Paper No.

: 05 Environmental Biotechnology

Module : 35 Convention on Biological Diversity

Principal Investigator: Dr Vibha Dhawan, Distinguished Fellow and Sr. Director

The Energy and Resouurces Institute (TERI), New Delhi

Co-Principal Investigator: Prof S K Jain, Professor, of Medical Biochemistry

JamiaHamdard University, New Delhi

Paper Coordinator: Dr Sanjukta Subudhi, Sr.Fellow,

The Energy and Resouurces Institute (TERI), New Delhi

Content Writer: Dr A Vijaya Chitra, Assistant Professor,

Sree Narayana Guru College, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Content Reviwer: Dr K Nantha Kumar, Fellow,

The Energy and Resouurces Institute (TERI), New Delhi

Environmental Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Convention on Biological Diversity
 Description of Module
Subject Name Biotechnology

Paper Name Environmental Biotechnology

Module Name/Title Convention on Biological Diversity

Module Id 35

Pre-requisites

Objectives

Keywords

Environmental Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Convention on Biological Diversity
 Table of contents
1. Learning Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Convention on Biological Diversity
4. Structure of Convention on biological diversity
5. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
6. The Nagoya Protocol
7. The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol
8. United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
9. International Day for Biological Diversity
10. India and Convention on Biological Diversity
11. Biodiversity related Conventions
12. Summary

1. Learning Objectives
 To learn the rationale of Convention on Biodiversity
 To understand the Convention Protocols
 To know the operational structure and bodies involved
 To know the imminent steps taken to conserve biodiversity

2. Introduction

Biological diversity remains as an important part of any system. Loss of biodiversity,

species extinction, increasing list of endangered animals and plants, loss of ecosystem and
change in characteristics of the ecosystem gave an warning that biodiversity is at a loss. The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Adhoc experts on Biodiversity
comprehended the requirement for an convention in Biological Diversity as the need of the
hour and framed legal rules in 1989 and concluded it in 1992 with Nairobi Conference. The
convention was opened for signature in Rio De Janeiro, Earth Summit

3. Convention on Biological Diversity

The convention on biological diversity is an international agreement with the aim of
promoting a sustainable development. Convention on Biological Diversity was signed by 150
countries in 1992 at the Rio De Janeiro, Earth Summit. The Rio, Earth Summit is officially
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The main
objectives of the convention include conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of
its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the source of genetic
resources.

Environmental Biotechnology
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Convention on Biological Diversity
 The Convention on Biological Diversity contains 42 Articles of which Article 1
contains the objective of the convention. The Convention on Biological Diversity gives
sovereign rights to countries to exploit their own resources but without damaging the
environment of other states. The parties have to cooperate with each other for conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity. According to Article 6 of Convention on Biological
Diversity the contracting party should develop National Biodiversity Strategy to protect
biodiversity. According to this article, the member countries have to develop national level
strategies, action plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity. In situ and Ex situ conservation of biological diversity is emphasized in Article
8 and 9 of the convention. The sustainable use of components of biological diversity is
detailed in Article 10. The measures for the same include integration of conservation and
sustainable use, developmental measures to minimize impacts on biological diversity, use of
local people for remedial action of degraded area, to develop cooperation between
government authorities and private sector to conserve biodiversity areas. In accordance with
Article 12 of this convention, education programme at scientific and technical level can be
provided by the member party to train in the areas of identification, conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity. Article 13 of this convention is with reference to
public education and awareness. It includes promotion and encouragement of procedures for
conservation of biological diversity and the need for cooperation of state and international
organizations in developing instructive and public awareness programmes.

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Convention on Biological Diversity
 4. Structure of Convention on biological diversity (CBD)

Conference of Parties

The Conference of Parties (COP) is the governing body of the convention. The
function of the COP is to implement the decisions taken in periodic meetings. After
the Rio De Janeiro, Earth Summit in 1992, thirteen COP meetings were held which
also includes one EXCOP (Extra COP) in Cartogena, Columbia.

Regional
Meetings
Contracting Parties & Ot
National Focal Points O

CHM
Cartagen
Advisory Boards Protoco
Conference (Biosafet
of Parties

Secretariat Nagoya
Protocol
(ABS)
Financial Mechanism SBSTTA

Working Groups on Art 8(j). Traditional Knowledge,

Review of Implementation of the CBD (WGRI)
CBD-Secretariat
The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, is in Montreal, Canada.
Functions are to organize meetings, prepare reports, assist member countries in execution of

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Convention on Biological Diversity
 programmes, organize with other international organizations in collecting and disseminating
information.
Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA):
Article 25 of the CBD, have created this intergovernmental scientific advisory
body. This scientific body assesses the biological diversity status anywhere among the
member parties country when required and also of the measures taken to conserve it.

Working Group on Article 8(j)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) recognizes the importance of
local communities in conserving the biological diversity and is protected in Article 8(j) of the
Convention. The Member countries have to respect, preserve, and maintain the knowledge,
practices and innovations of local communities that are pertinent for conservation of
biological diversity and also to encourage equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use
of biological diversity.
5. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The Cartagena protocol on Biosafety is an international agreement supplement

to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The aim of the protocol is to protect the biological
diversity from the potential risks of Genetically Modified Organisms. The protocol was
adopted on 29 January, 2000 and came into force on 11 September, 2003. It is a treaty which
governs the movement of genetically modified organisms produced by modern biotechnology
process from one country to another country. The transportation procedures for import of
living modified organisms is of main concern.
According to this protocol an Advance Informed Agreement (AIA) procedure
is to be followed before the first transboundary movement of the Genetically Modified
organisms into another country. The countries of import have to be provided with the details
of the GMO, any risk associated with it and its precautionary approach and the status of the
modified organism in the exporter country. The protocol also established a Biosafety
Clearing house to facilitate exchange of information on living Modified Organisms. This also
ensures to assist the countries to act according to the protocol. Also provides scientific,
technical, environmental information to the member.
Also known as Biosafety Protocol. This protocol was adopted on 29 January ,
2000. This protocol aims to protect biological diversity from the potential risk of living
modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. Incorporates procedure for import
of Living Modified Organisms
• Number of parties - 171

Biosafety Clearing House

This is a portal of Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety which is used
• To facilitate exchange of information on living modified organisms and

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Convention on Biological Diversity
 • To assist the countries to act in accordance with the protocol
• Provides scientific, technical, environmental information to the member
countries
India has complied to the Biosafety Protocol on 17 January, 2003

Strategic Plan of Cartagena Protocol for the period 2011-2020

The Strategic plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety for the period 2011-2020
was adopted by the Conference of Parties in its fifth meeting. The plan is comprised of a
vision, mission and five strategic objectives. The vision of the plan is to protect biological
diversity from living modified organisms. The mission is to assure protection at all levels –
global, national, regional in the transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms
which may affect biological diversity as well may possess risk to human health. The five
strategic objectives include
1. Facilitating the establishment and further development of systems for the
implementation of the Protocol
2. Capacity-building
3. Compliance and review
4. Information sharing and
5. Outreach and cooperation.

6. The Nagoya Protocol

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing
of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity is a
supplementary agreement to Convention on Biological Diversity. It is an International
agreement.The Nagoya Protocol was adopted on 29 October, 2010 in Nagoya, Japan and
came into force on 12 October, 2014. Its objective is the fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the
conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The protocol applies to genetic resources,
traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources and the benefits arising from the
utilization of the same. India signed the Protocol on 11th May 2011
7. The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol
The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted on 15 October, 2010. The protocol remained
open for signatures until 6 March, 2012 and will enter into force on 5 March, 2018. The
protocol aims for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, including risk to
human health by framing rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress relating to
living modified organisms .The main feature is to provide a clear framework in governing
damage resulting from the authorized use of Living Modified Organisms
8. United Nations Decade on Biodiversity
In October 2010, at the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the
Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan, governments agreed to the Strategic
Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets. On 22 December 2010,

