environmentalgovernance
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Address: 413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Montreal QC H2Y 1N9 Canada
Phone: +1 514 288 2220
Email: secretariat@cbd.int
Website: www.cbd.int/
I. Mission and Mandate
The Convention on Biological Diversity’s mission is “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” (CBD website,2007). Its mandate also requires that the CBD contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer and use of living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and focusing specifically on transboundary movements (UNEMG website, 2007)
II. Origins and Development
Formal action towards the creation of an international instrument to protect and conserve biodiversity on a global level began in 1988. However, the CBD was not created until the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Convention on Biological Diversity was one of the two legally Conventions signed at the Rio Earth Summit; the other Convention was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 1995, the CBD adopted the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, a plan of action for implementing the Convention. This program focused on integrated marine and coastal area management, the sustainable use of living resources, marine and coastal protected areas, and alien species. On 29 January 2000, 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, which seeks to safeguard biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology (CBD Website, 2007).
III. Membership and Staff
The Convention has 190 member states, with the United States notably absent. The US claimed the Convention’s proposed biodiversity reforms would be too expensive for them to implement (Spielmann, 1992). Convention staff members are personnel that work on Secretariat reports, set up meetings for the Executive Secretary, facilitate communication within the Secretariat, and act as liaisons between the CBD and the general public(CBD website, 2007).
IV. Governance and Organizational Structure
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body that consists of all nations that have ratified the Convention. The COP reviews progress, identifies new priorities, and sets work plans for members. The COP can also call upon the expertise and support from several bodies that exist within the convention. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) is a committee composed of experts from member governments competent in relevant fields. It plays a key role in making recommendations to the COP on scientific and technical issues. The Clearing House Mechanism is an Internet-based network that promotes technical and scientific cooperation and the exchange of information. The Secretariat of the CBD is based in Montreal. Its main functions are to organize meetings, draft documents, assist member governments in the implementation of the program of work, coordinate with other international organizations, and collect and disseminate information. The Secretariat also has the authority to create mechanisms or committees when necessary (CBD Website, 2007).
V. Financing
The GEF provides the necessary funds to implement various biodiversity approaches on a national level. This includes protecting specific ecosystems, combating alien species, educating locals, aiding in the equal sharing of genetic resources, funding the clearing-house mechanism and Cartagena Protocol and many other tasks (COP 8, decision VII/20). While the CBD does not specify an exact amount that party states are to donate, the Secretariat keeps track of such donations in their quarterly reports. Article 20 of the Convention text states that “developed country Parties shall provide new and additional financial resources to enable developing country Parties to meet the agreed full incremental costs to them of implementing measures which fulfill the obligations of this.” The CBD provides a funding catalogue that nations can utilize to seek out their own sources of funding. Weighing in at 187 pages, this catalogue lists hundreds of organizations, businesses, and individuals that have donated for the cause of biodiversity (Catalogue of Funding Sources, 2006). The 3M Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the DuPont Foundation and the Sierra Club are just four of its more prominent listings (CBD website, 2007).
VI. Environmental Activities
The Conference of the Parties to the CBD has identified seven thematic work programs, including marine and coastal biodiversity, agricultural biodiversity, forest biodiversity, island biodiversity, the biodiversity of inland waters, and dry and sub-humid lands and mountain biodiversity. In addition to its thematic work programs, the Convention addresses a number of cross-cutting issues such as: access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, alien species, climate change and biological diversity, economics, trade and incentive measures, a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, a Global Taxonomy Initiative, public education and awareness, and the sustainable use of biodiversity. In addition, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety deals with issues such as capacity-building, handling, transport, packaging and identification, liability and redress, risk assessment and management, and monitoring and reporting (UNEMG Website, 2007).
References
Catalogue of Funding Sources, The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2006, www.biodiv.org/doc/guidelines/fin-sources.pdf.
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) Website, www.cbd.int/, accessed Nov. 5, 2007.
Spielmann, P.J., “White House Has ‘Serious Problems’ With UN’s Species Saving Accord,” The Associated Press, 6 May, 1992.
