UNRIC Library Backgrounder: Biodiversity

PDF

Biodiversity: What is it, and how can we protect it?
(UN News, 22 January 2024)
https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/01/1145772

Protecting biodiversity: Be part of the plan to save the planet
(UN News – Interview, 22 May 2024)
https://news.un.org/en/audio/2024/05/1150071

Quiz: How much do you know about biodiversity loss?
(UNEP, 10 December 2024):
https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/quiz-how-much-do-you-know-about-biodiversity-loss

UN Entities

• Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): http://www.cbd.int/
  • Global Biodiversity Framework Fund: https://www.cbd.int/financial/gbff.shtml

UN Conferences & Observances

• COP 17 – Seventeenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 19–30 October 2026 – Yerevan, Armenia
  https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-17
• COP 16 – Sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 21 October–1 November 2024, Cali, Colombia
  https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2024
  https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-16
  • COP16: Landmark biodiversity agreements adopted (UN News, 3 November 2024): https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/11/1156456
  • First resumed session of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 3–6 December 2024 – Online: https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-16-R1
  • Second resumed session of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, 25–27 February 2025 – Rome, Italy: https://www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-16-R2
• Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdisction, Further resumed fifth session, 19-20 June 2023, New York: https://www.un.org/bbnj/
  • Intergovernmental Conference on Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction Concludes Work Following Landmark Adoption of Historic Treaty (SEA/2182, 20 June 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sea2182.doc.htm
• United Nations Summit on Biodiversity, 30 September 2020: https://www.un.org/pga/75/united-nations-summit-on-biodiversity/
• 22 May – International Day for Biological Diversity:
  https://www.un.org/en/observances/biological-diversity-day,  http://www.cbd.int/idb/
• United Nations Decade on Biodiversity, 2011-2020: http://www.cbd.int/2011-2020/

UN Treaties

• Convention on Biological Diversity: http://www.cbd.int/convention/convention.shtml
• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/
• The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/NKL_text.shtml
• Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement): https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en

Selected Statements and Speeches of UN Officials

• Secretary-General hails forthcoming entry into force of Agreement on Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (SG/SM/22809, 19 September 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22809.doc.htm
• Warning humanity destroying bedrock of life, cornerstone of sustainable development, Secretary-General Observance Message urges action to protect biodiversity (SG/SM/22647, 13 May 2025): https://press.un.org/en/2025/sgsm22647.doc.htm
• Interview with Kaveh Zahedi, Director of the FAO Office of Climate, Biodiversity and Environment (20 February 2025): https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/un-biodiversity-conference-cop16-talks-resume-in-rome–what-s-at-stake/en
• Saving ecosystems, making peace with nature ‘defining task’ of Twenty-First Century, Secretary-General tells Biodiversity Segment, stressing alternative is unthinkable (SG/SM/22431, 29 October 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22431.doc.htm
• ‘Convert words into action’, Secretary-General urges as Biodiversity conference opens to advance earth rescue plan (SG/SM/22415, 21 October 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22415.doc.htm
• ‘Let us act urgently to put biodiversity on path to recovery’, Secretary-General stresses, in Message for International Day (SG/SM/22215, 8 May 2024): https://press.un.org/en/2024/sgsm22215.doc.htm
• Spare no efforts to ensure new Oceans Biodiversity Treaty enters into force, Secretary-General tells Intergovernmental Conference (SG/SM/21845, 19 June 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21845.doc.htm
• End war on nature, redirect subsidies to green solutions, Secretary-General urges in Observance Message marking International Day for Biological Diversity (SG/SM/21802, 18 May 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21802.doc.htm
• Secretary-General commends parties for their ambition, flexibility, perseverance in finalizing text on Marine Biodiversity Treaty (SG/SM/21708, 4 March 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21708.doc.htm
• Adopting Marine Biodiversity Treaty ‘important step forward’ in advancing ocean health for generations to come, Secretary-General tells Intergovernmental Conference (SG/SM/21704, 1 March 2023): https://press.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21704.doc.htm
• Warning Biological Diversity Conference ‘we are treating nature like a toilet’, Secretary-General calls for Global Biodiversity Framework (SG/SM/21619, 6 December 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21619.doc.htm
• Ambitious, transformative biodiversity framework crucial for future generations, Secretary-General says, urging countdown event to be ‘a wake-up call’ (SG/SM/21467, 20 September 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21467.doc.htm
• Species extinction rate hundreds of times higher than in past 10 Million years, warns Secretary-General Observance Message, urging action to end biodiversity loss by 2030 (SG/SM/21291, 22 May 2022): https://press.un.org/en/2022/sgsm21291.doc.htm
• ‘We are losing our suicidal war against nature’, Secretary-General tells Biodiversity Summit, urging bold actions towards sustainable future (SG/SM/20959, 11 October 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20959.doc.htm
• We must declare peace in ‘senseless, self-destructive’ war against nature, Secretary-General tells Biodiversity Pre-Climate Conference Meeting (SG/SM/20870, 30 August 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20870.doc.htm
• Secretary-General calls food system major driver of greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, citing ‘war on nature’, in message to Pre-Summit (SG/SM/20838, 26 July 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20838.doc.htm
• Secretary-General calls for united drive to tackle alarming decline in biological diversity, as governments prepare New Global Framework (SG/SM/20735, 21 May 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20735.doc.htm
• Rebalanced relationship between humans, nature will reap tremendous rewards, Secretary-General says on International Day for Biological Diversity (SG/SM/20733, 20 May 2021): https://press.un.org/en/2021/sgsm20733.doc.htm

