ABSTRACT
The precautionary principle is a recent regulatory instrument. It was developed for application in situations where threats of serious environmental damage exist. The principle is enshrined in many international treaties. Nonetheless, it has been defined and applied differently, and with varying degrees of weight, across different international treaties. For the purposes of the current study, we shall use the definition and scope by which it was adopted at the 1992 Rio Conference and the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity. These definitions established that the principle can be applied to biodiversity conservation.
