United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

About UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)

The UNCBD is an international, legally binding treaty that was adopted during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Earth Summit, in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
The UNCBD entered into force in 1993 and operates under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

The objectives of UNCBD can be seen as:

Conservation of Biological Diversity – protecting ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity.
Sustainable Use of Its Components – ensuring that biological resources are used without compromising future generations.
Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits – arising from the use of genetic resources, including traditional knowledge.

The Secretariat of UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) is headquartered in Montreal, Canada.

The KMGBF is a non-binding global framework adopted at CoP 15 in Montreal (2022), succeeding the 2011–2020 Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Targets.
The framework aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and sets out ambitious goals and targets aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The KMGBF defines four overarching goals to be achieved by 2050:

Protect and Restore ecosystems and species health, aiming to halt human-induced extinctions.
Prosper with Nature through the sustainable use of biodiversity.
Fair and Equitable Sharing of benefits from genetic resources and traditional knowledge.
Invest and Collaborate to close the biodiversity finance gap, estimated at $700 billion per year.

30-by-30 Target: Protect at least 30% of land, sea, and inland waters and restore an additional 30% of degraded ecosystems.
Reduce the introduction of invasive alien species by 50%.
Establish mechanisms for benefit-sharing from Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and traditional knowledge.

The operationalisation of the Cali Fund is to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of DSI on genetic resources.
Kunming Biodiversity Fund (KBF) is launched under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with an initial contribution of $200 million from China to support KMGBF goals.

At least 50% of the Cali Fund is dedicated to the self-identified needs of Indigenous Peoples, particularly women and youth.
Agreement on identifying Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Areas (EBSAs) to protect critical marine habitats, supporting the 30-by-30 target and the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty.
Guidelines to manage Invasive Alien Species through databases, cross-border regulations, and coordination with e-commerce platforms.
Adoption of a Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health embracing the “One Health” approach linking ecosystem, animal, and human health to prevent zoonotic and non-communicable diseases.

India launched its updated National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) aligned with KMGBF’s goals and targets.

23 National Biodiversity Targets focusing on ecosystem resilience, species recovery, sustainable use, and equitable benefit-sharing.
An estimated budget allocation of ₹81,664 crore for biodiversity conservation efforts during 2025-2030.
Emphasis on mobilising international financial resources, in line with KMGBF’s Target 19, which calls for $200 billion annually in biodiversity financing.
Initiatives like the Plant4Mother campaign, the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), and increasing Ramsar Wetland sites from 26 to 85 since 2014.

The roadmap to CoP-17 in Yerevan, Armenia (2026) includes:

Strengthening financial mechanisms under KMGBF Target 19.
Finalising Monitoring, Planning, Reporting, and Review (PMRR) frameworks.
Enhancing the quality and implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans.
Promoting global cooperation and addressing capacity gaps in developing countries.