Why Convention on Biological Diversity?
This file explains the global community's response to the alaming rate of biodiversity loss and their commitment to save the situation.
| Release date | 17/07/2010 |
|---|---|
| Contributor | Eric Okoree |
| Keywords | biological diversity loss |
The Earth's biological resources are vital to humanity's economic and social development. As a result, there is a growing recognition that biological diversity is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future generations. At the same time, the threat to species and ecosystems has never been so great as it is today. Species extinction caused by human activities continues at an alarming rate.
In response, the Governing Council of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), saw the need for the organization to convene an ad Hoc Working Group of Experts on Biological Diversity to harmonize existing conventions related to biological diversity and come up with a unique Convention which will urge its Parties to ensure the conservation of their biological diversity; promoting sustainable use of the biological diversity and also ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out the utilization of the resources.
The Convention on Biological Diversity was negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It was opened for signature at the June 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and entered into force on 29 December 1993.