The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

India became a signatory to the Convention on biological Diversity (CBD) in December 1993 and ratified the convention in February 1994. 

CBD addresses biodiversity conservation, habitat preservation, intellectual property rights, bio-safety, and indigenous peoples’ rights. Since India signed the agreement, it has been submitting regularly its reports to the CBD Secretariat on the progress of implementation of the decisions taken by successive Conference of Parties (COP) meetings. 

In the recent meetings held in Nagoya in 2010, the parties (COP) meetings. In the recent meetings held in Nagoya in 2010, the parties (including India) successfully concluded the Nagoya Protocol on Access to genetic Resources and the fair and Equitable sharing of Benefits (ABS). 

Under the Protocol, Parties will be legally obliged to follow rules designed to prevent bio-piracy and provide benefits, including financial benefits, to other Parties when their genetic resources are accessed. 

In addition to the Protocol, COP 10 agreed on other biodiversity –related issues, including a strategic plan to reduce biodiversity loss by 2020, measures to fight invasive alien species, especially those introduced as pets, aquarium and terrarium species, as live bait and live food, besides prevention of deforestation. 

The decade from 2011-2020 was also declared as the UN Decade of Biodiversity. India is one of world’s 17 Mega biodiversity rich countries and accounts for 7-8 percent of the recorded species of the world.

One of the key initiatives in this regard has been the development of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. The act was developed to realize the objectives under the UN CBD of 1992, which recognizes the sovereign rights of states to use their own Biological Resources. The biological diversity Act, 2002 and the rules framed under it seek to give effect to the two key principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity: the sovereign right of countries of origin over their genetic and biological resources and the need to share benefits flowing from commercial utilization of biological resources with holders of indigenous knowledge.