What are the three objectives of CBD?

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is built upon three core objectives, which are equally important and mutually reinforcing. These are: 1) The conservation of biological diversity, encompassing the protection of ecosystems, species, and genetic resources; 2) The sustainable use of its components, which means utilizing biological resources in a manner that does not lead to their long-term decline, ensuring availability for future generations; and 3) The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, addressing historical inequities by ensuring provider countries and traditional knowledge holders receive fair compensation.

How does Nagoya Protocol prevent biopiracy?

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) is a crucial instrument in preventing biopiracy by establishing a transparent legal framework for accessing genetic resources and sharing the benefits from their utilization. It mandates 'Prior Informed Consent' (PIC) from the country providing the genetic resources before access is granted, and 'Mutually Agreed Terms' (MAT) between the provider and user, which specify how benefits (monetary and non-monetary) will be shared. This ensures that genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge are not exploited without the explicit permission and fair compensation of the sovereign state and local communities, thereby directly combating unauthorized appropriation or 'biopiracy'.

What is India's role in CBD implementation?

India plays a significant and proactive role in CBD implementation, being a mega-diverse country and an early signatory. Domestically, it enacted the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, establishing the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards (SBBs), and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) to regulate access to biological resources and ensure ABS. India has also developed a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP). Internationally, India advocates for the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) and has been a strong voice for equitable benefit-sharing, including for Digital Sequence Information (DSI), and increased financial support for developing countries' conservation efforts.

Which COP decisions matter for UPSC?

For UPSC, several COP decisions are particularly important. The most recent and critical are the outcomes of COP15 in Montreal (December 2022), which adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Key elements of the GBF, such as the '30x30' target (30% protection of land and sea by 2030), targets for reducing harmful subsidies, and the agreement on Digital Sequence Information (DSI) benefit-sharing, are highly relevant. Earlier, decisions leading to the adoption of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP5, 2000) and the Nagoya Protocol on ABS (COP10, 2010) are also fundamental, as are the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (COP10, 2010) and their review.

How does CBD relate to traditional knowledge?

The CBD explicitly recognizes the vital role of traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (Article 8(j)). It mandates Parties to respect, preserve, and maintain such knowledge, and to promote its wider application with the approval and involvement of the knowledge holders. Crucially, the Nagoya Protocol further strengthens this by extending the ABS framework to traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, ensuring that benefits arising from its utilization are shared fairly and equitably with the communities who hold it, thereby protecting against biopiracy of traditional knowledge.

What is the difference between in-situ and ex-situ conservation?

In-situ conservation refers to the conservation of ecosystems and natural habitats and the maintenance and recovery of viable populations of species in their natural surroundings. Examples include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, biosphere reserves, and sacred groves. Ex-situ conservation, on the other hand, involves the conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural habitats. This includes botanical gardens, zoological parks, gene banks (for seeds, pollen, tissue cultures), and cryopreservation facilities. Both methods are crucial and complementary for achieving the CBD's conservation objective, with in-situ generally preferred for maintaining evolutionary processes.

What is the '30x30' target under the Global Biodiversity Framework?

The '30x30' target is a key commitment under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted at COP15. It aims to ensure that by 2030, at least 30 percent of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland water, coastal, and marine ecosystems are under effective restoration. More prominently, it calls for effectively conserving and managing at least 30 percent of the world's lands, inland waters, coastal areas, and oceans. This ambitious target is seen as critical for halting and reversing biodiversity loss and is a central pillar of global conservation efforts for the coming decade.

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Convention on Biological Diversity

Environment & Ecology

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The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was opened for signature at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992 and entered into force on 29 December 1993. Its objectives, to be pursued in accordance with its relevant provisions, are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equita…

Quick Summary

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a pivotal international treaty established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, aiming to address global biodiversity loss. It operates on three core objectives: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.

The CBD is legally binding, requiring signatory nations (Parties) to integrate its principles into national legislation. Key provisions include Article 6 (national strategies), Article 8 (in-situ conservation), Article 15 (access to genetic resources), and Article 16 (technology transfer).

Its institutional framework comprises the Conference of the Parties (COP), the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), and the Secretariat. Two crucial protocols extend the CBD's reach: the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (regulating Living Modified Organisms) and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), which combats biopiracy by ensuring prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms for genetic resource utilization.

India, a mega-diverse country, implements the CBD through its Biological Diversity Act, 2002, establishing the National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), State Biodiversity Boards, and local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) that prepare People's Biodiversity Registers (PBRs).

The recent Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15, sets ambitious new targets, including the '30x30' goal and a mechanism for Digital Sequence Information (DSI) benefit-sharing, marking a significant step in global biodiversity governance.

Understanding CBD is crucial for UPSC, as it forms the bedrock of India's environmental policy and international commitments.

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Key facts for quick recall:

CBD: — Signed Rio 1992, entered force 1993.

3 Objectives: — Conservation, Sustainable Use, Benefit-Sharing.

Protocols: — Cartagena (Biosafety, LMOs/GMOs, 2000), Nagoya (ABS, Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge, 2010).

India's Law: — Biological Diversity Act, 2002.

India's Bodies: — NBA (National Biodiversity Authority), SBBs, BMCs (People's Biodiversity Registers).

Latest: — Kunming-Montreal GBF (COP15, 2022).

GBF Targets: — 30x30 (30% protection), DSI (Digital Sequence Information) benefit-sharing, finance mobilization.

Mnemonic: — CBD-CAN (Cartagena, ABS, Nagoya). RING (Rio, India Act, Nagoya, GBF) for chronology.

To remember the key protocols and the chronological flow of CBD developments for UPSC:

CBD-CAN:

Cartagena Protocol (Biosafety)

ABS (Access and Benefit-Sharing - the concept)

Nagoya Protocol (ABS Protocol)

RING Chronological Method:

Rio Earth Summit (1992 - CBD signed)

India's Biological Diversity Act (2002 - National implementation)

Nagoya Protocol (2010 - ABS framework)

GBF (Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, 2022 - Post-2020 targets)

Convention on Biological Diversity

Quick Summary

CBD-CAN:

RING Chronological Method:

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