International Conventions
There are several international biodiversity conservations or protection
initiatives and frameworks some of which have been enacted in law
in signatory countries. Some of the major and high impact conventions
are listed below.
Convention
on Biological Diversity,
The most important agreement with regard to biodiversity is an International
Agreement which came out of the Earth Summit at Rio de Janeiro in
1992. To date the CBD has been ratified by 179 countries and the
EEC, also known as Parties, and was signed by the UK on 3rd June
1994. Signatories are required to develop national strategies for
the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and
to integrate biodiversity considerations into all activities.
The Bonn Convention
on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals 1979 &
1994
Was signed in the UK in 1979 and requires the protection of listed
endangered migratory species, and encourages separate international
agreements covering these and other threatened species.
Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species 1973 (CITES)
Rregulates international trade of wild fauna and flora through a
system of permits and certificates. CITES entered into force in
1975 and currently has more than 150 Parties. The UK became Party
to the Convention in 1976 and the European Union, while not Party
to the Convention, has been fully implementing the Convention through
a series of Council and commission Rulings. For more information
see the THE
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY AND TRADE IN WILD FAUNA AND FLORA and CITES
UK web sites.
The Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl
Habitat 1982 & 1987
Was signed by the UK in 1973 and requires signatories to designate
and protect wetlands of international importance, to promote wetlands
generally and to foster the wise use of wetlands.
The International
Convention for the Regulation of Whaling 1946
Establishing the International Whaling Commission, the purpose of
the Convention was to provide for the conservation of whale stocks
on a world-wide basis and enable the orderly development of the
whaling industry.
United
Nations' Aarhus Convention
On 24 February 2005 the UK ratified the Aarthus Convention which
addresses the public’s access to environmental information,
participation in environmental decision-making and access to justice
in environmental matters. It is an elaboration of principle 10 of
the Rio Declaration.
United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
(Signed: 15 June 1993, 27 August 1997 Ratified: 29 August 1997)
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was signed
by 154 governments in Rio de Janeiro during the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development (UNCED) in June 1992. The convention
addresses the threat of global climate change by urging governments
to reduce the sources of greenhouse gases. The ultimate objective
of the convention is to stabilise greenhouse gas concentrations
in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous interference
with the climate system of the world.
United Nations
Convention to Combat Desertification
Signed: 9 January 1995, Ratified: 30 September 1997, Acceded: June
1994
Desertification is the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid and
dry sub-humid areas and does not refer to the expansion of existing
deserts. It is caused primarily by human activities, through over-exploitation
and inappropriate land use, and by climate variations. The Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is responsible, with the advice
from representatives from the non-governmental organisation (NGO)
sector, for the coordination of the implementation of this convention
in South Africa.
Montreal
Protocol - Protocol for the Protection of the Ozone Layer
Ratified: 15 January 1990, Acceded: 15 January 1990
The protocol is aimed at ensuring measures to protect the earth's
ozone layer. South Africa also ratified the subsequent London Amendments
to the protocol on 12 May 1992, which were designed to restrict
the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halons. Parliament has
approved the ratification of the Copenhagen Amendments to the Protocol
and the necessary steps are now being taken for the instrument for
ratification to be deposited. South Africa has, however, acted in
full compliance with these amendments.
Photo Credit: Dave Slater
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