Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Name	Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
Formation	1993
Type	International secretariat
Headquarters	Montreal, Canada
Leader title	Executive Secretary
Leader name	(see Organizational Structure and Leadership)

Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is the administrative body that supports the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and coordinates international efforts on biodiversity under the aegis of the United Nations Environment Programme. It services the Conference of the Parties meetings, facilitates negotiations among Parties, and liaises with a range of multilateral instruments and agencies including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. The Secretariat operates from Montreal and works with intergovernmental bodies, indigenous organizations, and scientific panels to advance targets such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

History and Establishment

The Secretariat was created following adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and entry into force in 1993, building on precedents set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the United Nations Environment Programme administrative mechanisms. Early activities connected the Secretariat with the Convention on Migratory Species, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the Nagoya Protocol process, reflecting an expanding portfolio that intersected with the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals. Over successive Conference of the Parties sessions, the Secretariat’s mandate evolved through decisions taken at meetings in locations such as Cancún, Nagoya, Hyderabad, and Sharm El-Sheikh.

Mandate and Functions

The Secretariat’s core functions include servicing the Conference of the Parties, supporting the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, and coordinating implementation of protocols like the Cartagena Protocol and Nagoya Protocol. It provides technical assistance to Parties, organizes capacity-building linked to bodies such as the Global Environment Facility, and compiles national reports aligned with obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Secretariat also facilitates synergies with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, contributes to the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and supports mainstreaming efforts relating to instruments like the Convention on Wetlands and the Convention on Biological Diversity’s work on protected areas in line with Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora concerns.

Organizational Structure and Leadership

The Secretariat is headquartered in Montreal and organized into thematic, legal, and administrative branches that liaise with regional offices, multilateral institutions, and Parties. Leadership is provided by an Executive Secretary appointed by the Conference of the Parties, accountable to subsidiary bodies and Party representatives at meetings of the Conference of the Parties. The Secretariat’s structure parallels arrangements used by entities such as the United Nations secretariat, with programme coordination that interacts with the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility, and specialized agencies including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations Development Programme. Senior staff engage with scientific networks including the IUCN, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s own advisory panels, and regional commissions.

Programs and Activities

Programmatic work encompasses support for national biodiversity strategies and action plans, facilitation of capacity-building initiatives, and convening of thematic working groups on topics such as invasive species, genetic resources, marine biodiversity, and ecosystem approach implementation. The Secretariat organizes major events including the Conference of the Parties and regional workshops, coordinates technical guidance drawing from bodies like the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and manages knowledge platforms that interface with initiatives such as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets follow-up. It leads processes for the Nagoya Protocol compliance, supports Access and Benefit-Sharing implementation, and collaborates with scientific assessments conducted by institutions like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora scientific committees.

Funding and Partnerships

Financing for the Secretariat’s activities is provided through assessed contributions, voluntary trust funds, and partnerships with multilateral stakeholders such as the Global Environment Facility, the Green Climate Fund, the World Bank, and bilateral donors. Strategic partnerships extend to non-governmental organizations like the World Wide Fund for Nature, the Conservation International, and academic institutions such as University of Cambridge, Smithsonian Institution, and Natural History Museum, London research programs. The Secretariat also engages with indigenous and local community organizations, private sector actors including multinational corporations, and philanthropic foundations that support initiatives aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Role in Global Biodiversity Policy and Implementation

The Secretariat functions as a central convenor and technical secretariat for multilateral biodiversity governance, shaping the negotiation and adoption of global targets and promoting integration with frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement, and regional agreements such as the European Union biodiversity strategies. It synthesizes scientific advice from organizations including the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and mobilizes capacity for Parties to translate international commitments into national legislation and action plans. By coordinating with entities such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the Convention on Migratory Species, and the Nagoya Protocol bodies, the Secretariat seeks to align implementation pathways across sectors and jurisdictions to halt biodiversity loss and support equitable benefit-sharing.

Category:International environmental organizations