UN Convention on Biological Diversity Bonn, The Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 brought together 172 countries, with 108 of them sending their heads of state or government, to draw up the UN's Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

The summit, attended by more than 2,000 delegates of nongovernmental organizations, called for a transformation of attitudes to the use of scarce resources and a rethink on economic development.

The four key areas discussed were:

- Patterns of production, especially the production of toxic substances;

- Alternative energy sources to replace fossil fuels;

- Increased use of public transport to cut vehicle emissions, particularly in cities; and

- The looming threat of global water shortages.

The CBD has three main goals:

- Conservation of biological diversity;

- Sustainable use of its components; and

- Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

To date, the CBD has been ratified by 189 countries, although crucially the United States has signed but not ratified it.

The parties to the convention meet every two years, with the ninth meeting taking place in Bonn May 19-30. At the fifth conference, held in Nairobi in May 2002, the parties agreed to reduce the loss of biodiversity substantially by 2010.

The CBD gave rise to the Cartagena Protocol in January 2000. This "Biosafety Protocol" targets new products arising from modern biosciences, such as genetically modified crops.

It compels signatory states to provide information on such products when they are exported to the receiving country.

Source:Deutsche Presse-Agentur