International
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a framework international agreement for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of genetic resources. The CBD entered into force on 29 December 1993. Singapore signed the CBD on 12 June 1993 and subsequently became a Party on 21 December 1995. NParks is Singapore’s national focal point for the CBD. For more information on the CBD, please visit: http://www.cbd.int
National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan
Article 6 of the CBD obliges all Parties to develop and implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans. Singapore’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) was launched in September 2009 – providing a master plan for our biodiversity conservation efforts. A review of the 2009 NBSAP is currently in progress to take into consideration the CBD Strategic Plan 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets which were adopted in October 2010.
National Reports
CBD invites Parties to report regularly on the progress of their biodiversity conservation efforts through the submission of reports on a periodic basis. Singapore has submitted the following reports to date:
Global Partnership on Local and Subnational Action for Biodiversity
The Global Partnership on Local and Subnational Action for Biodiversity was previously known as the Global Partnership on Cities and Biodiversity. It was established to support cities in the sustainable management of their biodiversity resources and implement practices that support national, regional and international strategies, plans and agendas on biodiversity. The partnership is facilitated by the CBD as the Secretariat. It is an open network comprising of relevant UN organisations, such as United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), city networks such as ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, scientific network such as URBIO – The Network of Urban Biodiversity and Design.
Members of the Global Partnership on a field trip during a meeting held in Montreal in 2013
As a city-state, Singapore’s participation in this partnership is valuable as it is able to promote the interests of cities as a state Party to the CBD, in particular in the development and implementation of the CBD’s Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity (2011-2020) which was adopted in 2010. The Plan of Action recognises the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity (Singapore Index) as a useful monitoring tool for cities to evaluate their biodiversity conservation efforts. The development of the Singapore Index was led by Singapore in collaboration with the CBD Secretariat and the Global Partnership.
For more information on the Global Partnership on Local and Subnational Action for Biodiversity, please visit: https://www.cbd.int/subnational/partners-and-initiatives