ABSTRACT
Agricultural biodiversity, comprising plant, livestock, aquatic and forest genetic diversity, as well as micro-organisms and invertebrates, spans the genetic, species and ecosystems levels. It is not only agriculture that depends on agricultural biodiversity: many other activity areas partly or entirely build on, or make use of it, including tourism, urban planning, pharmaceutical discovery and so forth. The legal and policy area is an important component of the institutional framework for conserving and using agricultural biodiversity. When the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force in 1993, agricultural biodiversity played a very minor role, as it was only marginally treated during the negotiation process. The National Focal Points are responsible for the receiving and disseminating information related to the CBD; ensuring adequate representation of the country in meetings; and to monitor, promote and facilitate the national implementation of the CBD.
