Convention on Biodiversity

Opened for signature at the Earth Summit in 1992 and entered into force
on December 29, 1993
There are 193 parties. Its secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada.
US has signed but not ratified the treaty.
It is an international legally-binding treaty with three main goals:
o conservation of biodiversity
o sustainable use of biodiversity
o fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of
genetic resources
Its overall objective is to encourage actions which will lead to sustainable
future
CBD covers biodiversity at all levels: ecosystems, species and genetic
resources
It also covers biotechnology through the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety
Its governing body is the Conference of Parties (COP). They meet every
two years
The Ecosystem Approach, an integrated strategy for the management
of resources, is the framework for action under the Convention
Precautionary principle: it states that where there is threat of
significant reduction or loss of biological diversity, lack of full scientific
certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to avoid
or minimize such threat.
2010 is the International Year of Biodiversity.

COP-10 of CBD
Held at Nagoya, Japan in October 2010.
It achieved three inter-linked goals
o Adoption of a new ten year strategic plan to save biodiversity
o Resource mobilization strategy to increase official development
assistance for biodiversity
o A new international protocol on access to and sharing the benefits
from the use of the genetic resources of the planet (Nagoya
Protocol)
Japan Biodiversity Fund was established
COP-11 will take place in 2012 in India
Nagoya Protocol

Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and

Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization
The protocol creates a framework that balances access to genetic
resources on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually
agreed terms with a fair and equitable sharing
Expected to enter into force in 2012

The Strategic Plan of CBD, which aims to arrest biodiversity loss

throughout the world by 2020, will be called the Aichi Target. <Aichi is the
prefecture in which Nagoya is situated>

Aichi Target

The Strategic Plan of the CBD or the Aichi Target adopted by the meeting
include 20 headline targets, organised under five strategic goals that
address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss, reduce the pressures
on biodiversity, safeguard biodiversity at all levels, enhance the benefits
provided by biodiversity, and provide for capacity building.
The Aichi target will be the overarching framework on biodiversity not only
for the biodiversity-related conventions, but for the entire UN system.
Some targets
o 17 pc inland and 10 pc marine ecosystem
o Conserving coral reefs
o Restore 15 pc of degraded areas
o Halve or bring to zero the rate of loss of natural habitats including
forests
Target is that by 2020, at least 17 pc of terrestrial and inland water, and
10 pc of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular
importance for biodiversity and ecosystem are conserved
The conservation is to be done through effectively and equitably
managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of
protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures,
and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.

Important Treaties
Treaty
Aarhus Convention on
Access to information for
public participation in
decision making and
access to justice in
environmental matters

Signed/I
nto
force
1998

Vienna Convention for

the protection of Ozone
layer

1985/198
8

Montreal Protocol on
substances that deplete
the Ozone layer

1987/198
9

Major Points
Aarhus is a Danish city
Adopted at the fourth ministerial
conference in the Environment for
Europe process
Links environmental rights and human
rights
India No
Does not include legally binding
reduction goals for the use of CFCs
At Vienna Conference
It is a protocol to the Vienna Convention
perhaps the single most successful

Basel Convention on
the Control of
Transboundary
Movements of Hazardous
Wastes and their disposal

1989/199
2

Rotterdam Convention
on the Prior Informed
Consent Procedure for
Certain Hazardous
Chemicals and Pesticides
in international trade
Stockholm Convention
on persistence organic
pollutants
Bamako Convention

1998/200
4

international agreement Kofi Annan

196 states ratified
Includes CFCs, HCFCs
Particularly to prevent waste transfer
from Developed to LDCs
175 parties
Signed but not ratified: Afghanistan,
Haiti, US
Rotterdam is a city in Netherlands
Endosulfan is proposed to be added to
the list

2001/200
4

173 parties

1991/199
8

On the ban on the import into Africa and

the Control of movement of Hazardous
waste within Africa
Negotiated by 12 nations of Organisation
of African Unity at Bamako, Mali

The CBD Framework

Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety

Seeks to protect biological diversity from

the potential risks posed by living
modified organisms resulting from
modern technology. The Protocol applies to the
transboundary movement, transit, handling and use of all
living modified organisms that may have adverse effects
on the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity, taking also into account risks to human health

Nagoya Protocol
For Conservation
CITES: Convention on
International Trade in
Endangered Species. Aka
Washington
Convention
Convention on
Migratory Species aka
Bonn Convention
Antarctic Treaty
System

1973/197
5

Under IUCN. Trade in specimen should

not threaten the survival of plants and
animals. Only one species under it Spix
Macaw has become extinct in the wild.

1979/198
3

To conserve terrestrial, marine and avian

migratory species

1959/196
1

12 original members. HQ: Buenos Aires.

India joined in 1983. Sets aside
Antarctica as a scientific preserve and
bans military activity there. First arms
control treaty during the cold war.
Signed in Washington. Moratorium on
whaling adopted in 1986. Following
countries havnt adopted the moratorium:
Norway, Iceland, Japan.
First and only internationally legally

International Whaling
Commission

1946

UN Convention to

1994 (on

Combat Desertification

the basis
of
Agenda
21)/1996

binding framework set up to address the

problem of desertification.
194
2006: Int. Year of Deserts and
Desertification.
Non-parties: Iraq, Montenegro, Vatican
Secretariat: Rome
Meetings: 1st Rome 1997, 9th Buenos
Aires, 2009

Treaties on Hazardous wastes: Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm (in chronological

order)
Treaties on Ozone: Vienna, Montreal
Red List: Published by IUCN since 1963. Categories 7+2. Extinct Extinct in
wild Critically endangered Endangered Vulnerable Near threatened least
concern (data deficient) (not evaluated)
Global Environmental Facility: is an independent financial organisation that
provides grants to developing countries with economies in transition for projects
related to biodiversity, climate change etc.
South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme: (SACEP) is an
organisation established in 1982 by SA govts for protection of environment.
Members: All SAARC members. SACEP is not a part of SAARC. HQ: Colombo
SAARC Forestry Centre: Bhutan

Perspectives on Sustainable Development

Bruntland Report (1983) was the first publication and recognition of the
term Sustainable Development
o meeting the needs of the present generation without
compromising the needs of the future generation
Three pillars of sustainable development (Bruntland)
o Care and respect for People, Planet and Prosperity (Commercial
Activities) <hence poverty alleviation, conservation and business
development>
o These three pillars are of equal importance
SD is about a value system. It is not a scientific formula.
Thinking beyond pure self-gratification to awareness that harm to one will
eventually be harm to all.
Interconnectedness and interdependence of all things
All three pillars have equal importance. Focus on only one of them will
unbalance the whole
SD is a necessity, not a luxury that we can afford to miss.

Questioning Development <too detailed; at times peripheral. Be choosy>

Current practices must change

Should shatter the development myth. Simply economic growth will not
create more jobs and more wealth for all.
Steady-state economics. Economic growth is measured in terms of how
much we produce and consume, and what we destroy in the process need
not be included in the calculations.
20% of the world consumes 80% of its resources
According to UNDP, consumption of goods and services in 1997 was twice
that in 1975 and six times more than in 1950.
An estimated 1 billion people still do not have the means to meet their
basic needs.
Inequalities are increasing. The assets of worlds three richest men are
greater than the combined national product of 48 poorest countries.
Higher crime rates are associated with wider income gaps
Jobless growth.
Under-nutrition is still a huge problem among children

Economic Growth and Sustainability

Over-consumption has led to depletion of resources

Main environmental threats
o Depletion of resources
o Global warming
o Expansion of waste arising from production and consumption
o Population pressure
o Pollution
o Loss of biodiversity and extinction of species.
Green National Income Account
o Conventional national income accounting does not capture the
environmental degradation due to production and consumption
o This omission leads to misrepresentation of improvements in social
welfare
o Since there is no market for many environmental resources, it is
difficult to place monetary values on them
o Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare: adjusts the national income
to make an allowance for defensive spending (i.e. that incurred in
cleaning up for pollution and other forms of environmental damage)
Economic Sustainability
o Calls for reforms in the manner that we conduct our economic
activity
o Removing unfair trade barriers and subsidies that harm the
environment
o Upholding the polluter pays principle
o Tax not on labour but on consumption <already there in the form of
indirect taxes>
o Pricing products in terms of value they have deducted from the
common natural base
o Increase resource productivity
Sustainable agriculture

o
o

Use of practices and methods to maintain/enhance the economic

viability of agricultural production, natural resource base, and other
ecosystems which are influenced by agricultural activities
Minimizing the adverse impact on the natural resources base
Flexible farming systems to manage the risks associated with
climate and markets

Ecological Sustainability

Sustainable forest management

o Forest Principle adopted at the 1992 Rio Summit
o In 2007, GA adopted the Non Legally Binding Instrument on All
Types of Forests. The instrument is the first of its kind and is
committed to promote SFM by bringing all stakeholders together
o Ministerial Conference on Protection of Forests in Europe defined
SFM as the attainment of balance between societys increasing
demands for forest products and benefits, and the preservation of
forest health and diversity.
o Forest managers must assess and integrate a wide array of
sometimes conflicting factors to produce sound forest plans
o Ecosystems approach has been adopted by the CBD. The CBD
definition of Ecosystems Approach is known as the Malawi
Principles.
o Ecosystems Approach is a strategy of management of land, water
and living resources in a way that promotes conservation and
sustainable use in an equitable way. Focused on use of scientific
methodologies for each level of biological organisation and their
interaction.
o SFM was recognised by the parties to CBD in 2004 to be a concrete
means of applying the Ecosystems Approach to forest ecosystems
Objectives of SFM
o Maintain environmental stability through preservation of ecological
balance that has been adversely affected due to the depletion of
forest cover
o Preserve the natural heritage of the country
o Improve productivity of forests
o Protecting through cooperation with local communities on the
principle of Joint Forest Management
India
o One of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the world
o National Forest Policy 1988 emphasizes environmental stability
and maintenance of ecological balance
o Existing infrastructure for forest protection is inadequate
o Surveys not carried out in many areas. Question of tribal rights
o Protect from forest fires
Integrated Forest Protection Scheme
o 10th FYP. In all States and UTs

Formed by merger of two 9th FYP schemes: Forest Fire Control and
Management and Bridging of Infrastructure Gaps in the Forestry
Sector in the North Eastern Region and Sikkim
o Components
Infrastructure development: survey and demarcation,
strengthening the infrastructure for Forest Protection Division
Forest fire control and management
o Implementing agencies
Central Component: Forest Protection Division, MoEF; Forest
Survey of India, Dehradun; Central institutions like Indian
Council of Forestry Research and Education (Dehradun), IIFM
(Bhopal) etc shall be involved
State Component: Forest dept of the concerned state/UT
Wetland Conservation Programme
o Wetlands are lands transitional between terrestrial and aquatic
system where the water table is usually near the water surface and
land is covered by shallow water.
o Essential as: control floods, water treatment, recharging of water
sources, reduce sediments, check soil erosion, bulwark against
encroachment by the sea, winter resort for birds and important for
flora and fauna. They also provide a variety of resources
o Ramsar Convention: mangroves, corals, estuaries, bays, creeks,
flood plains, sea grasses, lakes etc included
o A programme on conservation of wetlands was initiated in 1987
with the basic objective of identification of wetlands of national
importance, assessment of wetland resources, promotion of R&D
activities and formulation and implementation of management
action plans
o A steering committee in each state headed by the Chief Secretary
consists of members from all departments related to the wetland
conservation in the state. Successful model.
o India is a member of the Standing Committee of the Ramsar
Convention on Wetlands, 1971
Steps forward
o Make use of the traditional knowledge of the people living near the
wetlands for its conservation along with the engineering solutions
o Monitor the impact of implementation of management action plans
Wetlands of India under Ramsar Convention
o

Name
1. Ashtamudi WL
2. Bhitarkanika
Mangroves
3. Bhoj WL
4. Chilka Lake
5. Deepor Beel
6. East Calcutta WL
7. Harike Lake

State
Kerala
Orissa
MP
Orissa
Assam
WB
Punjab

Remark

2nd largest in India:

116500 ha

8. Kanjli
9. Keoladeo National
Park
10.Kolleru Lake
11.Loktak Lake
12.Point Calimere
Wildlife and Bird
Sanctuary
13.Pong Dam Lake
14.Ropar
15.Sambhar Lake
16.Sasthamkotta Lake
17.Tsomoriri
18.Vembanad-Kol WL

Punjab
Rajasthan

19.Wular Lake
20.Chandratal
21.Renuka
22.Rudrasagar
23.Upper Ganga

J&K
HP
HP
Tripura
UP

24.Hokarsar (Hokera)

J&K

25.Surinsar & Mansar

J&K

26.
Gharana
(2010)

J&K

AP
Manipur
TN

HP
Punjab
Rajasthan
Kerala
J&K
Kerala

Largest in India: 151250

ha
2nd Smallest: 49 ha
Smallest: 20 ha
Total area of these 26
wetlands: 677131 ha
Kerala has the highest
area under wetlands
J&K has the largest
number of wetlands (4)

The Montreux Record. Sites on the List of Wetlands of International Importance which are
considered to have undergone, to be undergoing, or to be likely to undergo change in their
ecological character brought about by human action may be placed on theMontreux
Record and may benefit from the application of the Ramsar Advisory Mission and other
forms of technical assistance.

Keoladeo national park and Loktak lake from India are included in the list

Changwon Declaration
The primary purpose of the Changwon Declaration on human well-being and
wetlands,adopted by Resolution X.3 of the recent meeting of the Conference of the Parties, is to
transmit key messages concerning wetland-related issues to the many stakeholders and decisionmakers beyond the Ramsar community who are relevant to the conservation and wise use of
wetlands, to inform their actions and decision-making

Social Sustainability
Fairness in the access to and benefits from the Earths resources

Impact of poverty on environment/Environment and poverty are related

issues
Diverting resources to non-productive areas
Health and SD
o Environment and public health are inter-related
Agenda 21 was adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) [Earth Summit] in 1992
o It also places particular emphasis on the need to take health
considerations into account in planning for SD
Urbanisation
Need for holistic approach

Water and SD

Agriculture consumes nearly 70 pc of water consumption worldwide,

industry -22 pc and household activities 8 pc [WDR, 2010]
Geographical distribution of water: just nine countries account for 60 pc of
all available freshwater supplies
Industrial use takes about 60 pc of water in rich countries and 10 pc in the
rest.
Suggestions
o Use of sea water
o Judicial use of freshwater
o Development of salt-resistant crops

SD in a globalising world

Globalisation is increasing the gap between the rich and the poor
It has to be steered so that it serves not only the commercial interests but
social needs of development
Mechanisms to safeguard trade and livelihoods, especially in developing
countries, must be evolved and negotiated to make globalisation an
effective vehicle of SD
Industrialised countries must continue to assist the developing countries
as well as promote trade
Environment and social causes must not be used selectively to erect trade
barriers against developing countries