Further information

• Rio Conventions Synergy Platform: https://rioconventions.org/
• UN Biodiversity Lab: https://unbiodiversitylab.org/
  Providing decision makers with the best available spatial data to put nature at the center of sustainable development.
• Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land – Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss: http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/biodiversity/
  https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal15
• Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life below Water – Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources:
  http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/
  https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14
• Biodiversity and ecosystems: https://sdgs.un.org/topics/biodiversity-and-ecosystems
• Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction: http://www.un.org/Depts/los/biodiversityworkinggroup/biodiversityworkinggroup.htm
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) – Biodiversity: http://www.fao.org/biodiversity/en/
• International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
  • The three types of biodiversity: explained (11 April 2024): https://www.ifad.org/en/web/latest/-/the-three-types-of-biodiversity-explained
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Ecosystems and biodiversity: https://www.undp.org/tag/ecosystems-and-biodiversity
  • UNDP launches Nature for Life Hub (25 October 2022): https://www.undp.org/press-releases/undp-launches-nature-life-hub
• United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Ecosystems: https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/ecosystems-and-biodiversity
  • World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) – Biodiversity & Ecosystems:  http://www.unep-wcmc.org/
  • The Carpathian Convention marks its 20th anniversary with a new Biodiversity Framework and a transboundary protected wetland (12 October 2023): https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/carpathian-convention-marks-its-20th-anniversary-new-biodiversity
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – Biodiversity: https://www.unesco.org/en/biodiversity
• Global Environment Facility – Biodiversity: https://www.thegef.org/what-we-do/topics/biodiversity

Selected Publications available online

• CBD Publications and Newsletters: https://www.cbd.int/information/library.shtml
• Global Biodiversity Outlooks (CBD): https://www.cbd.int/gbo/
• UNEP Publications: https://www.unep.org/publications-data
• The Integration of Biodiversity in National Tourism Policies (UN Tourism, May 2024): https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/10.18111/9789284424900
• Navigating Towards a Nature-Positive Future: Strategic Uptake of Evidence Towards Tangible Biodiversity Solutions (UNDP, May 2024): https://www.undp.org/publications/navigating-towards-nature-positive-future-strategic-uptake-evidence-towards-tangible-biodiversity-solutions
• Trade in biodiversity-based products (UNCTAD, July 2023): https://unctad.org/publication/trade-and-biodiversity-product-classification
• World Heritage biodiversity: a unique contribution to life (UNESCO / IUCN, 2023): https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000385392
• Guidelines for developing national biodiversity monitoring systems (UNECE, January 2023): https://unece.org/info/Environment-Policy/Environmental-Monitoring-and-Assessment/pub/375255
• Nature is Counting on Us: Mapping Progress to Implement the Convention on Biological Diversity (UNDP / GEF, October 2022): https://www.undp.org/publications/nature-counting-us
• Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services: Summary for Policymakers (IPBES, May 2019): https://ipbes.net/global-assessment-report-biodiversity-ecosystem-services
• Protected Planet Report 2016 (UNEP): https://www.unep.org/resources/publication/protected-planet-2016
• Dead planet, living planet: Biodiversity and ecosystem restoration for sustainable development (UNEP, 2010): http://www.grida.no/publications/215

October 2025
not an official document – for information only
https://unric.org/en/unric-library-backgrounder-biodiversity/