Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The convention on biological diversity (cbd) is an international treaty signed by a coalition of 153 countries at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The convention became officially recognized in December 1993 and has 188 members. The United States is the only country that has signed but not yet ratified the CBD. Based on the principle of sustainable development, the main goals include “the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.” Member countries, adopting a precautionary principle approach, are legally required to create plans for identifying and protecting biodiversity, restoring degraded areas, and preventing possible impacts of the introduction of nonnative species and genetically modified organisms into the environment. The convention also recognizes the importance of public participation and protecting the rights of traditionally marginalized communities most directly affected by environmental threats. To do this, it sets a framework utilizing both economic criteria (based on the market value of environmental resources) and noneconomic factors, such as cultural significance, to determine the value of biodiversity as well as the risks and benefits of economic growth.

The governing body of the CBD is the Conference of Parties (COP). Made up of representatives from all member countries, the COP is responsible for identifying priorities, proposing plans of action, reviewing national proposals, and coordinating with international institutions. It also has the authority to create advisory panels like the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), a group assisting with and assessing the convention's implementation. As of 2006, the COP had eight regular meetings with focuses ranging from protecting marine, forest, and agricultural diversity to examining technological cooperation and intellectual property rights. In 2002, the COP adopted a strategic plan for meeting the three goals of the convention, aiming to achieve a broad reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010.

In addition, the COP called an extraordinary meeting in 2000 to introduce a supplementary agreement to the CBD, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which came into force September 2003. By April 2006, 132 countries had ratified the protocol that established rules on the transboundary movement, handling, and use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Expressing the mandate of the CBD, member countries are encouraged to adopt a precautionary principle approach in assessing the potential environmental, human health, and socioeconomic risks of GMOs. There have been a number of measures taken to facilitate national capacity building, including financial support and the establishment of the Biosafety Clearing-House, an online database for international information exchange.