The Convention on Biological Diversity is probably the most all-
encompassing international agreement ever adopted. It seeks to
conserve the diversity of life on Earth at all levels - genetic,
population, species, habitat, and ecosystem - and to ensure that
this diversity continues to maintain the life support systems of
the biosphere overall. It recognizes that setting social and
economic goals for the use of biological resources and the
benefits derived from genetic resources is central to the
process of sustainable development, and that this in turn will
support conservation. Achieving the goals of the Convention will
require progress on many fronts. Existing knowledge must be used
more effectively; a deeper understanding of human ecology and
environmental effects must be gained and communicated to those
who can stimulate and shape policy change; environmentally more
benign practices and technologies must be applied; and
unprecedented technical and financial cooperation at
international level is needed. Int