Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Related legal acts

Key definition

Biodiversity definition

What does Biodiversity mean? In legal practice, biodiversity describes the variety of living organisms—within and between species of plants, animals and microorganisms—and the ecosystems in which they live and interact. The term is descriptive and used across multiple legal contexts (planning, nature conservation, environmental assessment and permitting). While UK and Irish legislation seldom defines “biodiversity” exhaustively, the widely adopted Convention on Biological Diversity definition underpins policy and casework; statutes tend instead to regulate its conservation and enhancement. Key legal features include: - Public authority biodiversity duties (England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) requiring action to conserve and enhance biodiversity. - Application in planning and infrastructure...

Convention on Biological Diversity 1992: obligations, access and benefit-sharing, biosafety protocols, and UK implementation; developments through COP15–COP16 and the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework

Published by a LexisNexis Environment expert

Practice notes

Overview

The 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) broadened the scope and effectiveness of the international legal framework for the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components. Its remit extends beyond biodiversity and governs issues such as the sustainable use of biological resources, access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing, access to biotechnology, and the risks of biotechnology.

This was among two legally binding conventions adopted and signed at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), widely known as the Rio Earth Summit, convened in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. Endorsed by 150 government leaders, it is committed to advancing sustainable development. For information on parties to the convention, see: List of Parties. The other binding treaty concluded at UNCED was the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). For further details, see Practice Note: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 1992—snapshot.

As a ‘framework’ convention, the CBD lays down guiding principles that states must factor in when formulating national legislation and policy frameworks...

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Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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