Treaties/Agreements/Conventions Flashcards
United Nations Conference on Environment and Development- UNCED
● Earth Summit 1992, Rio Summit, the Rio Conference
● Earth Summit resulted in the following documents:
1. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development
2. Agenda 21
3. Forest Principles
legally binding agreements (Rio Convention) were opened for signature:
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)
- United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
Convention on Biological Diversity
It is a multilateral treaty. Entered into force in 1993. Parties : 196. It is legally binding. India is a party to convention.
Convention has 3 main goals :
- Conservation of biological diversity
- Sustainable use of its components
- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety:
Adopted in 2000; Came into force in 2003 (Cartagena, Columbia)
● The Biosafety Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
● Genetically Modified Organisms can be regulated under this protocol.
● Clearing house for GMO.
Nagoya Protocol
Adopted in Conference of Parties 10 (CoP10) (2010) (Nagoya, Japan)
● It deals with access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity
● It is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
● The Strategic Plan consists of 20 new biodiversity targets for 2020, termed the ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’
● Access and Benefit sharing Clearing House (Article 14)
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
● It is an international treaty
● It was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971 ● In India 26 sites are Ramsar site
● The convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
● The Ramsar Convention is the only global environmental treaty that deals with a particular ecosystem
Montreux Record:
● The Montreux Record was established by Recommendation of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (1990). (Montreux, Switzerland)
● It is maintained as part of the Ramsar List.
● In India – Keoladeo National Park and Loktak Lake. Chilka lake was removed from the list
● Montreux Record under the Convention is a register of wetland sites
● It is a list of Wetlands of International Importance where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference.
● Sites may be added to and removed from the Record only with the approval of the Contracting Parties in which they lie.
CITES :Conventionon International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. (1973)
● It is also known as Washington Convention
● Participation is voluntary
● It is legally binding on the Parties, but it does not take the place of national laws.
● Parties : 182
● Aims to protect endangered plants and animals.
● It classifies plants and animals according to three categories, or appendices, based on how threatened :
1. Appendix I: It lists species that are in danger of extinction. Commercial trade prohibited.
2. Appendix II: They are those that are not threatened with extinction but that might suffer a serious decline. Their trade is regulated by permit.
3. Appendix III: They are protected in at least one country that is a CITES member states.
The Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network (TRAFFIC)
● Joint programme of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and IUCN.
● complimentary to CITES
● Founded in 1976, with headquarters now located in Cambridge, United Kingdom.
● Non-governmental organization working globally on trade in wild animals and plants in the context of both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
● investigates and analyses wildlife trade trends, patterns, impacts and drivers to provide the leading knowledge base on trade in wild animals and plants.
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
● CMS is an international treaty concluded under aegis of UNEP.
● It’s also called the Bonn Convention.
● signed in 1979
● Headquarters are in Bonn, Germany.
● CMS aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout their range.
● Since its entry into force, its membership has grown steadily to include over 120 Parties from Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Europe and Oceania.
Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT)
● Initiated in 2005, CAWT is a unique voluntary public-private coalition
● Aims to focus public and political attention and resources on ending the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products.
● Reduce consumer demand for illegally traded wildlife by raising awareness.
International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO)
● ITTO is an intergovernmental organization, under UN (1986)
● Promoting the conservation and sustainable management, use and trade of tropical forest resources.
United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF)
● The Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), established the UNFF In October 2000, a subsidiary body
● The Forum has universal membership, and is composed of all Member States of the United Nations and specialized agencies
● main objective to promote “the management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests and to strengthen long-term political commitment to this end” based on the Rio Declaration, the Forest Principles
● Reverse the loss of forest cover worldwide through sustainable forest management (SFM)
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
● Founded in 1948 in Fontainebleau, France. ● HQ : Gland, Switzerland
● It publishes IUCN Red List which assesses the conservation status of species worldwide ● IUCN has observer and consultative status at the United Nations
● Over the past decades, IUCN has widened its focus beyond conservation ecology and now incorporates issues related to gender equality, poverty alleviation and sustainable business in its projects.
● Both Governments and NGOs are its members.
Global Tiger Forum (GTF)
● Formed in 1994 with its secretariat at New Delhi, GTF is the only inter- governmental & international body campaigning to save the TIGER worldwide.
● worldwide campaign, common approach, promotion of appropriate programmes and controls to save the remaining five subspecies of tigers in the wild
● Global Tiger Initiative- An alliance of governments, international, agencies, civil society, and the private sector united to save wild tigers from extinction
Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
● It is an International Environmental Treaty, UN Treaty
● Became effective in 2004
● Parties : 180
● India is a party to this treaty
● US is not a party to this treaty
● There is provision that developed countries provide new and additional financial resources and measures to minimise/regulate POPs to developing nations.
● It aims to eliminate or restrict the production and use of persistent organic pollutants
● Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety (IFCS) and the International Programme for Chemical Safety (IPCS) prepared a list, known as the Dirty Dozen :
1. Eight organochlorine pesticides: aldrin, chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, endrin, heptachlor, mirex and toxaphene;
2. Two industrial chemicals: hexa chlorobenzene (HCB) and the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) group; and
3. Two groups of industrial by-products: dioxins and furans.
