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Convention on Biological Diversity

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LINK: http://www.cbd.int/convention/convention.shtml

Description

Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms. The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend.

At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for "sustainable development" -- meeting our needs while ensuring that we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. This pact among the vast majority of the world's governments sets out commitments for maintaining the world's ecological underpinnings as we go about the business of economic development. The Convention establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources.

The United Nations Convention on Biodiversity commits Canada to conserving biodiversity and recognizes wetland conservation as integral to this goal. In Canada, the Biodiversity Convention Office at Environment Canada is responsible for leading national efforts to achieve its objectives.

Additional Information:

Regions: Canada, Canada and United States, World, United States

Submitted by: WetlandNetwork