CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (CBD)

It is a legally binding Convention recognized for the 1^st time, that the conservation of biological diversity is a common concern of humankind & is an integral part of the development process. The agreement covers all ecosystems, species & genetic resources.

Objectives: The conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components & the fair sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources & by transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources & to technologies & by appropriate funding.

Goals: Sharing benefits arising from the commercial & other utilization of genetic resources in a fair & equitable way. The conservation of biodiversity and Sustainable use of components of biodiversity.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety-Convention on Biological Diversity:

Biosafety refers to the need to protect human health & the environment from the possible adverse effects of the products of modern biotechnology.

The twin aspects of modern biotechnology are:

• Access to & transfer of technologies
• Appropriate procedures to enhance the safety of biotechnology

Objectives:

• The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is an additional agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
• The Protocol requires Parties to ensure that LMOs being shipped from one country to another are handled, packaged & transported safely.
• The Protocol establishes procedures for regulating the import & export of LMOs from one country to another.
• The shipments must be accompanied by documentation that identifies the LMOs, specifies any requirements for the safe handling, storage, transport & use, and provides contact details for further information.

Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol:

• The Cartagena Protocol is reinforced by the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability & Redress.
• The competent authority in a Party to the Supplementary Protocol must require the person in control of the LMO (Operator) to take the response measures or it may implement such measures itself & recover any costs incurred from the operator.
• The Supplementary Protocol specifies response measures to be taken in the event of damage to biodiversity resulting from LMOs.

humankind Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources & the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits arising from their Utilization of the Convention on Biological Diversity is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Objective: The objective is the fair & equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation & sustainable use of biodiversity.

Obligations: The Nagoya Protocol sets out core obligations for its contracting Parties to take measures regarding access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing & compliance.

• Create legal certainty, clarity & transparency
• Provide fair & non-arbitrary rules & procedures
• Establish clear rules & procedures for prior informed consent & mutually agreed terms.
• Provide for issuance of a permit or equivalent when access is granted.
• Create conditions to promote & encourage research contributing to biodiversity conservation & sustainable use.
• Consider the importance of genetic resources for food & agriculture for food security.
• Pay due regard to cases of present & imminent emergencies that threaten human, animal or plant health.
• Utilization includes research & development on the genetic or biochemical composition of genetic resources as well as subsequent applications & commercialization.
• Cooperate in cases of alleged violation of another contracting party’s requirements.

Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020:

• In the 10^th meeting of the conference of the parties held in 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, adopted a revised & updated strategic plan for biodiversity, including the Aichi Biodiversity Targets for the 2011-2020 period.
• Additionally, the meeting decided that the 5^th national report, due by the end of March 2014, should focus on the implementation of the 2011-2020 strategic plan & progress achieved towards the Aichi biodiversity targets.

Aichi Biodiversity Targets:

Strategic Goal A:

• By 2020, people will be aware of the value of biodiversity & the steps they can take to conserve & use it sustainably.
• By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national & local development & poverty reduction strategies & planning processes are being incorporated into national accounting as appropriate & reporting systems.
• By 2020, governments, businesses & stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production & consumption and have kept the impacts of the use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits.

Strategic Goal B:

Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity & promote sustainable use.

• By 2020, all fish & invertebrate stocks & aquatic plants will be managed & harvested sustainably, and legally & applying ecosystem-based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans & measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impacts on threatened species & vulnerable ecosystems & the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species & ecosystems are within safe ecological limits.
• By 2020, the rate of loss of all natural habitats, including forests, will be at least halved & where feasible brought close to zero & degradation & fragmentation will be significantly reduced.
• By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function & biodiversity.
• By 2020, areas under agriculture, aquaculture & forestry will be managed sustainably, ensuring the conservation of biodiversity.

Strategic Goal C:

• By 2020, the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented & their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, was improved & sustained.
• By 2020, 17% of terrestrial & inland water & 10% of coastal & marine areas of particular importance for biodiversity & ecosystem services are conserved through effectively & equitably managed.

Strategic Goal D:

• Enhance the benefits of all forms of biodiversity & ecosystem services.
• By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water & contribute to health, livelihoods & well-being are restored & safeguarded, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous & local communities.
• By 2020, ecosystem resilience & the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks was enhanced through conservation & restoration, including restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation & adaptation to combating desertification.

COP 11 Hyderabad:

• One of the most important outcomes of the COP is the commitment of the Parties to double the international financial flows for Biodiversity by 2015.
• This will translate into additional financial flows to the developing countries to the tune of about US$ 30 billion equivalent to about Rs. 1,50,000 crore over the next 8 years.
• The funds will be used to enhance technical & human capabilities at the national & state-level mechanisms to attain the CBD (Convention on Bio-Diversity) objectives.
• India committed US$ 50 million towards strengthening the institutional mechanism for biodiversity conservation in the country during its presidency of the CBD called the Hyderabad Pledge.
• India instituted together with UNDP Biodiversity Governance Awards. The first such awards were given during the COP11. It is now proposed to institute the Rajiv Gandhi International Award for Harnessing Biodiversity for Livelihood.