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STATUS AS AT : 05-10-2024 09:15:47 EDT

CHAPTER XXVII

ENVIRONMENT

8. Convention on Biological Diversity

Rio de Janeiro, 5 June 1992

Entry into force

29 December 1993, in accordance with article 36(1).

Registration

29 December 1993, No. 30619

Status

Signatories : 168. Parties : 196. ¹

Text

Certified true copy

United Nations, Treaty Series , vol. 1760, p. 79; and depositary notification C.N.29.1996.TREATIES-2 of 18 March 1996 (procès-verbal of rectification of the authentic Arabic text).

Note

The Convention was adopted by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Convention on Biological Diversity, during its Fifth session, held at Nairobi from 11 to 22 May 1992. The Convention was open for signature at Rio de Janeiro by all States and regional economic integration organizations from 5 June 1992 until 14 June 1992, and remained open at the United Nations Headquarters in New York until 4 June 1993.

Participant	Signature	Ratification, Accession(a), Acceptance(A), Approval(AA), Succession(d)
Afghanistan	12 Jun 1992	19 Sep 2002
Albania		5 Jan 1994 a
Algeria	13 Jun 1992	14 Aug 1995
Andorra		4 Feb 2015 a
Angola	12 Jun 1992	1 Apr 1998
Antigua and Barbuda	5 Jun 1992	9 Mar 1993
Argentina	12 Jun 1992	22 Nov 1994
Armenia	13 Jun 1992	14 May 1993 A
Australia	5 Jun 1992	18 Jun 1993
Austria	13 Jun 1992	18 Aug 1994
Azerbaijan	12 Jun 1992	3 Aug 2000 AA
Bahamas	12 Jun 1992	2 Sep 1993
Bahrain	9 Jun 1992	30 Aug 1996
Bangladesh	5 Jun 1992	3 May 1994
Barbados	12 Jun 1992	10 Dec 1993
Belarus	11 Jun 1992	8 Sep 1993
Belgium	5 Jun 1992	22 Nov 1996
Belize	13 Jun 1992	30 Dec 1993
Benin	13 Jun 1992	30 Jun 1994
Bhutan	11 Jun 1992	25 Aug 1995
Bolivia (Plurinational State of)	13 Jun 1992	3 Oct 1994
Bosnia and Herzegovina		26 Aug 2002 a
Botswana	8 Jun 1992	12 Oct 1995
Brazil	5 Jun 1992	28 Feb 1994
Brunei Darussalam		28 Apr 2008 a
Bulgaria	12 Jun 1992	17 Apr 1996
Burkina Faso	12 Jun 1992	2 Sep 1993
Burundi	11 Jun 1992	15 Apr 1997
Cabo Verde	12 Jun 1992	29 Mar 1995
Cambodia		9 Feb 1995 a
Cameroon	14 Jun 1992	19 Oct 1994
Canada	11 Jun 1992	4 Dec 1992
Central African Republic	13 Jun 1992	15 Mar 1995
Chad	12 Jun 1992	7 Jun 1994
Chile	13 Jun 1992	9 Sep 1994
China ²	11 Jun 1992	5 Jan 1993
Colombia	12 Jun 1992	28 Nov 1994
Comoros	11 Jun 1992	29 Sep 1994
Congo	11 Jun 1992	1 Aug 1996
Cook Islands	12 Jun 1992	20 Apr 1993
Costa Rica	13 Jun 1992	26 Aug 1994
Côte d'Ivoire	10 Jun 1992	29 Nov 1994
Croatia	11 Jun 1992	7 Oct 1996
Cuba	12 Jun 1992	8 Mar 1994
Cyprus	12 Jun 1992	10 Jul 1996
Czech Republic	4 Jun 1993	3 Dec 1993 AA
Democratic People's Republic of Korea	11 Jun 1992	26 Oct 1994 AA
Democratic Republic of the Congo	11 Jun 1992	3 Dec 1994
Denmark	12 Jun 1992	21 Dec 1993
Djibouti	13 Jun 1992	1 Sep 1994
Dominica		6 Apr 1994 a
Dominican Republic	13 Jun 1992	25 Nov 1996
Ecuador	9 Jun 1992	23 Feb 1993
Egypt	9 Jun 1992	2 Jun 1994
El Salvador	13 Jun 1992	8 Sep 1994
Equatorial Guinea		6 Dec 1994 a
Eritrea		21 Mar 1996 a
Estonia	12 Jun 1992	27 Jul 1994
Eswatini	12 Jun 1992	9 Nov 1994
Ethiopia	10 Jun 1992	5 Apr 1994
European Union	13 Jun 1992	21 Dec 1993 AA
Fiji	9 Oct 1992	25 Feb 1993
Finland	5 Jun 1992	27 Jul 1994 A
France	13 Jun 1992	1 Jul 1994
Gabon	12 Jun 1992	14 Mar 1997
Gambia	12 Jun 1992	10 Jun 1994
Georgia		2 Jun 1994 a
Germany	12 Jun 1992	21 Dec 1993
Ghana	12 Jun 1992	29 Aug 1994
Greece	12 Jun 1992	4 Aug 1994
Grenada	3 Dec 1992	11 Aug 1994
Guatemala	13 Jun 1992	10 Jul 1995
Guinea	12 Jun 1992	7 May 1993
Guinea-Bissau	12 Jun 1992	27 Oct 1995
Guyana	13 Jun 1992	29 Aug 1994
Haiti	13 Jun 1992	25 Sep 1996
Honduras	13 Jun 1992	31 Jul 1995
Hungary	13 Jun 1992	24 Feb 1994
Iceland	10 Jun 1992	12 Sep 1994
India	5 Jun 1992	18 Feb 1994
Indonesia	5 Jun 1992	23 Aug 1994
Iran (Islamic Republic of)	14 Jun 1992	6 Aug 1996
Iraq		28 Jul 2009 a
Ireland	13 Jun 1992	22 Mar 1996
Israel	11 Jun 1992	7 Aug 1995
Italy	5 Jun 1992	15 Apr 1994
Jamaica	11 Jun 1992	6 Jan 1995
Japan	13 Jun 1992	28 May 1993 A
Jordan	11 Jun 1992	12 Nov 1993
Kazakhstan	9 Jun 1992	6 Sep 1994
Kenya	11 Jun 1992	26 Jul 1994
Kiribati		16 Aug 1994 a
Kuwait	9 Jun 1992	2 Aug 2002
Kyrgyzstan		6 Aug 1996 a
Lao People's Democratic Republic		20 Sep 1996 a
Latvia	11 Jun 1992	14 Dec 1995
Lebanon	12 Jun 1992	15 Dec 1994
Lesotho	11 Jun 1992	10 Jan 1995
Liberia	12 Jun 1992	8 Nov 2000
Libya	29 Jun 1992	12 Jul 2001
Liechtenstein	5 Jun 1992	19 Nov 1997
Lithuania	11 Jun 1992	1 Feb 1996
Luxembourg	9 Jun 1992	9 May 1994
Madagascar	8 Jun 1992	4 Mar 1996
Malawi	10 Jun 1992	2 Feb 1994
Malaysia	12 Jun 1992	24 Jun 1994
Maldives	12 Jun 1992	9 Nov 1992
Mali	30 Sep 1992	29 Mar 1995
Malta	12 Jun 1992	29 Dec 2000
Marshall Islands	12 Jun 1992	8 Oct 1992
Mauritania	12 Jun 1992	16 Aug 1996
Mauritius	10 Jun 1992	4 Sep 1992
Mexico	13 Jun 1992	11 Mar 1993
Micronesia (Federated States of)	12 Jun 1992	20 Jun 1994
Monaco	11 Jun 1992	20 Nov 1992
Mongolia	12 Jun 1992	30 Sep 1993
Montenegro ³		23 Oct 2006 d
Morocco	13 Jun 1992	21 Aug 1995
Mozambique	12 Jun 1992	25 Aug 1995
Myanmar	11 Jun 1992	25 Nov 1994
Namibia	12 Jun 1992	16 May 1997
Nauru	5 Jun 1992	11 Nov 1993
Nepal	12 Jun 1992	23 Nov 1993
