Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Issue of Human Rights Obligations Relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment: Biodiversity Report

Abstract

This report describes the importance of ecosystem services and biodiversity for the full enjoyment of human rights, and explains how human rights obligations apply to biodiversity-related actions. It addresses the obligations of States to respect and protect the rights of information, participation, freedom of expression, and remedy in the context of biodiversity; the obligations of States individually and collectively to protect against the loss of biodiversity; and the heightened obligations of States to members of non-indigenous communities, as well as indigenous peoples, that closely depend on natural ecosystems for their material and cultural needs.

Keywords: human rights, biodiversity, ecosystem services

JEL Classification: K32, K33