Biological diversity

Biological diversity — or biodiversity — is the term given to the variety of life on Earth and the natural patterns it forms.

The biodiversity we see today is the fruit of billions of years of evolution, shaped by natural processes and, increasingly, by the influence of humans. It forms the web of life of which we are an integral part and upon which we so fully depend.

Recognition of the rapidly changing face of the biosphere has triggered many initiatives for the conservation of biological diversity. In 1872, the US Congress established Yellowstone as the first national park. Today, the United Nations list of nationalparks and protected areas contains as many as 10,000 sites larger than 1,000 hectares. And at the June 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development, 157 countries and the European Community signed a Convention on Biological Diversity. This convention provides an internationally agreed-upon legal framework for concerted action to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity.

Photo:© Yann Arthus-Bertrand/Earth from above/UNESCO

UNESCO’s interest in biological diversity dates back to the early days of the Organization, under its first Director General, biologist Julian Huxley. Among the early activities was joining with the French Government and the Swiss League for Nature in the setting-up in 1948 of IUCN, the World Conservation Union.

UNESCO’s continuing concern is rooted in two complementary international instruments for the conservation of biological diversity.

• The Convention for the Protection of the World’s Natural and Cultural Heritage
  a binding legal instrument which provides a permanent legal, financial and administrative framework for international co-operation in contributing to the protection of the world’s natural and cultural heritage. The focus is on unique sites of outstanding interest and universal value..

• The World Network of Biosphere Reserves within the MAB Programme. At best, biosphere reserves are sites of excellence to explore and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development on a bioregional scale, with associated research, monitoring, training and education and the involvement of local people as the driving force for conservation.
  
  In addition to these two concepts and tools for promoting the in situ conservation of biological diversity, other activities include studies on marine living resources within the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), work related to the educational and ethical dimensions of biodiversity, and issues at the interface of biological diversity and cultural diversity. In these and other fields, collaborative activities are carried out in partnership with the Convention on Biological Diversity and a range of international conventions, agreements and organizations.