international conventions

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The Energy & Biodiversity Initiative

International Conventions

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 2

2. THE BIG FIVE BIODIVERSITY CONVENTIONS ...................................................................................................................................................... 3

2.1 The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, 1975 (CITES)................................ 32.2 The Ramsar Convention, 1971........................................... ........................................................................................................................ 3

2.3 The World Heritage Convention, 1972.................................................................................................................................................... 4

2.4 Convention on Migratory Species, 1979 (Bonn Convention).................................................. ...........................................................4

2.5 Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992 (CBD) ................................................................................................................................... 4

3. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGISLATION AND CONVENTIONS.............................................................................................................. 6

3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................................................6

3.2 Categorization of Legislation................................................................................................................................................................... 6

3.2.1 Nature Conservation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 6

3.2.2 Coastal and Marine Areas.......................................... ........................................................................................................................ 8

3.2.3 Rivers and Lakes.................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

3.2.4 Wetlands................................................................................................................................................................................................. 9

3.2.5 Birds ........................................................................................................................................................................... .............................9

3.2.6 Mammals................................................................................................................................................................................................9

3.2.7 Pollution Prevention................................................................................................................................................ ............................9

3.2.8 Endangered Species.................................................... .......................................................................................................................10

photo credit: Conservation International, Haroldo Castro

InternationalConventions


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2The Energy & Biodiversity Initiative

International conventions and agreements orman important backdrop to the issues surroundingbiodiversity and the oil and gas industry, and they area signicant pressure driving the development o astrong business case or biodiversity conservation.This document will assist users o the EBIsFramework

for Integrating Biodiversity into the Site Selection Process

(the Framework) in considering the implications ointernational conventions.

Integrating Biodiversity Conservation into Oil and

Gas Development contains a summary of the analysis

and recommendations of the EBI.

Within the Framework, conventions are especiallyimportant during the review o legal/regulatory issuesalthough they may be relevant to subsequent stagesas well. While the ocus here is on the internationaland regional levels, inormation on country-speciclegislation will also be required in applying the

Framework. The need or such inormation will varyaccording to the regulatory, legal and political contexto the country in question, whether that country is aparty to the relevant international conventions andagreements, and whether these have been implementedat the national level. Thereore, when the Framework isapplied, country-specic aspects o legislation must beconsidered as appropriate by the user to supplement theinormation supplied here.

Further information on the business case for

biodiversity conservation can be found inIntegrating Biodiversity Conservation into Oil and

Gas Development (Section 2).

The conventions in this document are listed in groupswith a common theme (ordered by year). The overalllist includes conventions that address the issues oconservation and biodiversity at a global level and alsoat the level o specic geographical regions. This shouldenable the user to ocus on the particular project area

o interest. Agreements and conventions relating to themore general issue o pollution prevention have alsobeen included as pollution and its avoidance duringexploration and production have a signicant bearing onthe type and degree o negative impacts on biodiversity.

Where possible, links are given or websites 1 containingmore detailed inormation on the conventions andagreements (including in some cases the specic text).The web address o the site can be entered manuallyby readers using a hardcopy version o this documentor or those using an electronic version the websitecan be viewed by placing the mouse pointer over theunderlined text at which point the address o the sitewill be displayed in a box. A let click on the mouse willautomatically connect to the site i the readers computerhas a connection to the Internet. The reader may thenreturn to this document simply by clicking the back arrowon the browser tool bar.

Section 2 highlights those conventions that areconsidered to be the most important in relation to

biodiversity generally known as the Big Five. Section3 then addresses other international legislation andconventions, o which those that are considered the mostimportant are marked with a lea.

Finally, the continued improvement o this documentis dependent on the active participation o end-usersand stakeholders. Thereore, we welcome any commentsand suggestions relating to conventions and legislationdirectly or indirectly related to biodiversity.

1. INTRODUCTION

1Links last veried on 26 May2003.

PLEASE SEND COMMENTS, SUGGESTIONS

AND QUESTIONS TO:

THE ENERGY & BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE

c/o Dr. Assheton Stewart Carter

The Center for Environmental Leadership in Business

Conservation International

1919 M Street NW, Suite 600

Washington, DC 20036 USA

Tel: +1 202 912 1449, Fax: +1 202 912 1047

Email: [email protected], Website: www.TheEBI.org
http://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfmailto:[email protected]://www.theebi.org/http://www.theebi.org/mailto:[email protected]://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdfhttp://www.theebi.org/pdfs/ebi_report.pdf


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One o the earliest global environmental instruments wasthe Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies o Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), conceptualizedin the 1960s and signed in 1973. Essentially, CITES viewsinternational wildlie trade as a major underlying causeo biodiversity loss and contains provisions to restrict it.

The thrust o global environmental conventionssubsequently shited toward the protection o particularhabitats, such as wetlands (the Convention on Wetlands,Ramsar, 1971), sites o natural or cultural value (theWorld Heritage Convention, 1972), or the protectiono species migrating between sites (the Conventionon Migratory Species, 1983). A signicant milestonewas reached in 1992 with the Convention on BiologicalDiversity, the rst global, comprehensive treaty to placeenvironmental, social and economic objectives on anequal ooting.

Although diferent in inception, scope and philosophy,all ve conventions are commonly reerred to as thebiodiversity-related conventions. In contrast to other

issues, notably trade, there is no single internationalbody dealing with the environment. All ve biodiversityconventions, or instance, operate independently andhave separate secretariats, even though increasingattention has been paid to building synergies andavoiding duplication. The Big Five may have importantimplications or business activities in terms o where theoil and gas industry can operate and equally important how it should conduct its operations.

2.1 THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL

TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD

FLORA AND FAUNA, 1975 (CITES)[http://www.cites.org]

CITES represents a cooperative efort between countriesto prevent loss o species resulting rom internationalwildlie trade. It works by subjecting internationaltrade in specimens o selected species to certaincontrols. Signicantly, not one species protected by theConvention has become extinct because o trade sinceits implementation. CITES species are categorized in

three Appendices depending on the level o threat tothe species. Appendix I lists species threatened withextinction, or which CITES allows trade only understringent circumstances. While Appendix II speciesare not necessarily threatened with extinction, CITEScalls or controlled trade. A Party to the Convention canproactively place certain species in Appendix III andthereby request other Parties or assistance in controllingtheir trade. The Text o the Convention whichoriginated rom a 1963 IUCN resolution was agreedby governments in 1973 and entered into orce in 1975.CITES now counts over 150 member states and protects,in varying degrees, over 30,000 species.

2.2 THE RAMSAR CONVENTION, 1971

[http://www.ramsar.org]

The Ramsar Convention ormally known as theConvention on Wetlands o International Importanceespecially as Waterowl Habitat provides a rameworkor national action and international cooperationor the conservation and wise use o wetlands and

their resources. Ramsar covers all aspects o wetlandconservation and wise use o wetlands, recognizingthat wetlands are extremely important ecosystems orbiodiversity conservation. The criteria used to identiywetlands that may be o international importance canbe ound at http://www.ramsar.org/key_criteria.htm.The Convention denes wetlands as areas of marsh, fen,

peatland or water, whether natural or articial, permanent

or temporary, with water that is static or owing, fresh,

brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth

of which at low tide does not exceed 6 m. To date, theRamsar Convention remains the only global convention

dealing with a particular type o habitat. The Convention which originated at a 1962 conerence on waterowlconservation was adopted in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971.As o 2003, there were 138 Contracting Parties to theConvention, with 1,308 sites, amounting to 110 millionhectares (271.8 million acres) designated in the RamsarList o Wetlands o International Importance.

2. THE BIG FIVE BIODIVERSITY CONVENTIONS
http://www.cites.org/http://www.ramsar.org/http://www.ramsar.org/key_criteria.htmhttp://www.ramsar.org/key_criteria.htmhttp://www.ramsar.org/http://www.cites.org/


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For further information on the signicance of the

Ramsar Convention for oil and gas operations see

Framework for Integrating Biodiversity into the Site

Selection Process.

2.3 THE WORLD HERITAGE CONVENTION,

1972 [http://whc.unesco.org]

The objective o the World Heritage Conventionor the Convention Concerning the Protection o WorldCultural and Natural Heritage, as it is ormally known isto identiy and conserve the worlds cultural and naturalheritage. Its main instrument is the World Heritage List,which contains sites o outstanding cultural and naturalvalues. An overview o the process or nominating sitesis available at http://whc.unesco.org/nwhc/pages/doc/dc_8.htm and a detailed review o the implementationo the Convention (including the designation process

and the criteria applied) at http://whc.unesco.org/nwhc/pages/doc/dc_10.htm. The United NationsEducational, Scientic and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) houses the Conventions Secretariat, whileIUCN The World Conservation Union, the InternationalCouncil o Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and theInternational Centre or the Study o the Preservationand Restoration o Cultural Property (ICCROM) act asthe advisory bodies or, respectively, natural properties,cultural properties and the study o the preservation andrestoration o cultural property. The Convention textwas inuenced by the call or a World Heritage Trust

in a 1965 conerence and proposals developed by IUCNin 1968 and subsequently presented to the 1972 UnitedNations Conerence on Human Environment. TheConvention was adopted by the 1972 General Conerenceo UNESCO and now counts more than 150 membernations. Since the early 1970s, UNESCOs Man andthe Biosphere program has promoted the multi-zoneconcept o biosphere reserves to reconcile conservationand sustainable use o biodiversity. This IUCN categoryo protected areas encourages private sector initiativesto establish and maintain environmentally and socially

sustainable activities in appropriate zones of biosphere

reserves, ranging rom ecotourism and the collection oorest products in bufer zones, to agricultural practicesin transition areas. By March 2002, the World Network oBiosphere Reserves comprised 409 sites in 94 countries.

For further information on the signicance of the

World Heritage Convention for oil and gas operations

see Framework for Integrating Biodiversity into the

Site Selection Process.

2.4 CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES,

1979 (BONN CONVENTION)

[http://www.unep-wcmc.org/cms]

The Convention on the Conservation o MigratorySpecies o Wild Animals (also known as the BonnConvention) aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian

migratory species throughout their range. The Conventionacilitates the adoption o strict protection measuresor endangered migratory species, the conclusiono multilateral agreements or the conservation andmanagement o migratory species, and co-operativeresearch activities. The Convention has two appendices:Appendix I lists migratory species that are classied asendangered and where urgent international cooperationis necessary to address the issue. Appendix II lists otherspecies that require or would benet signicantly rominternational agreements under the Convention. TheConvention entered into orce in 1983, and now has 81

member countries (as o March 1, 2003). Within theconvention there are a number o agreements coveringspecic migratory species, including:

EUROBATS Agreement on the Conservation o Batsin Europe, concluded in September 1991.

Agreement on the Conservation o Small Cetaceans othe Baltic and North Seas, 1991.

Arican-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement (AEWA), 1995.

Agreement on the Conservation o Cetaceans o theBlack Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous AtlanticArea (ACCOBAMS), 1996.

Agreement on the Conservation o Albatrosses andPetrels, 2001.

2.5 CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL

DIVERSITY, 1992 (CBD) [http://www.biodiv.org]

The three main goals o the Convention on Biological

Diversity (CBD) are the conservation o biologicaldiversity, the sustainable use o its components, andthe air and equitable sharing o the benets arisingrom utilization o genetic resources. In a marked shitrom previous agreements, the CBD calls or a muchmore holistic approach to biodiversity, by recognizingits ecosystem, species and genetic levels. The CBD wasone o the major outcomes o the 1992 United NationsConerence on Environment and Development termedthe Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The Conventionhas 186 Parties, with the notable exception o the United
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States. Other ormal agreements that resulted rom theEarth Summit include the United Nations Convention toCombat Desertication [www.unccd.ch] and the UnitedNations Framework Convention on Climate Change[www.unccc.org]. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosaety which seeks to protect biological diversity rom thepotential risks posed by living modied organisms

resulting rom modern biotechnology has since arisenout o the CBD [www.biodiv.org/biosaety].

Member states have structured their work into thematicprograms, which include marine and coastal biodiversity,agricultural biodiversity, orest biodiversity, thebiodiversity o inland waters, and dry and sub-humidlands. They have also considered crosscutting issuessuch as biosaety, access to genetic resources, traditionalknowledge, innovations and practices, intellectualproperty rights, public education and awareness, andincentive measures. In addition, a clearing-house

mechanism has been established under the CBD toacilitate the sharing o inormation and capacitybuilding[www.biodiv.org/chm]. Two publications are oparticular assistance to understanding the Convention:IUCNs 1994 Guide to the Convention on Biological

Diversityand the CBD Secretariats 2001Handbook of theConvention on Biological Diversity.

Several articles are relevant to the relationship betweenenergy development and biodiversity conservation,including:

Article 6(b) General Measures for Conservation andSustainable Use: Each Contracting Party shall, inaccordance with its particular conditions andcapabilities, integrate, as ar as possible and asappropriate, the conservation and sustainable use obiological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.

Article 10(e) Sustainable Use of Components of Biological

Diversity: Each Contracting Party shall, as ar as possibleand as appropriate, encourage cooperation betweenits governmental authorities and its private sector in

developing methods or sustainable use o biologicalresources.

Article 11 Incentive Measures: Each Contracting Party shall,as ar as possible and as appropriate, adopt economicallyand socially sound measures that act as incentives orthe conservation and sustainable use o components o

biological diversity.

Article 14(a) Impact Assessment and Minimizing Adverse

Impacts: Each Contracting Party, as ar as possible andas appropriate, shall introduce appropriate proceduresrequiring environmental impact assessment o itsproposed projects that are likely to have signicantadverse efects on biological diversity with a viewto avoiding or minimizing such efects and, whereappropriate, allow or public participation in suchprocedures;

Article 16 (1) Access to and Transfer of Technology: EachContracting Party, recognizing that technology includesbiotechnology, and that both access to and transer otechnology among Contracting Parties are essentialelements or the attainment o the objectives o thisConvention, undertakes subject to the provisions othis Article to provide and/or acilitate access or andtranser to other Contracting Parties o technologies thatare relevant to the conservation and sustainable use obiological diversity or make use o genetic resources anddo not cause signicant damage to the environment.

Article 17 (1) Exchange of Information: The ContractingParties shall acilitate the exchange o inormation, romall publicly available sources, relevant to the conservationand sustainable use o biological diversity, taking intoaccount the special needs o developing countries.

Article 18 (1) Technical and Scientic Cooperation: TheContracting Parties shall promote international technicaland scientic cooperation in the eld o conservationand sustainable use o biological diversity, wherenecessary, through the appropriate international andnational institutions.
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3.1 INTRODUCTION

The section above describes and provides links to the vekey international conventions that should be consideredduring the evaluation process o the Framework. Inaddition to these ve, there will be more speciclegislation, relating to region and nature o potentialimpact, to which reerence may be necessary. Links tothis legislation are provided in the ollowing sections.

For users with an existing knowledge o legislation whowish to go directly to a document, two links that willenable a more direct route are:

ENTRI (Environmental Treaties and ResourceIndicators) website, which allows the user to carryout specic searches or conventions and legislationcovering a wide range o categories.[http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/]

Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) website, whichis geographically based and provides access to regional

conventions and protocols.[http://icm.noaa.gov/laws/lbs.html#RSGA]

3.2 CATEGORIZATION OF LEGISLATION

For those wishing to carry out a search o conventionsand legislation by topic, a range o sources has beenreviewed and classied by date within the ollowingcategories:

3.2.1 Nature Conservation3.2.2 Coastal and Marine Areas

3.2.3 Rivers and Lakes3.2.4 Wetlands3.2.5 Birds3.2.6 Mammals3.2.7 Pollution Prevention3.2.8 Endangered Species

Where possible, hyperlinks to external locations areprovided to enable the on-line user to access the text o

the convention or regulation directly. A short review isalso included or each entry.

3.2.1 Nature Conservation

Convention Relative to the Preservation o Faunaand Flora in their Natural State, 1933[No hyperlink available]This convention was entered into by the Governmentso the Union o South Arica, Belgium, the UnitedKingdom o Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Egypt,Spain, France, Italy, Portugal and the Anglo-EgyptianSudan with the aim o instituting a special regime orthe preservation o ora and auna. It promotes theinstitution o regulations to control the hunting, killingand capturing o auna, reerring to the constitutiono national parks and reserves and the prohibition ocertain methods.

Convention on Nature Protection and Wild LiePreservation in the Western Hemisphere, 1940[http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/wildlie.western.h

emisphere.1940.html]The Governments o the American Republicsconcluded this convention or the protection onature and the preservation o ora and auna. Itreers specically to the wish to protect and preserveora and auna in sucient numbers and over areasextensive enough to assure them rom becomingextinct through any agency within mans control. Italso reers to the wish to protect and preserve sceneryo extraordinary beauty, unusual and striking geologicormations, regions and natural objects o aesthetic,historic or scientic value, and areas characterized by

primitive conditions.

International Plant Protection Convention, 1951amended in 1979 and 1997[http://wwwx.ecoport.org/REFS/IPPC/engippc.pd]The International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)is a multilateral treaty deposited with the Director-General o the Food and Agriculture Organization othe United Nations (FAO) and administered throughthe IPPC Secretariat located in FAOs Plant Protection

3. INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGISLATION ANDCONVENTIONS
http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/http://icm.noaa.gov/laws/lbs.html#RSGAhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/wildlife.western.hemisphere.1940.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/wildlife.western.hemisphere.1940.htmlhttp://wwwx.ecoport.org/REFS/IPPC/engippc.pdfhttp://wwwx.ecoport.org/REFS/IPPC/engippc.pdfhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/wildlife.western.hemisphere.1940.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/wildlife.western.hemisphere.1940.htmlhttp://icm.noaa.gov/laws/lbs.html#RSGAhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/


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Service. There are currently 117 governments thatare contracting parties to the IPPC. The purpose othe IPPC is to secure common and efective action toprevent the spread and introduction o pests to plantsand plant products and to promote measures or theircontrol. The Convention provides a ramework andorum or international cooperation, harmonization

and technical exchange in collaboration with regionaland national plant protection organizations (RPPOsand NPPOs).

Arican Convention on the Conservation o Natureand Natural Resources, 1968[http://etcher.tuts.edu/multi/texts/arican_convention.txt]This Convention was entered into by the Headso State and Government o Independent AricanStates, undertaking individual and joint action or theconservation, utilization and development o natural

resources (soil, water, ora and auna) by establishingand maintaining their rational utilization or thepresent and uture welare o mankind.

Convention Concerning the Protection o the WorldCultural and Natural Heritage, 1972[http://whc.unesco.org/nwhc/pages/doc/main.htm]See Section 2.3, above.

Nordic Environmental Protection Convention, 1974[http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/acrc/Nordic.txt.html]

The Governments o Denmark, Finland, Norwayand Sweden, aware o the urgent need to protect andimprove the environment, developed this conventionconcerned with the protection o the environmentbetween their countries.

EC Wild Birds Directive (79/409/EEC), 1979[http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/en.pd]This Directive relates to the conservation o all specieso naturally occurring birds in the wild state in theEuropean territory o the Member States to which theTreaty applies. It covers the protection, managementand control o these species and lays down rules ortheir exploitation.

Convention on the Conservation o EuropeanWildlie and Natural Habitats, 1979[http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/european.wildlie.natural.habitats.1979.html]This is the Bern Convention, amended in 1987 and1991, entered into mainly by the Member States o

the Council o Europe (but also open to non-MemberStates current parties include Burkina Faso,Senegal and Tunisia). The aims o this Conventionare to conserve wild ora and auna and their naturalhabitats, especially those species and habitats whoseconservation requires the cooperation o severalStates, and to promote such cooperation. Particular

emphasis is given to endangered and vulnerablespecies, including endangered and vulnerablemigratory species.

Convention on Migratory Species, 1979 (BonnConvention)[http://www.unep-wcmc.org/cms]See Section 2.4, above.

Protocol Concerning Protected Areas and WildFauna in the Eastern Arican Region, 1985[http://eelink.net/~asilwildlie/EastArPro.html]

This protocol is or the protection, management anddevelopment o the marine and coastal environmento the Eastern Arican Region. The aims are or theContracting Parties to take all appropriate measuresto maintain essential ecological processes and liesupport systems, to preserve genetic diversity, and toensure the sustainable utilization o harvested naturalresources under their jurisdiction. In particular, itreers to endeavors to protect and preserve rare orragile ecosystems as well as rare, depleted, threatenedor endangered species o wild auna and ora and theirhabitats in the Eastern Arican region. To this end, it

calls or the Contracting Parties to develop nationalconservation strategies and coordinate, i appropriate,such strategies within the ramework o regionalconservation activities.

ASEAN Agreement on the Conservation o Natureand Natural Resources, 1985[http://eelink.net/~asilwildlie/asean.html]This agreement is or the Contracting Parties (themember States o the Association o Southeast AsianNations ASEAN), within the ramework o theirrespective national laws, to undertake to adopt singly,or where necessary and appropriate through concertedaction, the measures necessary to maintain essentialecological processes and lie-support systems,to preserve genetic diversity, and to ensure thesustainable utilization o harvested natural resourcesunder their jurisdiction in accordance with scienticprinciples and with a view to attaining the goal osustainable development. To this end it calls or theContracting Parties to develop national conservation
http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/african_convention.txthttp://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/african_convention.txthttp://whc.unesco.org/nwhc/pages/doc/main.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/acrc/Nordic.txt.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/acrc/Nordic.txt.htmlhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/en.pdfhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/en.pdfhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/european.wildlife.natural.habitats.1979.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/european.wildlife.natural.habitats.1979.htmlhttp://www.unep-wcmc.org/cmshttp://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/EastAfrPro.htmlhttp://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/asean.htmlhttp://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/asean.htmlhttp://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/EastAfrPro.htmlhttp://www.unep-wcmc.org/cmshttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/european.wildlife.natural.habitats.1979.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/european.wildlife.natural.habitats.1979.htmlhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/en.pdfhttp://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/nature/en.pdfhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/acrc/Nordic.txt.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/acrc/Nordic.txt.htmlhttp://whc.unesco.org/nwhc/pages/doc/main.htmhttp://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/african_convention.txthttp://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/african_convention.txt


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strategies and to co-ordinate such strategies within theramework o a conservation strategy or the Region.

Convention Concerning the Conservation o theBiodiversity and the Protection o Priority ForestryAreas o Central America, 1992[No hyperlink available]

The Convention established the Central AmericanCouncil or Protected Areas and identies variousprinciples and measures to support sustainable orestmanagement (SFM) in the region

Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992[http://www.biodiv.org/doc/legal/cbd-en.pd]See Section 2.5, above.

EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), 1992[http://www.ecnc.nl/doc/europe/legislat/habidire.html]

The aim o this Directive is to contribute towardensuring biodiversity through the conservation onatural habitats and o wild auna and ora in theEuropean territory o the Member States to which theTreaty applies.

Inter-American Convention or the Conservation oTurtles, 1996[http://www.seaturtle.org/iac/]The Inter-American Convention or the Protection andConservation o Sea Turtles is the only internationaltreaty dedicated exclusively to sea turtles, setting

standards or the conservation o these endangeredanimals and their habitats. Because individual seaturtles migrate and disperse over vast distances,they are resources shared by the peoples o manynations. Hence, the Inter-American Convention hasbeen vigorously supported by many members o theinternational community o sea turtle biologists andconservationists, particularly specialists rom LatinAmerica.

3.2.2 Coastal and Marine Areas

Convention on Conservation o Nature in the SouthPacic, 1976[http://eelink.net/~asilwildlie/pacic.html]Encourages the creation o protected areas whichtogether with existing protected areas will saeguardrepresentative samples o the natural ecosystemsoccurring therein (particular attention being given toendangered species), as well as superlative scenery,striking geological ormations, and regions and objects

o aesthetic interest or historic, cultural or scienticvalue.

Regional Seas Conventions and Protocols, 1978,revised in 1995[http://www.unep.ch/seas/main/hconlist.html]Provides links to the sites describing conventions

and protocols or the principal sea areas in whichexploration and production are carried out, including:Mediterranean; Kuwait Region; West and CentralArica; South-East Pacic; Red Sea and Gul o Aden;Wider Caribbean; Eastern Arica; South Pacic; BlackSea and the North-East Pacic.

Global conventions regulating environmental

impact o the ofshore oil and gas development andprotecting the marine environment[http://www.ofshore-environment.com/conventions.html]

At present, over 70 international conventions andagreements are directly concerned with protectingthe marine environment. However, none o them isspecially devoted to regulating ofshore oil and gasdevelopment exclusively. In practice, these problemsare solved either at the national level or within theramework o international conventions.

Convention or the Protection and Development othe Marine Environment o the Wider CaribbeanRegion, 1983[http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/marine.caribbean.

1983.html]Established or the protection o the marineenvironment o the Gul o Mexico, the Caribbean Seaand the adjacent areas o the Atlantic Ocean.

Convention or the Protection, Managementand Development o the Marine and CoastalEnvironment o the Eastern Arican Region, 1985[http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/marine.coastal.east.arica.1985.html]The Contracting Parties may enter into bilateralor multilateral agreements, including regional orsub-regional agreements, or the protection andmanagement o the marine and coastal environment othe Convention area (which is comprised o the marineand coastal environment o that part o the IndianOcean situated within the Eastern Arican regionand alling within the jurisdiction o the ContractingParties).
http://www.biodiv.org/doc/legal/cbd-en.pdfhttp://www.ecnc.nl/doc/europe/legislat/habidire.htmlhttp://www.ecnc.nl/doc/europe/legislat/habidire.htmlhttp://www.seaturtle.org/iac/http://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/pacific.htmlhttp://www.unep.ch/seas/main/hconlist.htmlhttp://www.offshore-environment.com/conventions.htmlhttp://www.offshore-environment.com/conventions.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/marine.caribbean.1983.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/marine.caribbean.1983.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/marine.coastal.east.africa.1985.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/marine.coastal.east.africa.1985.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/marine.coastal.east.africa.1985.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/marine.coastal.east.africa.1985.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/marine.caribbean.1983.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/marine.caribbean.1983.htmlhttp://www.offshore-environment.com/conventions.htmlhttp://www.offshore-environment.com/conventions.htmlhttp://www.unep.ch/seas/main/hconlist.htmlhttp://eelink.net/~asilwildlife/pacific.htmlhttp://www.seaturtle.org/iac/http://www.ecnc.nl/doc/europe/legislat/habidire.htmlhttp://www.ecnc.nl/doc/europe/legislat/habidire.htmlhttp://www.biodiv.org/doc/legal/cbd-en.pdf


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Protocol Concerning Conservation and Managemento Protected Marine and Coastal Areas o the South-East Pacic (Lima Convention), 1989[No hyperlink available]UNEP has collaborated with groups o governmentssharing a common sea area to establish RegionalSeas Conventions and Action Plans. An independent

regional intergovernmental organization, thePermanent Commission o the South Pacic (CPPS),was entrusted with the implementation o theConvention and Action Plan. A Secretary-General whoreports to the Inter-Governmental Meeting o memberStates o CPPS, comprising Chile, Colombia, Ecuador,Panama and Peru, heads the Secretariat in Lima, Peru.The Secretariat administers the Action Plan or theProtection o the Marine Environment and CoastalAreas o the South-East Pacic, and carries out theprovisions o the Convention or the Protection o theMarine Environment and Coastal Areas o the South

East Pacic.

3.2.3 Rivers and Lakes

Convention on the Protection and Use oTransboundary Watercourses and InternationalLakes, 1992[http://www.unece.org/env/water/text/water_convention/text11toc.htm]Established to provide the means o protecting suraceand groundwaters at risk o pollution rom more thanone country.

3.2.4 Wetlands

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 1971[http://www.ramsar.org] and[http://www.ramsar.org/index_very_key_docs.htm]See Section 2.2, above.

3.2.5 Birds

The International Convention or the Protection oBirds, 1950[http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/protection.o.birds.1950.html]This Convention was adopted in Paris in 1950 andreplaces the 1902 Convention or the Protectiono Birds Useul to Agriculture. The purpose o thisConvention is to protect birds in the wild state.

3.2.6 Mammals

Agreement on Conservation o Polar Bears, 1973[http://etcher.tuts.edu/multi/texts/BH637.txt]The Governments o Canada, Denmark, Norway, theUnion o Soviet Socialist Republics, and the UnitedStates o America entered into this Convention. It

concludes that the polar bear is a signicant resourceo the Arctic Region which requires additionalprotection, and such protection should be achievedthrough coordinated national measures taken by theStates o the Arctic Region, leading to the prohibitiono hunting, killing and capturing o polar bears subjectto provisions detailed in the Convention.

3.2.7 Pollution Prevention

Protocol relating to the International Conventionor the Prevention o Pollution rom Ships,

(MARPOL Protocol), 1973 & 1978[http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258]The MARPOL Convention is the main internationalconvention covering prevention o pollution o themarine environment by ships rom operational oraccidental causes. It is a combination o two treatiesadopted in 1973 and 1978 and updated by amendmentsthrough the years.

Convention on Long-range Transboundary AirPollution, 1979

[http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/transboundary.air.pollution.1979.html]This Conventions aim is to have Contracting Partieslimit and, as ar as possible, gradually reduceand prevent air pollution, including long-rangetransboundary air pollution.

United Nations Convention on the Law o the Sea(UNCLOS), 1982[http://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htm]

Includes sections on exploitation o the seabed andprotection o the marine environment.

Convention on the Control o TransboundaryMovements o Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal(Basel Convention), 1989[http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/basel.transboundary.hazardous.wastes.1989.html]This Convention is o relevance with respect to thedisposal o renery waste, contaminated oil and oilunsuitable or use.
http://www.unece.org/env/water/text/water_convention/text11toc.htmhttp://www.unece.org/env/water/text/water_convention/text11toc.htmhttp://www.ramsar.org/http://www.ramsar.org/index_very_key_docs.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/protection.of.birds.1950.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/protection.of.birds.1950.htmlhttp://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/BH637.txthttp://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/transboundary.air.pollution.1979.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/transboundary.air.pollution.1979.htmlhttp://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htmhttp://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/basel.transboundary.hazardous.wastes.1989.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/basel.transboundary.hazardous.wastes.1989.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/basel.transboundary.hazardous.wastes.1989.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/basel.transboundary.hazardous.wastes.1989.htmlhttp://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htmhttp://www.un.org/Depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/closindx.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/transboundary.air.pollution.1979.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/transboundary.air.pollution.1979.htmlhttp://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258http://www.imo.org/Conventions/contents.asp?doc_id=678&topic_id=258http://fletcher.tufts.edu/multi/texts/BH637.txthttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/protection.of.birds.1950.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/protection.of.birds.1950.htmlhttp://www.ramsar.org/index_very_key_docs.htmhttp://www.ramsar.org/http://www.unece.org/env/water/text/water_convention/text11toc.htmhttp://www.unece.org/env/water/text/water_convention/text11toc.htm


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International Convention on Oil PollutionPreparedness, Response and Cooperation, 1990[http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/oil.pollution.preparedness.1990.html]Established to provide measures to combat theserious threat posed to the marine environment by oilpollution incidents involving ships, ofshore units,

seaports and oil handling acilities.

Protocol to the 1979 Convention on Long-rangeTransboundary Air Pollution Concerning theControl o Emissions o Volatile Organic Compoundsor their Transboundary Fluxes, 1991[http://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/protocol/91voc.htm]The Convention contains basic obligations or therelevant Parties to control and reduce emissions oVOCs in order to reduce their transboundary uxes andthe uxes o the resulting secondary photochemicaloxidant products so as to protect human health and the

environment rom adverse efects.

Convention on Transboundary Efects o IndustrialAccidents, 1992[http://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/industrial.accidents.1992.html]This Convention applies to the prevention o,preparedness or and response to industrial accidentscapable o causing transboundary efects, including theefects o such accidents caused by natural disasters,and to international cooperation concerning mutualassistance, research and development, exchange o

inormation and exchange o technology in the areao prevention o, preparedness or and response toindustrial accidents.

OSPAR Convention or the Protection o the MarineEnvironment o the North-East Atlantic, 1992[http://www.nearctica.com/environ/water/ospar1.htm]This Convention replaced both the 1972 OsloConvention and the 1974 Paris Convention when itcame into orce February 9, 1999.

3.2.8 Endangered Species

Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies o Wild Fauna and Flora, 1975 (amended1979 and 1983)[http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtml]See Section 2.1, above.
http://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/oil.pollution.preparedness.1990.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/oil.pollution.preparedness.1990.htmlhttp://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/protocol/91voc.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/industrial.accidents.1992.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/industrial.accidents.1992.htmlhttp://www.nearctica.com/environ/water/ospar1.htmhttp://www.nearctica.com/environ/water/ospar1.htmhttp://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtmlhttp://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtmlhttp://www.nearctica.com/environ/water/ospar1.htmhttp://www.nearctica.com/environ/water/ospar1.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/industrial.accidents.1992.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/entri/texts/industrial.accidents.1992.htmlhttp://www.unece.org/env/lrtap/protocol/91voc.htmhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/oil.pollution.preparedness.1990.htmlhttp://sedac.ciesin.org/pidb/texts/oil.pollution.preparedness.1990.html

international conventions

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