Draft World Charter for Nature.

35. RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED WITHOUT REFERENCE TO A MAIN COMMITTEE
7. Draft World Charter for Nature

The General Assembly, Having considered the question of the draft World Charter for Nature, Conscious that life on earth is part of nature and depends on the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems, Taking account of the fact that civilization has its roots in nature and that life in close contact with nature offers man the best opportunities for creativity, rest and recreation, Persuaded that the benefits which can be obtained from nature depend on the maintenance of natural processes and on the diversity of life-forms and that those benefits are jeopardized by the excessive exploitation and the destruction of natural habitats, Convinced that it is urgent to maintain the balance and quality of nature and to conserve natural resources, Further convinced that the destruction of natural systems and the abuse of resources lead to the collapse of the economic, social and political structures of civilization, Deploring the destruction or alteration of natural systems resulting, inter alia, from excessive consumption and abuse of natural resources, from conflicts and from wars, Reaffirming that man can and should exist in harmony with nature, exercising stewardship over it in the interests of present and future generations, Firmly resolved to safeguard the balance of natural systems and to ensure the protection and conservation of nature, Taking note of the existing international instruments in the matter, in particular the World Conservation Strategy,[1] Recognizing the need for appropriate measures at the national and international levels to protect nature and promote international co-operation in this field, Reaffirming the principle of the permanent sovereignty of States over their natural resources,

1. Takes note with interest of the draft World Charter for Nature,[2] which proposes principles of conservation arising out of the conviction that any act of man affecting nature must be guided and judged;

2. Solemnly invites Member States, in the exercise of their permanent sovereignty over their natural resources, to conduct their activities in recognition of the supreme importance of protecting natural systems, maintaining the balance and quality of nature and conserving natural resources, in the interests of present and future generations;

3. Invites Member States to communicate to the Secretary-General their views and observations on the draft World Charter for Nature and the efforts they are making in the conservation and protection of nature;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the views and observations of Member States to the General Assembly at its thirty-sixth session and to formulate on the basis of the replies received, in co-operation with the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, appropriate recommendations with a view to the adoption of a world charter for nature;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-sixth session an item entitled "Draft World Charter for Nature: report of the Secretary-General".

49th plenary meeting
30 October 1980

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[1] World Conservation Strategy: Living Resource Conservation for Sustainable Development, prepared by the international Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, with the advice, co-operation and financial assistance of the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Wildlife Fund and in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, 1980. [2] Official Records of the General Assembly, Thirty-fifth Session, Annexes, agenda item 113, document A/35/141, annex II.