Other Relevant Conventions

Besides the Rio Conventions and the Biodiversity-related conventions, there are a number of other conventions and agreements that support the CBD’s objectives. An indicative (but not exhaustive) list of relevant conventions and agreements will shortly be available here.

Examples of cooperation with other conventions

The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)

At its sixth meeting, the CBD Conference of the Parties inviting the IPPC to consider incorporating criteria related to the threats to biological diversity imposed by invasive alien species (decision VI/23, para. 8), and to ensure that the international standards to be developed for the purpose of phytosanitary measures regarding living modified organisms are in harmony with the objective and all relevant requirements of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (decision VI/20, para. 34). The fifth meeting of the governing body of the IPPC (the Interim Committee on Phytosanitary Measures) took note of decision VI/20, and also approved two revised standards that incorporate certain biodiversity considerations and may broaden the scope of implementation of the IPPC to include a wider range of issues beyond agricultural systems.

The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

The treaty was adopted by the Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in November 2001. The Treaty’s objectives are in harmony with the CBD and cooperation with the Convention is provided for in the text of the Treaty itself. In its decision VI/6, the CBD COP welcomed the adoption by FAO Conference of the Treaty and decided to establish and maintain cooperation with the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of FAO acting as the Interim Committee for the Treaty and, upon the entry into force of the Treaty, with the Governing Body. By decision VI/10 (para.12) the CBD COP invited the CGRFA to consider how the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture contributes to the implementation of the CBD Global Strategy for Plant Conservation , in particular target 9.

Other conventions that cooperate with the CBD include:

• The Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitat (Bern Convention)
• Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena, 1983) and its Protocols, including the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)
• The Mediterranean Action Plan (Barcelona Convention)
• Regional Seas Convention