Summary: The Convention on Biological Diversity, commonly referred to as the Biodiversity Treaty, was one of two major treaties opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. The treaty defines biodiversity as "the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems." Parties to the Biodiversity Treaty "affirm sovereign rights over the biological resources found within their countries, while accepting responsibility for conserving biological diversity and using biological resources in a sustainable manner," according to an International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assessment of the treaty.

Key Terms: The three goals of the CBD are to promote the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Each Contracting Party should, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities: develop national strategies, plans or programs for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies, plans or programs integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral plans, programs and policies.

Status: The Convention on Biological Diversity was negotiated prior to the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. As of August 4, 2003, 168 countries have signed the convention and 187 countries are party to the treaty.

Status of US Compliance: The US signed the treaty on June 4, 1993, after the ascension of President Clinton. However, the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) who had, even before the signing of the treaty, adopted a policy statement opposing "any regulation, legislation and treaties on biodiversity that does not adequately consider regulatory takings, fails to recognize socio-economic needs and influences, or preempts sound management authorities of the United States," was able to generate enough support from grassroots organizations involved in property rights and natural resources to stop the ratification of the treaty. The treaty, however, is not dead. It can be rescheduled whenever the Senate Majority Leader wishes to reschedule it.

Links

Official Website of the Convention on Biodiversity - Contains treaty text.

 How the Convention on Biodiversity was Defeated - This site, maintained by Sovereignty International, is in opposition to the Biodiversity Convention.  It contains a blow-by-blow account of how its opponents defeated the treaty in the U.S. Senate.

Sustaining Life of Earth - This site is by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity explores the benefits of the treaty in detail.

IISD Linkages: A Brief Introduction of the Convention on Biological Diversity - This page by the International Institute for Sustainable Development details the different duties of the various bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity, such as: the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA).