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Biodiversity is a matter of international concern. The character of biodiversity demands that it is managed in an international context including commitment and policy development. Local legislation should thus emerge from internationally co-ordinated conventions.

The Convention on Biological Diversity

In 1992, the largest-ever meeting of world leaders took place at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An historic set of agreements was signed at the "Earth Summit", including two binding agreements, the Convention on Climate Change, which targets industrial and other emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, and the Convention on Biological Diversity, the first global agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The biodiversity treaty gained rapid and widespread acceptance. Over 150 governments signed the document at the Rio conference, and since then more than 175 countries have ratified the agreement.

The Convention has three main goals:

  • The conservation of biodiversity,
  • Sustainable use of the components of biodiversity, and
  • Sharing the benefits arising from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way

The Convention is comprehensive in its goals, and deals with an issue so vital to humanity's future, that it stands as a landmark in international law. It recognizes-for the first time-that the conservation of biological diversity is "a common concern of humankind" and is an integral part of the development process. The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources. It links traditional conservation efforts to the economic goal of using biological resources sustainably. It sets principles for the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, notably those destined for commercial use. It also covers the rapidly expanding field of biotechnology, addressing technology development and transfer, benefit-sharing and biosafety. Importantly, the Convention is legally binding; countries that join it are obliged to implement its provisions.

More information on the Convention on Biological Diversity can be found here.

Local legislation

Local legislation is often present from the past. However, globalisation and the related problems due to climate change request for internationally co-ordinated action. Ideally, this will result in intenational agreements with commitment and enforcement by governments on local level.

It is a complex and time consuming task to develop local legislation in that framework. The following list provides an overview of legislation and measures that can be developed. It goes without saying that (international and national) co-ordination of these methods are essential for having an efficient and effective national legislative framework.

Customary and traditional legal measures

National legislation

Regulatory measures

Species-orientated legal measures

Regulating use of protected areas

Land-use planning legislation

Legal protection of representative habitat types

Regulating processes and activities detrimental to biodiversity

Regulating access to genetic resources

Procedures for conserving biodiversity

International law

Regional and sectoral treaties

Specific background information on ICZM, biodiversity and the legislative framework of Russia can be found here.


Loss of habitat due to amber mining on the Baltic Sea coast

 



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