Biodiversity - a GRI Reporting Resource - Global Reporting Initiative

2.2 International policy framework and biodiversity
Biodiversity is a frequently discussed topic
in politics, business, society, and trade
negotiations due to its importance to
human development and the current trends
of rapid loss of biodiversity. The variety of
international policy and legislation in the field
of biodiversity emphasizes the importance of
biodiversity on the international agenda. The
most important international convention in
this respect is the CBD. International agreements
are important as expressions of
generally recognized expectations regarding
responsibilities and are relevant references
for reporting on biodiversity. Stakeholders
will also be interested to know which international
agreements are applicable to
the organization and which actions have
been taken in relation to the goals of these
agreements. The role of international conventions
is briefly described in this section.
CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
(CBD)
Signed by 150 government leaders at the
1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD) is dedicated
to promoting sustainable development
and sustainable use of biodiversity. “The
Convention recognizes that biological
diversity is about more than plants, animals
and micro organisms and their ecosystems
- it is about people and our need for food
security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter,
and a clean and healthy environment in which
to live” 7 . The objectives of the CBD are:
The conservation of biological diversity, the
sustainable use of its components, and the fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising
out of the utilization of genetic resources.
An explanation of each of these objectives is
provided in table 2.2
The translation of CBD objectives into
national policies is the responsibility of each
individual party to the Convention 8 . The CBD
Table 2.2: Explanation of the objectives of the CBD
Objectives of the CBD
The conservation of biological diversity
The sustainable use of the components of
biological diversity
The fair and equitable sharing of the
benefits arising out of the utilization of
genetic resources
and resulting national policies may have a
wide-ranging effect upon organizations. It
could well be possible that governments
involve organizations in reaching the
objectives, either voluntarily or through
legislation. An example is the increased
regulatory constraints in some countries as
governments seek to conserve and make
sustainable use of biodiversity (and related
ecosystem services). Legislation may lead
to a limited access to land, to the obligation
Explanation
Diversity in genetic resources is important
to conserve for the quantity and quality of
biodiversity. It provides a basis from which
biodiversity resources can adapt to an
amended habitat, an introduced predator,
a new disease, etc. Organizations can also
use extensive biological diversity as a pool
to derive new products and services.
Any further decline in biodiversity is
considered negative and undesirable, thus
new human activities should not lead to a
further decline in the level of biodiversity
(see also Box 3 on the 2010 Biodiversity
target). An approach supporting this
statement is the sustainable use of
biodiversity. ‘Sustainable use’ means the
use of components of biological diversity
in a way and at a rate that does not lead
to the long-term decline of biological
diversity, thereby maintaining its potential
to meet the needs and aspirations of
present and future generations.
Genetic material is any material of
plant, animal, microbial, or other origin
containing functional units of heredity.
Genetic resources represent genetic
material of actual or potential value. This
objective concerns the fair and equitable
sharing of the benefits arising from the
utilization of genetic resources, including
by the appropriate access to genetic
resources and by the appropriate transfer
of relevant technologies, - taking into
account all rights over those resources
and to technologies - and by appropriate
funding.
7] http://www.biodiv.org
8] Currently, the CBD has been ratified by
189 Parties.
R e p o r t i n g o n B i o d i v e r s i t y
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