Netherlands (Kingdom of the) ⁴	5 Jun 1992	12 Jul 1994 A
New Zealand	12 Jun 1992	16 Sep 1993
Nicaragua	13 Jun 1992	20 Nov 1995
Niger	11 Jun 1992	25 Jul 1995
Nigeria	13 Jun 1992	29 Aug 1994
Niue		28 Feb 1996 a
North Macedonia		2 Dec 1997 a
Norway	9 Jun 1992	9 Jul 1993
Oman	10 Jun 1992	8 Feb 1995
Pakistan	5 Jun 1992	26 Jul 1994
Palau		6 Jan 1999 a
Panama	13 Jun 1992	17 Jan 1995
Papua New Guinea	13 Jun 1992	16 Mar 1993
Paraguay	12 Jun 1992	24 Feb 1994
Peru	12 Jun 1992	7 Jun 1993
Philippines	12 Jun 1992	8 Oct 1993
Poland	5 Jun 1992	18 Jan 1996
Portugal ²	13 Jun 1992	21 Dec 1993
Qatar	11 Jun 1992	21 Aug 1996
Republic of Korea	13 Jun 1992	3 Oct 1994
Republic of Moldova	5 Jun 1992	20 Oct 1995
Romania	5 Jun 1992	17 Aug 1994
Russian Federation	13 Jun 1992	5 Apr 1995
Rwanda	10 Jun 1992	29 May 1996
Samoa	12 Jun 1992	9 Feb 1994
San Marino	10 Jun 1992	28 Oct 1994
Sao Tome and Principe	12 Jun 1992	29 Sep 1999
Saudi Arabia		3 Oct 2001 a
Senegal	13 Jun 1992	17 Oct 1994
Serbia ⁵	8 Jun 1992	1 Mar 2002
Seychelles	10 Jun 1992	22 Sep 1992
Sierra Leone		12 Dec 1994 a
Singapore	10 Mar 1993	21 Dec 1995
Slovakia	19 May 1993	25 Aug 1994 AA
Slovenia	13 Jun 1992	9 Jul 1996
Solomon Islands	13 Jun 1992	3 Oct 1995
Somalia		11 Sep 2009 a
South Africa	4 Jun 1993	2 Nov 1995
South Sudan		17 Feb 2014 a
Spain ^{6, 7}	13 Jun 1992	21 Dec 1993
Sri Lanka	10 Jun 1992	23 Mar 1994
St. Kitts and Nevis	12 Jun 1992	7 Jan 1993
St. Lucia		28 Jul 1993 a
St. Vincent and the Grenadines		3 Jun 1996 a
State of Palestine		2 Jan 2015 a
Sudan	9 Jun 1992	30 Oct 1995
Suriname	13 Jun 1992	12 Jan 1996
Sweden	8 Jun 1992	16 Dec 1993
Switzerland	12 Jun 1992	21 Nov 1994
Syrian Arab Republic	3 May 1993	4 Jan 1996
Tajikistan		29 Oct 1997 a
Thailand	12 Jun 1992	31 Oct 2003
Timor-Leste		10 Oct 2006 a
Togo	12 Jun 1992	4 Oct 1995 A
Tonga		19 May 1998 a
Trinidad and Tobago	11 Jun 1992	1 Aug 1996
Tunisia	13 Jun 1992	15 Jul 1993
Türkiye	11 Jun 1992	14 Feb 1997
Turkmenistan		18 Sep 1996 a
Tuvalu	8 Jun 1992	20 Dec 2002
Uganda	12 Jun 1992	8 Sep 1993
Ukraine	11 Jun 1992	7 Feb 1995
United Arab Emirates	11 Jun 1992	10 Feb 2000
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ⁶	12 Jun 1992	3 Jun 1994
United Republic of Tanzania	12 Jun 1992	8 Mar 1996
United States of America	4 Jun 1993
Uruguay	9 Jun 1992	5 Nov 1993
Uzbekistan		19 Jul 1995 a
Vanuatu	9 Jun 1992	25 Mar 1993
Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of)	12 Jun 1992	13 Sep 1994
Viet Nam	28 May 1993	16 Nov 1994
Yemen	12 Jun 1992	21 Feb 1996
Zambia	11 Jun 1992	28 May 1993
Zimbabwe	12 Jun 1992	11 Nov 1994

Declarations

(Unless otherwise indicated, the declarations were made
upon ratification, accession, acceptance, approval or succession.)

Argentina

Declaration:

The Argentine Government considers that this Convention represents a step forward in that it establishes among its objectives the sustainable use of biological diversity. Likewise, the definitions contained in article 2 and other provisions of the Convention indicate that the terms "genetic resources", "biological resources" and "biological material" do not include the human genome. In accordance with the commitments entered into in the Convention, the Argentine Nation will pass legislation on the conditions of access to biological resources and the ownership of future rights and benefits arising from them. The Convention is fully consistent with the principles established in the "Agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights", including trade in counterfeit goods, contained in the Final Act of the Uruguay Round of GATT.

Austria

Declaration:

"The Republic of Austria declares in accordance with article 27, paragraph 3 of the Convention that it accepts both of the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting an obligation concerning one or both of these means of dispute settlement."

Chile

Declaration:

The Government of Chile, on ratifying the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992, wishes to place on record that the pine tree and other species that the country exploits as one of its forestry resources are considered exotic and are not taken to fall within the scope of the Convention.

Cuba

Declaration:

The Government of the Republic of Cuba declares, with respect to article 27 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, that as far as the Republic of Cuba is concerned, disputes that arise between Parties concerning the interpretation or applica- tion of this international legal instrument shall be settled by negotiation through the diplomatic channel or, failing that, by arbitration in accordance with the procedure laid down in Annex II on arbitration of the Convention.

European Union

Declaration:

"Within their respective competence, the European Community and its Member States wish to reaffirm the importance they attach to transfers of technology and to biotechnology in order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The compliance with intellectual property rights constitutes an essential element for the implementation of policies for technology transfer and co-investment.

For the European Community and its member States, transfers of technology and access to biotechnology, as defined in the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be carried out in accordance with article 16 of the said Convention and in compliance with the principles and rules of protection of intellectual property, in particular multilateral and bilateral agreements signed or negotiated by the Contracting Parties to this Convention.

The European Community and its Member States will encourage the use of the financial mechanism established by the Convention to promote the voluntary transfer of intellectual property rights held by European operators, in particular as regards the granting of licences, through normal commercial mechanisms and decisions, while ensuring adequate and effective protection of property rights."

France

Upon signature:

Declaration:

With reference to article 3, that it interprets that article as a guiding principle to be taken into account in the implementation of the Convention;

With reference to article 21, paragraph 1, that the decision taken periodically by the Conference of the Parties concerns the "amount of resources needed" and that no provision of the Convention authorizes the Conference of the Parties to take decisions concerning the amount, nature or frequency of the contributions from Parties to the Convention.

Upon ratification:

Declaration:

With reference to article 3, that it interprets that article as a guiding principle to be taken into account in the implementation of the Convention;

The French Republic reaffirms its belief in the importance of the transfer of technology and biotechnology in guaranteeing the protection and long-term utilization of biological diversity. Respect for intellectual property rights is an essential element of the implementation of policies for technology transfer and co-investment.

The French Republic affirms that the transfer of technology and access to biotechnology, as defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be implemented according to article 16 of that Convention and with respect for the principles and rules concerning the protection of intellectual property, including multilateral agreements signed or negotiated by the Contracting Parties to the present Convention.

The French Republic will encourage recourse to the financial mechanism established by the Convention for the purpose of promoting the voluntary transfer of intellectual property rights under French ownership, inter alia , as regards the granting of licences, by traditional commercial decisions and mechanisms while ensuring the appropriate and effective protection of property rights.

With reference to article 21, paragraph 1, the French Republic considers that the decisiontaken periodically by the Conference of the Parties concerns the "amount of resources needed" and that no provision of the Convention authorizes the Conference of the Parties to take decisions concerning the amount, nature or frequency of the contributions from Parties to the Convention.

31 August 2016

Upon its ratification of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the French Republic reiterated its declaration made upon its ratification of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Georgia

Declaration:

"The Republic of Georgia will use both means for dispute settlement referred to in the Convention:

1. Arbitral consideration in accordance with the procedure given in the enclosure II, Part I.

2. Submitting of disputes to the International Court."

Ireland

Declaration:

"Ireland wishes to reaffirm the importance it attaches to transfers of technology and to biotechnology in order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The compliance with intellectual property rights constitutes an essential element for the implementation of policies for technology transfer and co-investment.

For Ireland, transfers of technology and access to biotechnology, as defined in the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity and in compliance with the principles and rules of protection of intellectual property, in particular multilateral and bilateral agreements signed or negotiated by the contracting parties to this Convention.

Ireland will encourage the use of the financial mechanism established by the Convention to promote the voluntary transfer of intellectual property rights held by Irish operators, in particular as regards the granting of licences, through normal commercial mechanisms and decisions, while ensuring adequate and effective protection of property rights."

Italy

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

"The Italian Government [. . .] declares its understanding that the decision to be taken by the Conference of the Parties under article 21.1 of the Convention refers to the `amount of resources needed' by the financial mechanism, not to the extent or nature and form of the contributions of the Contracting Parties."

Latvia

Declaration:

"The Republic of Latvia declares in accordance with article 27 paragraph 3 of the Convention that it accepts both the means of dispute settlement mentioned in this paragraph as compulsory."

Liechtenstein

Declaration:

"The Principality of Liechtenstein wishes to reaffirm the importance it attaches to transfers of technology and to biotechnology in order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. The compliance with intellectual property rights constitutes an essential element for the implementation of policies for technology transfer and co-investment.

For the Principality of Liechtenstein, transfers of technology and access to biotechnology, as defined in the text of the [said] Convention, will be carried out in accordance with article 16 of the said Convention and in compliance with the principles and rules of protection of intellectual property, in particular multilateral and bilateral agreements signed or negotiated by the Contracting Parties to this Convention.

The Principality of Liechtenstein will encourage the use of the financial mechanism established by the Convention to promote the voluntary transfer of intellectual property rights held by Liechtenstein operators, in particular as regards the granting of licenses, through normal commercial mechanisms and decisions, while ensuring adequate and effective protection of property rights."

Netherlands (Kingdom of the)

4 June 2015

“The Kingdom of the Netherlands declares, in accordance with paragraph 3 of Article 27 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, that it accepts both means of dispute settlement referred to in that paragraph as compulsory in relation to any Party accepting one or both means of dispute settlement.”

Papua New Guinea

Declaration:

"The Government of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea declares its understanding that ratification of the Con- vention shall in no way constitute a renunciation of any rights under International Law concerning State responsibility for the adverse effects of Biological Diversity as derogating from the principles of general International Law."

Sudan

Understanding:

"With respect to the principle stipulated in article 3, the Government of the Sudan agrees with the spirit of the article and interprets it to mean that no state is responsible for acts that take place outside its control even if they fall within its judicial jurisdiction and may cause damage to the environment of other states or of areas beyond the limits of national judicial jurisdiction."

"The Sudan also sees as regards article 14 (2), that the issue of liability and redress for damage to biological diversity should not form a priority to be tackled by the Agreement as there is ambiguity regarding the essence and scope of the studies to be carried out, in accordance with the above-mentioned article. The Sudan further believes that any such studies on liability and redress should shift towards effects of areas such as biotechnology products, environmental impacts, genetically modified organisms and acid rains."

Switzerland

Upon signature:

Declaration:

The Swiss Government wishes to emphasize particularly the progress made in establishing standard terms for cooperation between States in a very important field: research activities and activities for the transfer of technology relevant to resources from third countries.

The important provisions in question create a platform for even closer cooperation with public research bodies or institutions in Switzerland and for the transfer of technologies available to governmental or public bodies, particularly universities and various publicly-funded research and development centres.

It is our understanding that genetic resources acquired under the procedure specified in article 15 and developed by private research institutions will be the subject of programmes of cooperation, joint research and the transfer of technology which will respect the principles and rules for the protection of intellectual property.

