This convention was signed by the president, Dr. Sam Nujoma, at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992. Its main objectives are "the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and appropriate funding".

An underlying principle of this convention is that states have the sovereign right to exploit their own resources, but that activities within a country should not cause damage to their environments and those of other states.

Namibia's Constitution addresses these issues in article 95, and, in article 100, claims sovereign ownership of all natural resources. The country has furthermore embarked on a number of biodiversity programmes which effectively constitute compliance of its obligations under the conventions.

Over 13% of Namibia's surface area has been proclaimed as formal conservation areas, and the country has a number of full time professionals engaged in biodiversity research as well as a National Biodiversity Coordinator. Activities such as park management plans, regional profiles, environmental education, compiling red data books and a national biodiversity country study, illustrate Namibia's commitment to biodiversity conservation. 

There is a dedicated DEA programme addressing biodiversity.

Click here to read the full text of the convention.

Namibia's official contact person: Phoebe Barnard