What's New

14 January 2009
Online-Conference on Capacity-Building for Integration of Biosafety into National Development Plans will be held from 19 January to 6 February 2009. More »
6 January 2009
Monthly Bulletin of Activities (MBA) of the CBD, November-December 2008. More »
23 December 2008
Report on activities of the Secretariat on the implementation of the work programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety now available. More »
19 December 2008
Resolution on “Sustainable Development: Convention on Biological Diversity”, adopted on 19 December 2008 by the Sixty-third session of the United Nations General Assembly under Agenda item 49 (f). More »

Upcoming Meetings

20 - 22 January 2009, Rome, Italy
Knowledge "Share Fair".
27 - 30 January 2009, Tokyo, Japan
Group of Technical and Legal Experts on Compliance in the context of the International Regime on Access and Benefit-sharing. More »
28 - 30 January 2009, Rome, Italy
Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG-AnGR, 5th Session).
2 - 6 February 2009, Nadi, Fiji
Capacity Development Workshop for the Pacific on NBSAPs, the Mainstreaming of Biodiversity and the Integration of Climate Change. More »
9 - 12 February 2009, Nadi, Fiji
Capacity-building workshop for the Pacific region for implementation of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas.

Fifth Anniversary of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

The Green Wave

Executive Secretary's Statements

Notifications

14 January 2009 (2009-004)
Announcement of the Online-Conference on Capacity-Building for Integration of Biosafety into National Development Plans, Strategies and Programmes, 19 January to 6 February 2009. More »
12 January 2009 (2009-003)
Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and related provisions: Request for contributions from Parties and stakeholders. More »
7 January 2009 (2009-002)
Second Regional Capacity Development Workshop for Europe on National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, and Mainstreaming of Biodiversity, Isle of Vilm, Germany, 13 - 17 June 2009. More »

Upcoming Meetings

20 - 22 January 2009, Rome, Italy
Knowledge "Share Fair".
27 - 30 January 2009, Tokyo, Japan
Group of Technical and Legal Experts on Compliance in the context of the International Regime on Access and Benefit-sharing. More »
28 - 30 January 2009, Rome, Italy
Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG-AnGR, 5th Session).

Latest Decisions

Convention on Biological Diversity

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

Experts & Scientists

This section is under construction.

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Indigenous & Local Communities

The international community has recognized the close and traditional dependence of many indigenous and local communities on biological resources, notably in the preamble to the Convention on Biological Diversity. There is also a broad recognition of the contribution that traditional knowledge can make to both the conservation and the sustainable use of biological diversity, two fundamental objectives of the Convention.

Given the commitment by Parties to the Convention to respect, preserve, maintain and promote the wider use of traditional knowledge with the approval and involvement of the users of such knowledge, indigenous and local communities have a direct interest in the work of the Convention. Read more...

Akwe: Kon Guidelines

What's New

12 November 2008
Statement by the Executive Secretary, Ahmed Djoghlaf, on “Climate Change, REDD and Biodiversity” on the occasion of the International Expert Meeting on Potential Impacts of “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation” on Indigenous and Local Communities, Baguio City, Philippines, 12-14 November 2008. More »
11 September 2008
Nomination of Experts for the Ad hoc Technical Expert group on Biodiversity and Climate Change. More »
8 August 2008
Message from Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity on the occasion of the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2008. More »

Notifications

12 January 2009 (2009-003)
Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and related provisions: Request for contributions from Parties and stakeholders. More »
17 October 2008 (2008-138)
List of selected participants to receive funding for participation in the Global Indigenous Peoples’ Consultation on Potential Impacts of “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest egradation (REDD)” on Indigenous and Local Communities, Baguio City, Philippines, 12-14 November 2008. More »
10 October 2008 (2008-136)
Indigenous Communities, Tourism and Biodiversity Workshop Series: New Information and Web-based Technologies Pacific Islands Workshop 3-5 November 2008, Apia, Samoa. More »

Upcoming Meetings

5 - 11 April 2009, Cuzco, Peru
International Conference on Indigenous Sacred and Cultural Sites.
16 - 19 June 2009, Venue to be determined
Access and Benefit-sharing: Expert Group on traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.
2 - 6 November 2009, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sixth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related ProvisionsMore »

Civil Society

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
NGOs play an essential role in the promotion of sustainable development, including the conservation and preservation of the world's vast biological diversity and the sustainable use of its many components. Learn more about NGO involvement in the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Dr. Djoghlaf's message to the environmental NGOs of our planet Read the Executive Secretary's message to the environmental NGOs of our planet.

Children & Youth
The Secretariat invites children and youth, the leaders of tomorrow, to take action for the protection of life on Earth. Learn more about the Convention's work related to Youth and Children.
Dr. Djoghlaf's message to youth and children Read the Executive Secretary's message calling children and youth to action.

Women
While both genders have strong links to biodiversity, women are more often the first and most affected by environmental problems. Learn more about Women and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Dr. Djoghlaf's message to the women of the world Read the Executive Secretary's message to women of the world.

Parliamentarians

Increasing the visibility of biodiversity at the national level
Parliamentarians are key players in the promotion of sustainable use of biodiversity at the national level and can ensure that adequate legislation is adopted in order for national governments to honour their obligations as Parties to the CBD.
Read more...

Local Authorities

Local action for biodiversity
Local authorities are in a preeminent position to raise public awareness regarding biodiversity-related issues and take measures that will directly affect the quality of the environment and the well-being of the population.
Read more...

Business and Biodiversity

All businesses, irrespective size, sector and location, ultimately depend on biodiversity. Whilst businesses have a major direct and indirect impact on biodiversity, they also possess biodiversity relevant knowledge, technical resources and managerial skills. In turn, how companies manage biodiversity is, increasingly, seen as relevant to their bottom line performance. By recognizing this, leaders in each sector can create business opportunities. Read More...

Business.2010 Newsletters

Business 2010 December 2008 Business.2010 Newsletter
Vol.3 Issue 4

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Business 2010 April 2008
Business.2010 Newsletter
Vol.3 Issue 3
COP-9: Business and Biodiversity in Bonn


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What's New

18 November 2008
Discours de M. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Secretaire executif de la Convention sur la diversite biologique, à l’occasion de la Journee biodiversite & entreprises de l’European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy, Paris, France, le 18 novembre 2008. More »
27 June 2008
Outcomes Report of the Business & Biodiversity Conference, 11 June 2008, Montreal, Canada. More »
16 June 2008
Investing in the Future – Business for Biodiversity and Sustainability. More »

Upcoming Meetings

8 - 11 March 2009, Lyon, France
World Life Sciences Forum BioVision 2009.

Press Releases

17 December 2008
Visit to the Secretariat of a Delegation from Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. More »
1 December 2008
State of Paraná Reports on Carbon-Offset Programme for the Operations of the Secretariat through the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties. More »
6 October 2008
Launch of an Enhanced Strategic Partnership to Benefit Life on Earth - Joint Efforts of UN Convention on Biological Diversity and The Nature Conservancy to Help Governments Implement Global Conservation Treaty, Increase Protected Areas. More »
26 September 2008
The province of Santa Elena, Ecuador, proclaims “A Provincial Day for Protected Areas”. More »
23 September 2008
Ecuador designates New Marine Protected Area. More »
More Press Releases »