Biodiversity in the Seas: Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Marine and Coastal Habitats

The document highlights the critical importance of marine and coastal biodiversity, noting that oceans cover over 70% of the planet's surface and sustain 99% of the volume of life. It warns that human activities are causing unprecedented depletion of living resources and degradation of ecosystems, which may undermine the adaptive potential of these systems to meet future human needs. The text emphasizes that this vulnerability exists across all latitudes and in both developed and developing countries, debunking the assumption that the oceans possess an infinite capacity for resilience.

• Marine and coastal biodiversity includes a vast array of species, genetic variety, habitats, and ecological processes, with oceans covering more than 70% of the Earth's surface and containing 99% of the volume known to sustain life.
• Human activities are causing unprecedented depletion of marine resources and degradation of ecosystems, which threatens the ability of these systems to adapt and meet future human requirements.
• The perceived vastness of the oceans has led to a false assumption of limitless resources and infinite resilience, while evidence shows that all regions, regardless of latitude or economic development, face increasing threats to marine biodiversity.

APA

Fountaubert, D., Downes, & Agardy (1996). Biodiversity in the Seas: Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Marine and Coastal Habitats. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/reports/biodiversity-in-the-seas-implementing-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-marine-and-coastal-habitats-iucncielwwf-1996-de-fountaubert-downes-agardy-republished-in-georgetown-internat-2/

Chicago

Fountaubert, De, Downes, and Agardy. Biodiversity in the Seas: Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Marine and Coastal Habitats. Center for International Environmental Law, 1996. https://www.ciel.org/reports/biodiversity-in-the-seas-implementing-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-marine-and-coastal-habitats-iucncielwwf-1996-de-fountaubert-downes-agardy-republished-in-georgetown-internat-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fountaubert |first1=De |last2=Downes |last3=Agardy |title=Biodiversity in the Seas: Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Marine and Coastal Habitats |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=1 January 1996 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/biodiversity-in-the-seas-implementing-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-marine-and-coastal-habitats-iucncielwwf-1996-de-fountaubert-downes-agardy-republished-in-georgetown-internat-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fountaubert1996biodiversity, author = {Fountaubert, De and Downes and Agardy}, title = {{Biodiversity in the Seas: Implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity in Marine and Coastal Habitats}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {1996}, month = jan, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/biodiversity-in-the-seas-implementing-the-convention-on-biological-diversity-in-marine-and-coastal-habitats-iucncielwwf-1996-de-fountaubert-downes-agardy-republished-in-georgetown-internat-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }