Conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing

RBG Kew's activities contribute to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The lake at Wakehurst in the summertime

Kew’s work contributes to the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from access to genetic resources.

Kew’s work contributes to the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from access to genetic resources.

Conservation of biological diversity is at the heart of Kew’s work, from our world leading science collections of over 8.5 million items, to our mission of documenting and understanding global plant and fungal diversity. This enables us to focus on the active collection of data on priority useful plants (crops and their wild relatives, plants vital for food security, livelihoods and human health), and gives us the tools to work with our international partners to develop projects that address their own national conservation priorities.

The CBD was the first international convention to recognise the interlinked relationship between people and their environment and the importance of encouraging the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity. Kew has worked on projects focused on agroforestry – encouraging the production of honey through the Forest Futures project in Bolivia and developing a model for sustainable agroindustry in Peru. In Madagascar Kew scientists are working with communities to conserve edible wild yams threatened by habitat loss and over-exploitation. Through cultivation, communities can enhance household income and nutrition. And in Zambia we are working with women in the edible wild orchid trade to both support their livelihoods and ensure the trade is sustainable.

Central to the CBD is the creation of an incentive mechanism for countries to conserve and sustainably use their biodiversity. Therefore, the third objective of the Convention is that there should be ‘fair and equitable sharing of benefits’ in return for the utilisation (commercial or otherwise) of genetic resources. Kew is currently working with more than 400 partners in over 100 countries, and in each case our relationship is governed by a carefully crafted agreement that ensures scientific benefits are shared from the collection, study and conservation of biological diversity.  

In addition, to support our work and ensure we are working legally Kew has developed its policy on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing.