Biodiversity A Global Outlook

2. What are the Convention on Biological Diversity and its 2010 Biodiversity Target?

• 2.1 What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?
• 2.2 What worldwide target has been set for biodiversity?

2.1 What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?

The Earth Summit in 1992 led to the creation of the CBD. Source  

Deep concern over the rapid loss of biodiversity and the recognition of its important role in supporting human life motivated the adoption, at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a legally binding global treaty.

The Convention has three main objectives:

• 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.

Participation in the Convention is nearly universal, with 187 countries^* currently members, a sign that the whole world is well aware of the need to work together to ensure the survival of life on Earth. More...

^* In 2007, the CBD was signed by 190 parties, including 189 countries and the European Community.

2.2 What worldwide target has been set for biodiversity?

In 2002, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention adopted a Strategic Plan, with the mission “to achieve, by 2010, a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level, as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth”

This 2010 target was subsequently endorsed by the Heads of State and Government at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, and world leaders meeting at the 2005 World Summit of the United Nations reiterated their commitment to meeting the 2010 target.

In order to assess progress towards the 2010 Biodiversity Target, the Conference of the Parties adopted a framework of seven focal areas to guide action. For each of these seven focal areas, the Conference identified indicators for evaluating biodiversity status and trends, and outcome-oriented goals and targets, which act as sub-targets to the overall 2010 Biodiversity Target. More...