we so fully depend, providing a large
number of goods and services that sustain our lives. 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
microrganism 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 treaty to provide
a legal framework for biodiversity conservation, the Convention
established three main goals: the conservation of biological
diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and
equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic
resources. 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 visit
www.biodiv.org/world/parties.asp
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. Responsibility
for the UK contribution to the Convention in the UK lies with the
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) –
Environmental Protection International Division (EPINT), who
promote the integration of biodiversity into policies, projects and
programmes within Government and beyond. 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. Subsequently, costed Biodiversity Action
Plans (BAPs) to conserve 391 species and 45 habitats were
published. Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) have also been
identified as important in the implementation of the strategy, and
163 have so far been developed. Defra plays host to a Biodiversity
Secretariat to help support the implementation of the UK BAP. To
compliment the UK BAP, separate biodiversity strategies for England
and Northern Ireland were published in late 2002 to address
biodiversity issues at a devolved country level, with biodiversity
strategies for Scotland and Wales currently in development. 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. JNCC also provides technical and scientific support to
assist the UK BAP process. JNCC been allocated the lead role for
the Global Plant Conservation Strategy and the Ecosystem Approach,
and joint lead for the Global Taxonomy Initiative. Additionally,
JNCC has been asked to support Defra in its lead roles for Alien
Invasive Species, Marine Ecosystems,
Clearing-house Mechanism and National
Reporting.