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Biodiversity is the “variability among living organisms from all sources, including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems” (UN Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992). Biodiversity therefore refers to the variability of genetics, species, populations, habitats, ecosystems and ecosystem services, within a given area. Despite the significant economic, social and cultural values of biodiversity, and associated ecosystem services, biodiversity worldwide is being lost, and in some areas at an accelerating rate (OECD 2008). The OECD’s work promotes the recognition of these values in economic decision making, and the utilisation of efficient policy mechanisms to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity and natural resources.
In the run-up to the tenth meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-10) of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to be held in October 2010, Nagoya, Japan, 2010 has been declared by the United Nations as the International Year of Biodiversity. It is widely acknowledged that the biodiversity target, agreed in 2002 under the UN CBD, to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010, has not been met.
COP-10 will bring together 193 Parties to consider, inter alia, the revised Strategic Plan to help achieve the three objectives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity:
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The conservation of biological diversity. |
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The sustainable use of its components. |
| iii. |
The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources. |
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