See the ENTRI query system for information about the signatory status of this treaty.
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Objectives
==========
To conserve biological diversity, promote the sustainable use
of its components, and encourage equitable sharing of the benefits
arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Such equitable
sharing includes appropriate access to genetic resources, as well as
appropriate transfer of technology, taking into account existing
rights over such resources and such technology.
Summary of provisions
=====================
(a) Definition of terms, such as "biological diversity",
"biological resources", "biotechnology", "genetic resources" (art.
2);
(b) Restatement of the principle of national sovereignty over
domestic natural resources, subject to respect for the rights of
other States (art. 4). The Convention, however, places a duty on
States Parties to conserve biological diversity within their
jurisdiction, as well as outside their jurisdiction in certain cases
(art. 4);
(c) Requirement of cooperation between States Parties, in
preserving biological diversity in areas out of national
jurisdiction (art. 5);
(d) Conferment of responsibility on States Parties for the
formulation and implementation of strategies, plans or programmes
for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity
(art. 6). States Parties are required to monitor the elements of
biological diversity, determining the nature of the urgency required
in the protection of each category, and in sampling them, in terms
of the risks to which they are exposed;
(e) Attribution of responsibility to States Parties, in
respect of in-situ (art. 8) and ex-situ (art. 9) conservation of
biological diversity.
(f) Obligations placed on States Parties to provide for
research, training, general education and the fostering of
awareness, in relation to measures for the identification,
conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity (arts. 12
and 13).
(h) Obligation placed on States Parties to provide for
environmental impact assessment of projects that are likely to have
significant adverse effects on biological diversity (art. 14).
States Parties should exchange information and undertake
consultation with other States in all cases where proposed national
projects are likely to have adverse effects on biological diversity
in other States;
(i) Provisions concerning access to genetic resources (art.
15);
(j) Provisions on access to transfer of technology, for
application in the conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity (arts. 16, 18 and 19);
(k) Provisions on financial resources. The Convention places
a duty on States Parties to provide, in accordance with their
individual capabilities, financial support for the fulfillment of
the objectives of conservation and sustainable use of biological
diversity (arts. 20 and 21);
(l) Establishment of a Conference of Parties, with a
Secretariat, to keep under review the implementation of the
Convention (arts. 23, 24 and 25);
(m) Provision for the settlement of disputes (art. 27).
The Convention has the following annexes:
I. Identification and monitoring;
II. Arbitration and conciliation.
Membership
==========
The Convention is open to all States and regional economic
integration organizations. This is subject to ratification,
acceptance or approval.
Date of adoption 5. 6.1992
Place of adoption Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of entry into force
(or conditions for entry
into force) Not yet in force: to enter into
force on the ninetieth day after
the date of deposit of the
thirtieth instrument of
ratification, acceptance, approval
or accession
Languages Arabic, Chinese, English, French,
Russian, Spanish
Depositary Secretary-General of the
United Nations
(Status as of 30 June 1993)
Participant Signature Ratification
Acceptance (At)
Approval (Ap)
Accession (Ac)
------------ --------- ---------------
Afghanistan 12. 6.1992
Algeria 13. 6.1992
Angola 12. 6.1992
Antigua and Barbuda 5. 6.1992 9. 3.1993
Argentina 12. 6.1992
Armenia 13. 6.1992 14. 5.1993 (At)
Australia 5. 6.1992 18. 6.1993
Austria 13. 6.1992
Azerbaijan 12. 6.1992
Bahamas 12. 6.1992
Bahrain 9. 6.1992
Bangladesh 5. 6.1992
Barbados 12. 6.1992
Belarus 11. 6.1992
Belgium 5. 6.1992
Belize 13. 6.1992
Benin 13. 6.1992
Bhutan 11. 6.1992
Bolivia 13. 6.1992
Botswana 8. 6.1992
Brazil 5. 6.1992
Bulgaria 12. 6.1992
Burkina Faso 12. 6.1992
Burundi 11. 6.1992
Cameroon 14. 6.1992
Canada 11. 6.1992 4.12.1992
Cape Verde 12. 6.1992
Central African
Republic 13. 6.1992
Chad 12. 6.1992
Chile 13. 6.1992
China 11. 6.1992 5. 1.1993
Colombia 12. 6.1992
Comoros 11. 6.1992
Congo 11. 6.1992
Cook Islands 12. 6.1992 20. 4. 1993
Costa Rica 13. 6.1992
Côte d'Ivoire 10. 6.1992
Croatia 11. 6.1992
Cuba 12. 6.1992
Cyprus 12. 6.1992
Czech Republic 4. 6.1993
Democratic People's
Republic of Korea 11. 6.1992
Denmark 12. 6.1992
Djibouti 13. 6.1992
Dominican Republic 13. 6.1992
Ecuador 9. 6.1992 23. 2.1993
Egypt 9. 6.1992
El Salvador 13. 6.1992
Estonia 12. 6.1992
Ethiopia 10. 6.1992
Fiji 9.10.1992 25. 2.1993
Finland 5. 6.1992
France 13. 6.1992
Gabon 12. 6.1992
Gambia 12. 6.1992
Germany 12. 6.1992
Ghana 12. 6.1992
Greece 12. 6.1992
Grenada 3.12.1992
Guatemala 13. 6.1992
Guinea 12. 6.1992 7. 5.1993
Guinea-Bissau 12. 6.1992
Guyana 13. 6.1992
Haiti 13. 6.1992
Honduras 13. 6.1992
Hungary 13. 6.1992
Iceland 10. 6.1992
India 5. 6.1992
Indonesia 5. 6.1992
Iran 14. 6.1992
Ireland 13. 6.1992
Israel 11. 6.1992
Italy 5. 6.1992
Jamaica 11. 6.1992
Japan 13. 6.1992 28. 5.1993 (At)
Jordan 11. 6.1992
Kazakhstan 9. 6.1992
Kenya 11. 6.1992
Kuwait 9. 6.1992
Latvia 11. 6.1992
Lebanon 12. 6.1992
Lesotho 11. 6.1992
Liberia 12. 6.1992
Libyan Arab Jamahirya 29. 6.1992
Liechtenstein 5. 6.1992
Lithuania 11. 6.1992
Luxembourg 9. 6.1992
Madagascar 8. 6.1992
Malawi 10. 6.1992
Malaysia 12. 6.1992
Maldives 12. 6.1992 9.11.1992
Mali 22. 9.1992
Malta 12. 6.1992
Marshall Islands 12. 6.1992 8.10.1992
Mauritania 12. 6.1992
Mauritius 10. 6.1992 4. 9.1992
Mexico 13. 6.1992 11. 3.1993
Micronesia 12. 6.1992
Moldova 5. 6.1992
Monaco 11. 6.1992 24.11.1992
Mongolia 12. 6.1992
Morocco 13. 6.1992
Mozambique 12. 6.1992
Myanmar 11. 6.1992
Namibia 12. 6.1992
Nauru 5. 6.1992
Nepal 12. 6.1992
Netherlands 5. 6.1992
New Zealand 12. 6.1992
Nicaragua 13. 6.1992
Niger 11. 6.1992
Nigeria 13. 6.1992
Norway 9. 6.1992
Oman 10. 6.1992
Pakistan 5. 6.1992
Panama 13. 6.1992
Papua New Guinea 13. 6.1992 16. 3.1993
Paraguay 12. 6.1992
Peru 12. 6.1992 7. 6.1993
Philippines 12. 6.1992
Poland 5. 6.1992
Portugal 13. 6.1992
Qatar 11. 6.1992
Republic of Korea 13. 6.1992
Romania 5. 6.1992
Russian Federation 13. 6.1992
Rwanda 10. 6.1992
Saint Kitts and Nevis 12. 6.1992 7. 1.1993
Samoa 12. 6.1992
San Marino 10. 6.1992
Sao Tome and Principe 12. 6.1992
Senegal 13. 6.1992
Seychelles 10. 6.1992 22. 9.1992
Singapore 10. 3.1993
Slovakia 19. 5.1993
Slovenia 13. 6.1992
Solomon Islands 13. 6.1992
South Africa 4. 6.1993
Spain 13. 6.1992
Sri Lanka 10. 6.1992
Sudan 9. 6.1992
Suriname 13. 6.1992
Swaziland 12. 6.1992
Sweden 8. 6.1992
Switzerland 12. 6.1992
Syrian Arab Republic 3. 5.1993
Thailand 12. 6.1992
Togo 12. 6.1992
Trinidad and Tobago 11. 6.1992
Tunisia 13. 6.1992
Turkey 11. 6.1992
Tuvalu 8. 6.1992
Uganda 12. 6.1992
Ukraine 11. 6.1992
United Arab Emirates 11. 6.1992
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland 12. 6.1992
United Republic of
Tanzania 12. 6.1992
United States of
America 4. 6.1993
Uruguay 9. 6.1993
Vanuatu 9. 6.1992 25. 3.1993
Venezuela 12. 6.1992
Viet Nam 28. 5.1993
Yemen 12. 6.1992
Yugoslavia 8. 6.1992
Zaire 11. 6.1992
Zambia 11. 6.1992 28. 5.1993
Zimbabwe 12. 6.1992
European Economic
Community 13. 6.1992
Convention Secretariat
======================
Interim Secretariat of the Convention
on Biological Diversity
United Nations Environment Programme
Geneva Executive Center
15 Chemin des Anemones, 1219 Chatelaine
Geneva, Switzerland
Telephone: 41-22-979-9111
Fax: 41-22-797-2512
Telex: 415465 UNE CH
*****
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Additional information and documents are available from the Biodiversity Secretariat segment of the U.N. Environment Programme gopher server (slow link) or from the Interim Secretariat World Wide Web.