A Darwin Initiative Project: Biodiversity of Ghana's Rivers

Toolkits for the sustainable management of Ghana’s riverine biodiversity

 

 

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

It is very difficult in the modern world to come to agreement on how to manage our environment - the usual approach is through International Agreements to which Governments 'sign-up'. Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development. Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, 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.

Much more information on the Convention can be obtained from the relevant part of the CBD website: http://www.biodiv.org/convention/default.shtml

Altogether Five international conventions focus on biodiversity issues: the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and the World Heritage Convention.

The Convention on Biological Diversity is the most recent of these multilateral environmental agreements, arising out of the Rio Earth Summit of 1992, some twenty years after Ramsar (1971), WHC (1972) and CITES (1975) entered into force, and ten years after CMS did (1983).

Each of the biodiversity-related conventions works to implement actions at the national, regional and international level in order to reach shared goals of conservation and sustainable use. In meeting their objectives, the conventions have developed a number of complementary approaches (site, species and/or ecosystem-based) and operational tools (e.g., programmes of work, trade  permits and certificates, regional agreements, site listings, funds).  

The Handbook on the Convention can be consulted on http://www.biodiv.org/handbook/default.asp

 

 

 
Site maintained by Victoria Tainton

Original material is Copyright University of Liverpool, 2006, 7

Page last reviewed : 16/01/2007