Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth. It is essential for sustaining the natural living systems and ecosystems
that provide us with food, fuel, health, wealth, and other vital services. We are all part of this biodiversity too and have the power to protect or destroy it.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. It now has 192 signatories. Scotland as part of the UK has an international obligation to conserve and protect biodiversity.
In Scotland this process is supported by the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, a working partnership of Government, its agencies, sponsored bodies, non-government organisations, businesses, private organisations and individuals.
More information about biodiversity, our obligation to conserve biodiversity under the CBD and the measures being taken in Scotland can be found on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.