The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international treaty between sovereign states. By July 2007 it had been signed and ratified by 190 parties. Its members have set themselves the task of conserving and safeguarding the diversity of life on Earth and organising its sustainable use in such a way as to support as large a population as possible now and in the future.

The Convention on Biological Diversity has three objectives:

Through these objectives, the international community seeks to reconcile ecological, economic and social concerns as they relate to biodiversity. In this, the CBD goes far beyond previous mainstream approaches to nature conservation. In terms of aims and scope, it is the world’s most comprehensive international agreement on nature conservation and development policy.

The CBD is backed by a large and elaborate organisational structure. The most important instrument and decisionmaking body within this is the Conference of the Parties (COP). Delegates of the parties meet every two years to decide specific action based on the Convention’s sometimes somewhat generic prescriptions and to work on joint implementation. A key resolution in recent years (at COP 8) adopted a strategic plan to attain the  2010 target which is a commitment to reduce biodiversity loss significantly blow its current rate by 2010. Attaining this target is also on the agenda for the next COP, to be held in Bonn in 2008 ( COP 9).

Alongside the COPs, various working groups and expert bodies have been formed to prepare COP resolutions and monitor target attainment. These working groups and bodies meet regularly between COPs and some have subgroups and committees.
A few examples:

Various instruments serve to coordinate activities and member state reporting obligations and must therefore be implemented by all member states. Notable examples include: