The Convention on Biological Diversity, or CBD, is an international treaty, presented at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992. It aims to establish a legislative framework for protection and exploitation of biodiversity. This is the first international text that defines biological diversity as a fragile entity, common to all of humanity, that needs to be preserved. More than 180 countries are signatories to the CBD, although some - such as Paris, serving as a bad example - have not ratified it yet.
Protection of biodiversity, sustainable use of fruit from the latter and "fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources" are the main themes addressed.