Who is responsible for maintaining the worlds biodiversity?
It’s up to each country to preserve its own natural resources. But nations are not expected to act as ‘Lone Rangers’. In 1992 the vast majority of the world’s governments (150 countries) got together in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and agreed on a strategy for sustainable development. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. As an international treaty it identifies common problems, sets goals and policies and organises technical and financial cooperation. This means that although each country is responsible for their own ecological well-being, in areas of mutual interest, for example following disasters such Chernobyl, other countries would be expected to collaborate in forming solutions. In every nation, there are conflicts arising between economic development and the management of natural resources. Most of the action that will impact on biodiversity is taken by private companies, landowners, fishermen and farmers. It’s up to governments to set
