The following text is the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (excluding the preamble and annexes).

This Convention was adopted on 5 June 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The objective of this Convention is to conserve biological diversity and to use biological diversity in a sustainable and equitable manner.

Throughout this Convention there is reference to ecological monitoring or at least there are implications for ecological monitoring.

Article 1

Objectives

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 utilisation 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.

Article 2

Use of terms

For the purposes of this Convention:

‘Biological diversity’ means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

‘Biological resources’ includes genetic resources, organisms of parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity.

‘Biotechnology’ means any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.