These principles and rules are essential for research and private investment, in particular in the latest technologies, such as modern biotechnology which requires substantial financial outlays. On the basis of this interpretation, the Swiss Government wishes to indicate that it is ready, at the opportune time, to take the appropriate general policy measures, particularly under articles 16 and 19, with a view to promoting and encouraging cooperation, on a contractual basis, between Swiss firms and the private firms and governmental bodies of other Contracting Parties.

With regard to financial cooperation, Switzerland interprets the provisions of articles 20 and 21 as follows: the resources to be committed and the management system will have regard, in an equitable manner, to the needs and interests of the developing countries and to the possibilities and interests of the developed countries.

Upon ratification:

Declaration:

Switzerland wishes to reaffirm the importance it attaches to transfers of technology and to biotechnology in order to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity The compliance with intellectual property rights constitutes an essential element for the implementation of policies for technology transfer and co-investment.

For Switzerland, transfers of technology and access to biotechnology, as defined in the text of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be carried out in accordance with article 16 of the said Convention and in compliance with the principles and rules of protection of intellectual property, in particular multilateral and bilateral agreements signed or negotiated by the Contracting Parties to this Convention.

Switzerland will encourage the use of the financial mechanism established by the Convention to promote the voluntary transfer of intellectual property rights held by Swiss operators, in particular as regards the granting of licences, through normal commercial mechanisms and decisions, while ensuring adequate and effective protection of property rights.

Syrian Arab Republic

Upon signature:

Declaration:

It is being understood that the signing of this Convention shall not constitute recognition of Israel or leading to any inter- course with it.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Declaration made upon signature and confirmed upon ratification:

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland declare their understanding that article 3 of the Convention sets out a guiding principle to be taken into account in the implementation of the Convention.

The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland also declare their understanding that the decisions to be taken by the Conference of the Parties under paragraph 1 of article 21 concern "the amount of resources needed" by the financial mechanism, and that nothing in article 20 or 21 authorises the Conference of the Parties to take decisions concerning the amount, nature, frequency or size of the contributions of the Parties under the Convention.