UNEMG (United Nations Environment Management Group) Website, www.unemg.org/members/index.php, accessed Nov. 15, 2007.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Address: 413, Saint Jacques Street, suite 800 Montreal QC H2Y 1N9 Canada
Phone: +1 514 288 2220
Email: secretariat@cbd.int
Website: www.cbd.int/
I. Mission and Mandate
The Convention on Biological Diversity’s mission is “the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources” (CBD website,2007). Its mandate also requires that the CBD contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection in the field of the safe transfer and use of living modified organisms that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, and focusing specifically on transboundary movements (UNEMG website, 2007)
II. Origins and Development
Formal action towards the creation of an international instrument to protect and conserve biodiversity on a global level began in 1988. However, the CBD was not created until the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Convention on Biological Diversity was one of the two legally Conventions signed at the Rio Earth Summit; the other Convention was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. In 1995, the CBD adopted the Jakarta Mandate on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, a plan of action for implementing the Convention. This program focused on integrated marine and coastal area management, the sustainable use of living resources, marine and coastal protected areas, and alien species. On 29 January 2000, 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, which seeks to safeguard biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology (CBD Website, 2007).
III. Membership and Staff
The Convention has 190 member states, with the United States notably absent. The US claimed the Convention’s proposed biodiversity reforms would be too expensive for them to implement (Spielmann, 1992). Convention staff members are personnel that work on Secretariat reports, set up meetings for the Executive Secretary, facilitate communication within the Secretariat, and act as liaisons between the CBD and the general public(CBD website, 2007).
IV. Governance and Organizational Structure
The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body that consists of all nations that have ratified the Convention. The COP reviews progress, identifies new priorities, and sets work plans for members. The COP can also call upon the expertise and support from several bodies that exist within the convention. The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) is a committee composed of experts from member governments competent in relevant fields. It plays a key role in making recommendations to the COP on scientific and technical issues. The Clearing House Mechanism is an Internet-based network that promotes technical and scientific cooperation and the exchange of information. The Secretariat of the CBD is based in Montreal. Its main functions are to organize meetings, draft documents, assist member governments in the implementation of the program of work, coordinate with other international organizations, and collect and disseminate information. The Secretariat also has the authority to create mechanisms or committees when necessary (CBD Website, 2007).
V. Financing
The GEF provides the necessary funds to implement various biodiversity approaches on a national level. This includes protecting specific ecosystems, combating alien species, educating locals, aiding in the equal sharing of genetic resources, funding the clearing-house mechanism and Cartagena Protocol and many other tasks (COP 8, decision VII/20). While the CBD does not specify an exact amount that party states are to donate, the Secretariat keeps track of such donations in their quarterly reports. Article 20 of the Convention text states that “developed country Parties shall provide new and additional financial resources to enable developing country Parties to meet the agreed full incremental costs to them of implementing measures which fulfill the obligations of this.” The CBD provides a funding catalogue that nations can utilize to seek out their own sources of funding. Weighing in at 187 pages, this catalogue lists hundreds of organizations, businesses, and individuals that have donated for the cause of biodiversity (Catalogue of Funding Sources, 2006). The 3M Foundation, the Coca-Cola Foundation, the DuPont Foundation and the Sierra Club are just four of its more prominent listings (CBD website, 2007).
VI. Environmental Activities
The Conference of the Parties to the CBD has identified seven thematic work programs, including marine and coastal biodiversity, agricultural biodiversity, forest biodiversity, island biodiversity, the biodiversity of inland waters, and dry and sub-humid lands and mountain biodiversity. In addition to its thematic work programs, the Convention addresses a number of cross-cutting issues such as: access to genetic resources and benefit sharing, alien species, climate change and biological diversity, economics, trade and incentive measures, a Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, a Global Taxonomy Initiative, public education and awareness, and the sustainable use of biodiversity. In addition, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety deals with issues such as capacity-building, handling, transport, packaging and identification, liability and redress, risk assessment and management, and monitoring and reporting (UNEMG Website, 2007).
References
Catalogue of Funding Sources, The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2006, www.biodiv.org/doc/guidelines/fin-sources.pdf.
CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity) Website, www.cbd.int/, accessed Nov. 5, 2007.
Spielmann, P.J., “White House Has ‘Serious Problems’ With UN’s Species Saving Accord,” The Associated Press, 6 May, 1992.
UNEMG (United Nations Environment Management Group) Website, www.unemg.org/members/index.php, accessed Nov. 15, 2007.