CITES,
the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora, 1975 bans commercial international
trade in an agreed list of endangered species. The international
wildlife trade has caused massive declines in the numbers
of many species of animals and plants. The Convention on Biological
Diversity, negotiated under the United Nations Environment
Programme (UNEP) entered into force in December 1993. 171
countries have ratified the Convention.
The objectives of this Convention are:
-
Conservation
of biological diversity
-
Sustainable
use of its components
-
Fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the
utilisation of genetic resources
COP-1: The first meeting of the Conference of the
Parties (COP-1) took place in Nassau 1994.
COP-2: The second meeting of the COP was held in Jakarta,
Indonesia, 1995.
COP-3: Held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, 1996, took
decisions on:
-
Realistic
work programme on agricultural biodiversity and a
more limited one on forest biodiversity;
-
Agreement
to hold an intersessional workshop on traditional
knowledge (Article 8(j));
-
Application
by the Executive Secretary for observer status to
the World trade Organization (WTO) Committee on trade
and the Environment;
Subsidiary
body on Scientific, Technical and Technological AdviceThe
SBSTTA provides the COP with "timely advice" relating
to implementation of the Convention.
At SBSTTA-1, 1995 in Paris, delegates considered the conservation
and sustainable use of coastal and marine biological diversity.
At SBSTTA-2, 1996 in Montreal, the agenda covered technical
issues such as:
-
monitoring
and assessment of biodiversity;
-
approaches
to taxonomy; economic valuation of biodiversity;
-
access
to genetic resources; agricultural biodiversity; terrestrial
biodiversity; marine and coastal biodiversity; biosafety.
1997
in Montreal, SBSTTA-3 produced recommendations on biodiversity
in inland water ecosystems, marine and coastal biodiversity,
agricultural biodiversity, forest biodiversity, and biodiversity
indicators.
Ad
hoc working group on Biosafety:
The
Ad hoc Working Group on Biosafety (BSWG discussed
a range of issues, including:
- objectives;
advanced informed agreement (AIA);
- notification
procedures for transfers of living modified organisms
(LMOs);
- risk
assessment; unintentional transboundary movements
of LMOs;
- handling,
transportation, packaging and transit requirements;
- monitoring
and compliance.
1998
in Montreal began negotiation to identify common ground
for moving forward and consideration of socioeconomic
considerations, general obligations, and liability
and compensation. The end result came in January 2000.
The Cartagena Protocol is
the first Protocol negotiated under the CBD, and attempts
to prevent genetically modified organism affecting
diversity.
Latest on Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety. |
The
UN agreed in Jan 2000 in Montreal the Cartegena
Protocol to control the international trade
in GMOs. It is
the first Protocol under the Biodiversity
Convention. The treaty allows countries
to halt imports of GMOs that they fear "may
have an adverse effect" on biodiversity or human
health. Previously the WTO
required safety bans to be backed by scientific
evidence. Now the precautionary
principle can be used where scientific doubt
exists. There will be a global regulatory framework
although it has not been decided whether the
Protocol takes preference over the free trade
rules of the WTO. |
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-
Workshop
on traditional knowledge: The Workshop on traditional
Knowledge and Biological Diversity was convened in Madrid,
November 1997 to further the implementation of Article
8(j) (In-situ Conservation) of the CBD. Programme elements
address:
-
ecosystem
approaches integrating conservation and sustainable
use of biodiversity, taking account of social, cultural
and economic considerations;
-
analysis
of influences of human activities, including forest-management
practices, on biodiversity and assessment of ways
to minimize/mitigate negative influences;
-
methodologies
for elaboration and implementation of C&I for forest
biodiversity;
-
research
and technological priorities from SBSTTA and the review
and planning process of the work programme;
-
analysis
of measures for minimizing/mitigating the underlying
causes of forest biodiversity loss;
-
assessment
of ecological landscape models, integration of protected
areas in the ecosystem approach and protected areas
networks; and advancement of scientific and technical
approaches.
COP-4:
COP-4 produced some promising outcomes and a firm, if
not solid, platform to move forward.
The Convention is still addressing its identity crisis
as an "umbrella" Convention. It has taken six years to
reach a point at which implementation of the CBD is now
being given full attention.
The CBD is starting to influence social, economic and
political behavior at the national level and to provide
the policy framework for the international community's
effort to protect and sustainably use life on earth.
For
latest on Convention on Biodiveristy go to http://www.biodiv.org/
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