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Convention on Biological Diversity
 the period from 2011 to 2020 was declared as the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity by
the UN. The goal of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity is to support the execution of
the strategic plan for biodiversity and to promote its vision of conservation of biodiversity by
2050
Aichi Biodiversity Targets
Five Strategic Goals are framed. They include
• Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by
mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society
• Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable
use
• Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems,
species and genetic diversity
• Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem
services
• Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge
management and capacity building
Source: (https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/)
9. International Day for Biological Diversity
United Nations General Assembly created the International Day for Biological
diversity to increase the understanding on biodiversity and its awareness on biodiversity
issues. Hence, 22 May is proclaimed as International Day for Biological Diversity
by United Nations. Each year the United Nations frames a theme for Biodiversity
conservation.
The below table gives the list of themes followed in each year:
S.No Year Theme
1 2018 Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity
2 2017 Biodiversity and Sustainable Tourism
3 2016 Mainstreaming Biodiversity; Sustaining People and their Livelihoods
4 2015 Biodiversity for Sustainable Development
5 2014 Island Biodiversity
6 2013 Water and Biodiversity
7 2012 Marine Biodiversity
8 2011 Forest Biodiversity
9 2010 Biodiversity, Development and Poverty Alleviation
10 2009 Invasive Alien Species
11 2008 Biodiversity and Agriculture
12 2007 Biodiversity and Climate Change

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 13 2006 Protect Biodiversity in Drylands
14 2005 Biodiversity: Life Insurance for our Changing World
15 2004 Biodiversity: Food, Water and Health for All
16 2003 Biodiversity and poverty alleviation - challenges for sustainable
development
17 2002 Dedicated to forest biodiversity

10. India and Convention on Biological Diversity

CBD and National Biodiversity Planning
Article 6 of CBD emphasize on the preparation of National Biodiversity Strategy to
protect biodiversity. According to this article, the member countries have to develop national
level strategies, action plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity.
National Reports
In accordance with Article 26 of the Convention, Parties prepare national reports on
the status of implementation of the Convention.
India being a member party of this convention, devised The Biological Diversity Act (2002)
& Rules (2004) with the following objectives
1. Conservation of biodiversity,
2. Sustainable use and
3. Access and Benefit Sharing

The Operational Structure includes

 National Biodiversity Authority (National Level)
 State Biodiversity Boards(State Level)
 Biodiversity Management Committees (Local Level)

National Biodiversity Authority (National Level)

It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment and Forest. Established
in accordance with the Biological Diversity Act (2002) of India. NBA has its head quarters in
Chennai
State Biodiversity Boards (State Level)
In accordance with, the Section 22(2) of Biological Diversity Act (2002), India, the
state biodiversity boards are established. The functions include advice to state Governments
regarding biological diversity, granting approvals or fund allocation to local bodies and to
perform any other function as required by the government.
Biodiversity Management Committees (Local Level)

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 The local body should constitute a Biodiversity Management Committees within their
area to conserve, sustainable use of biodiversity, as well for maintaining a document of the
local area about the biodiversity resources, traditional knowledge, landscape as well
demography maintained in People’s Biodiversity Register (PBR)

11. Biodiversity related Conventions

• Convention on Biological Diversity
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
(CITES)
• Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals
• The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
• Convention on Wetlands (popularly known as the Ramsar Convention)
• World Heritage Convention (WHC)
• International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
12. Summary
. The Convention has three main objectives: the conservation of biological diversity; the
sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising
from the use of genetic resources. The Conventions and the supplementary protocols aims to
conserve biodiversity by all means and for a sustainable development. May 22, 2018 the
international day for Biodiversity has its theme as celebration for 25 Years of Action for
Biodiversity. For the past 25 years plans, actions and programmes were carried out at global,
national and regional levels to protect biodiversity and to minimize loss.

Environmental Biotechnology
Biotechnology
Convention on Biological Diversity