End Note

1For the purpose of entry into force of the [Convention/Protocol] , any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted as additional to those deposited by member States of that Organization.
2On 28 June 1999, the Government of Portugal informed the Secretary-General the the Convention would also apply to Macau. Subsequently, the Secretary-General received the following communications on the dates indicated hereinafter: Portugal (9 December 1999): “In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the Portuguese Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China on the Question of Macau signed on 13 April 1987, the Portuguese Republic will continue to have international responsibility for Macau until 19 December 1999 and from that date onwards the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau with effect from 20 December 1999. From 20 December 1999 onwards the Portuguese Republic will cease to be responsible for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Convention to Macau." China (15 December 1999): In accordance with the Joint Declaration of the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Portugal on the Question of Macau (hereinafter referred to as the Joint Declaration), the Government of the People's Republic of China will resume the exercise of sovereignty over Macau with effect from 20 December 1999. Macau will, from that date, become a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and will enjoy a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defense affairs which are the responsibilities of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. In this connection, [the Government of the People's Republic of China informs the Secretary-General of the following]: The Convention on Biological Diversity, done at Nairobi on 5 June 1992 (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention"), to which the Government of the People's Republic of China deposited the instrument of ratification on 5 January 1993, will apply to the Macau Special Administrative Region with effect from 20 December 1999. The Government of the People's Republic of China will assume responsibility for the international rights and obligations arising from the application of the Convention to the Macau Special Administrative Region. China (Declaration of 9 May 2011): In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, the Government of the People's Republic of China decides that the Convention applies to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.
3See note 1 under "Montenegro" in the "Historical Information" section in the front matter of this volume.
4On 4 June 1999: for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba
5See note 1 under “former Yugoslavia” and note 1 under “Yugoslavia” in the “Historical Information” section in the front matter of this volume.
6 In respect of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Bailiwick of Jersey, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar, St. Helena and St. Helena Dependencies. On 8 May 2012, the Secretary-General received the following communication: “… The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wishes the United Kingdom’s ratification of the [Convention on Biological Diversity] to be extended to the following territory for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible: Isle of Man The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland considers the extension of the aforesaid Convention to the Isle of Man to enter into force on the ninetieth day after the deposit of this notification [i.e. on 6 August 2012].” On 27 March 2015, the Secretary-General received the following communication: "... the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wishes the United Kingdom's Ratification of the Convention be extended to the territory of South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland considers the extension of the Convention to South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands to enter into force from the day of deposit of this notification ..." On 14 July 2015, the Secretary-General received the following communication: “Upon instructions from my Government, I have the honor to address you, in your capacity as depositary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, in order to refer to the note sent to you by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on 27 March 2015 regarding the attempt of that country to apply the Convention to the South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands. The Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas, are integral part of the national territory of the Argentine Republic and, being illegitimately occupied by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, are subject to a sovereignty dispute recognized by the United Nations and other international fora and organizations. The illegitimate occupation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland led the United Nations General Assembly to adopt resolutions 2065(XX), 3169 (XXVIII), 31/49, 37/9, 38/12, 39/6, 40/21, 41/40, 42/19 and 43/25, in which it recognized the existence of a sovereignty dispute regarding the question of the Malvinas islands and calls on the Governments of the Argentine Republic and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to resume negotiations with a view to finding, as soon as possible, a peaceful, just and lasting solution to the dispute. The United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization has made repeated statements to the same effect, the most recently by means of the resolution adopted on 25 June 2015. Therefore, the Argentine Republic objects and rejects the attempt of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to apply the Convention on Biological Diversity to the South Georgias and South Sandwich lslands. The Argentine Republic recalls that the Convention, adopted in Rio de Janeiro on 5 June 1992, is applicable to the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands because they are integral part of the territory of the Argentine Republic, as a result of the ratification made by the Argentine Government on 22 November 1994. The Argentine Republic reaffirms its sovereignty rights over the Malvinas, South Georgias and South Sandwich Islands and the surrounding maritime areas. The Argentine Republic should be grateful if you, acting as a depositary of the Convention, would register this statement, notify the Parties and Contracting Parties and distribute it as document of the Organization among its Member States.” On 29 June 2016, the Secretary-General received the following communication: "… the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wishes the United Kingdom's Ratification of the Convention be extended to the following territory: Falkland Islands for whose international relations the United Kingdom is responsible. The Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland considers the extension of the Convention to the territory of the Falkland Islands to enter into force on the date of deposit of this notification…" On 22 July 2016, the Secretary-General received a communication from the Argentine Republic relating to the territorial application by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in respect of Falkland Islands (Malvinas). See C.N.566.2016.TREATIES-XXVII.8 dated 29 July 2016 for the text of the above-mentioned communication.
7 On 9 July 2014, the Secretary-General received from the Government of Spain the following communication with regard to the Territorial Application by the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Gibraltar: 1. Gibraltar is a Non-Self-Governing Territory for whose international relations the Government of the United Kingdom is responsible and which is subject to a process of decolonization in accordance with the relevant decisions and resolutions of the General Assembly. 2. The authorities of Gibraltar are local in character, and exercise competences exclusively over internal affairs that originate in and are based on the powers allocated to and conferred on them by the United Kingdom, in accordance with its domestic legislation and in its capacity as the sovereign State upon which depends the said Non-Self-Governing Territory. 3. Consequently, any involvement by the Gibraltarian authorities in the implementation of this Convention shall be understood to take place exclusively within the framework of the internal affairs of Gibraltar and shall not be considered to affect in any way the content of the two preceding paragraphs. 4. The procedure envisaged in the Arrangements relating to Gibraltar authorities in the context of certain international treaties, which were agreed to by Spain and the United Kingdom on 19 December 2007 (together with "Agreed Arrangements relating to Gibraltar authorities in the context of European Union and European Community Instruments and Related Treaties" of 19 April 2000) applies to the present Convention. 5. The application to Gibraltar of the present Convention cannot be interpreted as recognition of any rights or situations involving matters not included in Article 10 of the Treaty of Utrecht of 13 July 1713, signed bythe crowns of Spain and Great Britain.

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