Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was formulated in December 1993. At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for "sustainable development". One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the CBD. This pact among the vast majority of the world's governments sets out commitments for maintaining the world's ecological systems as while pursuing economic development. 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.

Under the Joint Liaison Group (JLG), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) partners with the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Under the cross-cutting issues on Climate Change and Biological Diversity, the CBD collaborates with a number of other partners, including the World Bank, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Conservation Union (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Nature Conservancy (TNC), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and others.

The Climate Change and Biodiversity Programme of the CBD offers many resources which can be easily accessed from their website, including many technical publications.  Their Adaptation Planning Database provides web-based guidance on the integration of biodiversity within adaptation planning. The database is a dynamic tool divided into resources types including vulnerability studies, threat studies, assessment tools, adaptation plans, case studies, and monitoring tools.

Phone: (514) 288-2220

Sectors:

• Biodiversity and ecosystems
• Fish and fisheries
• Land management and conservation
• Wildlife

Related Organizations:

• Natural Resources Canada

Related Resources:

• Convention on Biological Diversity Climate Change Adaptation Database
• Connecting Biodiversity and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation