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Biodiversity-related international policy

International policy-making processes related to biodiversity affect the policy environment in which BioTrade initiatives operate. Guidance is often required by member states on how to effectively incorporate international policies into their national policies, strategies and legal frameworks. On various occasions, the Secretariats and Parties of various international processes call upon the UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative for consultation and further cooperation.

The BioTrade Initiative makes contributions to relevant meetings, participates in expert groups, conducts and collects best practices, and develops joint technical assistance programmes. These efforts provide guidance on using trade as a positive measure for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.  

Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
UNCTAD is the task-manager on trade and environment in the UN system. The BioTrade Initiative provides inputs on trade and biodiversity related issues to the CSD.

During the World Summit on Sustainable Development, for example, UNCTAD launched three international (type-II) partnerships in support of BioTrade: the Andean-Amazonian Investor Forum, the Andean BioTrade Programme, and the BioTrade Facilitation Programme.  

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
The BioTrade Initiative seeks to support the implementation of the CBD and works in line with its objectives. It responds to the trade-related aspects of Article 10 on sustainable use, article 11 on incentive measures, Article 15 on access to genetic resources, and Article 8(j) on traditional knowledge.

The Secretariats of the CBD and UNCTAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate on the economics of biodiversity. Specific objectives of this cooperation include institutional cooperation, exchange of information and experience, and joint action for conservation and sustainable development.

The experience of the BioTrade Initiative, particularly through the National BioTrade Programmes, is of great relevance to the Parties to the CBD. In particular, the experience on trade as an incentive for the incorporation of conservation and sustainable use criteria into private sector initiatives is being analysed and discussed in light of the CBD objectives.  

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
CITES attaches increasing importance to the need of economic incentives to encourage the conservation or sustainable use of wild fauna and flora, as well as to complement the regulatory systems that govern the use of CITES-listed species.

Cooperation between the UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative and the CITES Secretariat aims to address, in an integrated way, biological, social, economic and policy-normative aspects of international trade in wild fauna and flora. Particular attention is paid to the role that economic incentives play in the sustainable resource management. Programmes may be developed that contribute to the sustainable use of commercially exploited species listed in the CITES appendices and to an equitable distribution of benefits among the local communities that have a direct link to these species and their habitats.

The BioTrade Initiative and CITES have identified several areas of cooperation including promoting sustainable trade practices in selected value chains of CITES-listed species through support of business management of natural resources and income generation for local communities.  

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar)
Taking into consideration the importance of addressing poverty alleviation, food supply and wise use of water resources in wetland areas, the Ramsar Convention recognises the application of incentive measures and the active participation of local communities, indigenous people and the private sector in the promotion of conservation and wise use of wetlands.

In light of the experience of the UNCTAD BioTrade Initiative, a MoU was signed with Ramsar. One early result of this cooperation is a pilot project on sustainable trade promotion of products and services from wetlands conducted by the National BioTrade Programme of Ecuador.