Convention on Biological Diversity
development of plant species and animal breeds.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) aims to
conserve biological diversity, promote sustainable use of
components of biological diversity and the fair and equitable
sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic
resources. Humanity's economic and social development is
inextricably linked to the earth's biological resources. As a
result, there is a growing recognition that biological diversity
is a global asset of tremendous value to present and future
generations. At the same time, the threat to the earth's
species and ecosystem has never been greater than it is
today. Current trends identified an estimated 34,000 plants
and 5,200 animal species -including one in eight of the
world's bird species - facing extinction as a result of human
activity.
Objectives of the Convention
The objectives of this Convention, to be pursued in
accordance with its relevant provisions, are the conservation
of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components
and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out
of the utilization of genetic resources, including by
appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate
transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all
rights over those resources and to technologies, and by
appropriate funding.
What is access and benefit sharing?
An Access and Benefit Sharing Agreement (ABSA) is
an agreement that defines the fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. ABSAs
typically arise in relation to bioprospecting where indigenous
knowledge is used to focus screening efforts for commercially
valuable genetic and biochemical resources. ABSAs recognise
that bioprospecting frequently relies on indigenous or
traditional knowledge, and that people or communities who
hold such knowledge are entitled to a share of benefits
arising from its commercial utilization.
Traditional Knowledge
Traditional knowledge refers to the knowledge,
innovations and practices of indigenous and local
communities around the world. Developed from experience
gained over the centuries and adapted to the local culture
and environment, traditional knowledge is transmitted orally
from generation to generation. It tends to be collectively
owned and takes the form of stories, songs, folklore,
proverbs, cultural values, beliefs, rituals, community laws,
local language, and agricultural practices, including the
What is CITES?
CITES (the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an
international agreement between governments. Its aim is to
ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals
and plants does not threaten their survival.
How CITES works
CITES works by subjecting international trade in specimens of
selected species to certain controls. All import, export, re-
export and introduction from the sea of species covered by
the Convention has to be authorized through a licensing
system. Each Party to the Convention must designate one or
more Management Authorities in charge of administering
that licensing system and one or more Scientific Authorities
to advise them on the effects of trade on the status of the
species.
PH law related to CITES
RA 9147 or the Wildlife Resources Conservation and
Protection Act covers the protection of all the wildlife
resources of our country, especially the threatened and
exotic species, as specified in Articles 2 and 3. RA 8550 or the
Philippine Fisheries Code mandates the protection of
threatened and rare species as specified on Section 11.
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention on the Control of
Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their
Disposal, usually known as the Basel Convention, is an
international treaty that was designed to reduce the
movements of hazardous waste between nations, and
specifically to prevent transfer of hazardous waste from
developed to less developed countries (LDCs). It does not,
however, address the movement of radioactive waste. The
Convention is also intended to minimize the amount and
toxicity of wastes generated, to ensure their environmentally
sound management as closely as possible to the source of
generation, and to assist LDCs in environmentally sound
management of the hazardous and other wastes they
generate. Basel, Switzerland.
Hazardous waste
Hazardous waste is a waste with properties that
make it potentially dangerous or harmful to human health or
the environment. The universe of hazardous wastes is large
and diverse. Hazardous wastes can be liquids, solids, or
contained gases. They can be the by-products of
manufacturing processes, discarded used materials, or
discarded unused commercial products, such as cleaning
fluids (solvents) or pesticides.
Prior Informed Consent Procedure
The PIC procedure is a mechanism for formally
obtaining and disseminating the decisions of importing
Parties as to whether they wish to receive future shipments
of those chemicals listed in Annex III of the Convention and
for ensuring compliance with these decisions by exporting
Parties.
Objectives of Basel Convention
To reduce the transboundary movement of wastes
subject to the Convention to a minimum consistent with the
environmentally-sound and efficient management of such
wastes;
To minimize the amount and toxicity of hazardous wastes
generated and to ensure their environmentally-sound
management as close as possible to the source of generation;
To establish a regulatory system that will apply in cases
where transboundary movements are permissible.
Rotterdam Convention
The Rotterdam Convention (formally, the Rotterdam
Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for
Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International
Trade) is a multilateral treaty to promote shared
responsibilities in relation to importation of hazardous
chemicals. The convention promotes open exchange of
information and calls on exporters of hazardous chemicals to
use proper labeling, include directions on safe handling, and
inform purchasers of any known restrictions or bans.
Signatory nations can decide whether to allow or ban the
importation of chemicals listed in the treaty, and exporting
countries are obliged to make sure that producers within
their jurisdiction comply.
What are examples of industrial waste, agricultural waste?
Some examples of industrial wastes are chemical
solvents, paints, sandpaper, paper products, industrial by-
products, metals, and radioactive wastes. Toxic waste,
chemical waste, industrial solid waste and municipal solid
waste are designations of industrial wastes. Sewage
treatment plants can treat some industrial wastes, i.e. those
consisting of conventional pollutants such as biochemical
oxygen demand (BOD). Industrial wastes containing toxic
pollutants require specialized treatment systems.
PH law relating to Rotterdam
Republic Act 6969 "Toxic Substances and Hazardous
and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990"
The Stockholm Convention
The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to
protect human health and the environment from persistent
organic pollutants (POPs). POPs are chemicals that remain
intact in the environment for long periods, become widely
distributed geographically, accumulate in the fatty tissue of
living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. POPs
circulate globally and can cause damage wherever they
travel. In implementing the Convention, Governments will
take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into
the environment.
Where is Stockholm?
The capital of Sweden and the most populous city in
the Nordic countries.
What are POPS?
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are a group of
chemicals that are very toxic and can cause cancer and other
adverse health effects. POPs are persistent in the
environment and travel vast distances via air and water. POPs
are organic chemical compounds which bioaccumulate in
animals and humans. These pollutants are primarily the
products and by-products of human industrial processes.
The initial list of twelve POPs include :
industrial chemicals like polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs) used in transformer oils;
pesticides like DDT, endrin, dieldrin, aldrin,
chlordane, toxaphene, heptachlor, mirex,
hexachlorobenzene (HCB); and
unwanted wastes like dioxins and furans.