Defenders' Experts
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was adopted at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in 1992. Currently over 180 countries are Parties to the agreement. The CBD’s objectives are threefold:
- the conservation of biodiversity;
- the sustainable use of biodiversity; and
- the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
Over the past decade, the CBD has developed work programs on a number of ecosystem themes (e.g., marine and coastal environments, forests, inland waters, and agricultural biodiversity) and cross-cutting issues (e.g., invasive alien species, the ecosystem approach, traditional knowledge, and access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing).
Defenders has been involved in CBD negotiations for several years with emphases on alien invasive species generally, improving international guidance on trade in potentially invasive animals, sustainable use of biodiversity, and the linkages between biodiversity and climate change.
Unfortunately, the United States is one of only 3 countries, together with Somalia and Andorra, that have not ratified the agreement. (Map 
). It is almost unbelievable that we alone among major nations are in this company. Defenders is working actively for U.S. Senate ratification.
In July 2009, Defenders was one of 13 NGOs to send a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, urging support for U.S. ratification. The letter provides strong reasons why the United States needs to engage in this treaty as a party soon. Read the letter >>
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