Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth

The document outlines the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which aims to conserve biodiversity, ensure sustainable use of its components, and facilitate fair benefit-sharing of genetic resources. It details the roles of the Nagoya and Cartagena Protocols in managing access to genetic resources and the biosafety of living modified organisms. The brief highlights the failure to meet the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and discusses the impact of emerging technologies, such as synthetic biology and digital sequence information, on global biodiversity governance. It concludes by emphasizing the need for a post-2020 global biodiversity framework to reverse the extinction risk facing up to one million species.

• Up to one million plant and animal species are currently at risk of extinction due to factors including habitat loss, pollution, poaching, farming, invasive species, and global warming.
• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) operates on three primary objectives: the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.
• Agricultural biodiversity has declined significantly, with an estimated 75% of genetic diversity in crops lost over the last century, leaving 75% of global food production dependent on only 12 plants and five animal species.
• The Nagoya Protocol was established to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, though its implementation into national laws is still being assessed.
• The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety regulates the transboundary movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) using a precautionary approach and advance informed agreement procedures.
• Emerging technologies like synthetic biology and digital sequence information (DSI) create regulatory dilemmas, specifically regarding whether benefit-sharing requirements apply when digital data replaces the need for physical biological samples.
• None of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets were fully achieved, which the document suggests threatens the Sustainable Development Goals and efforts to mitigate climate change.

APA

Tsioumanis,, E. T. (. (2020). Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/biological-diversity-protecting-variety-life-earth

Chicago

Tsioumanis,, Elsa Tsioumani (PhD),Asterios. Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/biological-diversity-protecting-variety-life-earth.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Tsioumanis, |first1=Elsa Tsioumani (PhD),Asterios |title=Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=28 September 2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/biological-diversity-protecting-variety-life-earth |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{tsioumanis2020biological, author = {Tsioumanis,, Elsa Tsioumani (PhD),Asterios}, title = {{Biological Diversity: Protecting the variety of life on Earth}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/articles/deep-dive/biological-diversity-protecting-variety-life-earth}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }