Overview

• Biodiversity
• Marine environments

The term 'biological diversity' or 'biodiversity' describes all living organisms on earth. Biodiversity is an essential component of our environment, and yet species are dying out at a rate higher than at any time in human history.

Recent research indicates that in the last 35 years, land species have declined by 25%, marine life by 28% and fresh water species by 29%. This decline is largely due to human activities that are destroying or fragmenting habitats, the over-exploitation of natural resources and the introduction of invasive alien species. Biodiversity also faces new threats, such as the release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment.

The importance of conserving biodiversity is now widely accepted, and there are various international treaties and agreements in place that aim to halt its rapid decline. One of the most important of these, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), regulates the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources.

"Species are dying out at a rate higher than at any time in human history."

FIELD established its Biodiversity programme in 1997 to deal with legal issues arising from the application of the CBD. In 2001, FIELD lawyers were involved in the development of the first protocol to the convention, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which regulates international trade in GMOs. Currently, we are actively involved with Pacific island countries in ongoing negotiations under the CBD.

Biodiversity agreements such as the CBD can only be successful if they are enforced in tandem with other international agreements relating to the environment, particularly the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and to those relating to economic development, trade and investment. In recognition of this, we work with communities and governments to address biodiversity loss by also considering issues of climate change and economic development.

Working closely with other NGOs, international organisations and developing country governments, FIELD broadly organizes its project activities according to whether they primarily protect biodiversity (including fresh water) or marine environments.