World Charter for Nature.

  The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the reviseddraft World Charter for Nature, Recalling that, in its resolution 35/7 of 30 October 1980, it expressedits conviction that the benefits which could be obtained from nature dependedon the maintenance of natural processes and on the diversity of life forms andthat those benefits were jeopardized by the excessive exploitation and thedestruction of natural habitats, Further recalling that, in the same resolution, it recognized the needfor appropriate measures at the national and international levels to protectnature and promote international co-operation in that field, Recalling that, in its resolution 36/6 of 27 October 1981, it againexpressed its awareness of the crucial importance attached by theinternational community to the promotion and development of co-operation aimedat protecting and safeguarding the balance and quality of nature and invitedthe Secretary-General to transmit to Member States the text of the revisedversion of the draft World Charter for Nature contained in the report of theAd Hoc Group of Experts on the draft World Charter for Nature, as well asany further observations by States, with a view to appropriate considerationby the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session, Conscious of the spirit and terms of its resolutions 35/7 and 36/6, inwhich it solemnly invited Member States, in the exercise of their permanentsovereignty over their natural resources, to conduct their activities inrecognition of the supreme importance of protecting natural systems,maintaining the balance and quality of nature and conserving naturalresources, in the interests of present and future generations, Having considered the supplementary report of the Secretary-General, Expressing its gratitude to the Ad Hoc Group of Experts which, throughits work, has assembled the necessary elements for the General Assembly to beable to complete the consideration of and adopt the revised draft WorldCharter for Nature at its thirty-seventh session, as it had previouslyrecommended,

Adopts and solemnly proclaims the World Charter for Nature contained inthe annex to the present resolution.ANNEX World Charter for Nature

The General Assembly, Reaffirming the fundamental purposes of the United Nations, in particularthe maintenance of international peace and security, the development offriendly relations among nations and the achievement of internationalco-operation in solving international problems of an economic, social,cultural, technical, intellectual or humanitarian character, Aware that:

(a) Mankind is a part of nature and life depends on the uninterruptedfunctioning of natural systems which ensure the supply of energy and nutrients,

(b) Civilization is rooted in nature, which has shaped human culture andinfluenced all artistic and scientific achievement, and living in harmony withnature gives man the best opportunities for the development of his creativity,and for rest and recreation,

Convinced that:

(a) Every form of life is unique, warranting respect regardless of itsworth to man, and, to accord other organisms such recognition, man must beguided by a moral code of action,

(b) Man can alter nature and exhaust natural resources by his action orits consequences and, therefore, must fully recognize the urgency ofmaintaining the stability and quality of nature and of conserving naturalresources,

Persuaded that:

(a) Lasting benefits from nature depend upon the maintenance ofessential ecological processes and life support systems, and upon thediversity of life forms, which are jeopardized through excessive exploitationand habitat destruction by man,

(b) The degradation of natural systems owing to excessive consumptionand misuse of natural resources, as well as to failure to establish anappropriate economic order among peoples and among States, leads to thebreakdown of the economic, social and political framework of civilization,

(c) Competition for scarce resources creates conflicts, whereas theconservation of nature and natural resources contributes to justice and themaintenance of peace and cannot be achieved until mankind learns to live inpeace and to forsake war and armaments,

Reaffirming that man must acquire the knowledge to maintain and enhancehis ability to use natural resources in a manner which ensures thepreservation of the species and ecosystems for the benefit of present andfuture generations, Firmly convinced of the need for appropriate measures, at the nationaland international, individual and collective, and private and public levels,to protect nature and promote international co-operation in this field, Adopts, to these ends, the present World Charter for Nature, whichproclaims the following principles of conservation by which all human conductaffecting nature is to be guided and judged. I. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1. Nature shall be respected and its essential processes shall not beimpaired.

2. The genetic viability on the earth shall not be compromised; thepopulation levels of all life forms, wild and domesticated, must be at leastsufficient for their survival, and to this end necessary habitats shall besafeguarded.

3. All areas of the earth, both land and sea, shall be subject to theseprinciples of conservation; special protection shall be given to unique areas,to representative samples of all the different types of ecosystems and to thehabitats of rare or endangered species.

4. Ecosystems and organisms, as well as the land, marine andatmospheric resources that are utilized by man, shall be managed to achieveand maintain optimum sustainable productivity, but not in such a way as toendanger the integrity of those other ecosystems or species with which theycoexist.

5. Nature shall be secured against degradation caused by warfare orother hostile activities.

II. FUNCTIONS

6. In the decision-making process it shall be recognized that man'sneeds can be met only by ensuring the proper functioning of natural systemsand by respecting the principles set forth in the present Charter.

7. In the planning and implementation of social and economicdevelopment activities, due account shall be taken of the fact that theconservation of nature is an integral part of those activities.

8. In formulating long-term plans for economic development, populationgrowth and the improvement of standards of living, due account shall be takenof the long-term capacity of natural systems to ensure the subsistence andsettlement of the populations concerned, recognizing that this capacity may beenhanced through science and technology.

9. The allocation of areas of the earth to various uses shall beplanned, and due account shall be taken of the physical constraints, thebiological productivity and diversity and the natural beauty of the areasconcerned.

10. Natural resources shall not be wasted, but used with a restraintappropriate to the principles set forth in the present Charter, in accordancewith the following rules:

(a) Living resources shall not be utilized in excess of their naturalcapacity for regeneration;

(b) The productivity of soils shall be maintained or enhanced throughmeasures which safeguard their long-term fertility and the process of organicdecomposition, and prevent erosion and all other forms of degradation;

(c) Resources, including water, which are not consumed as they are usedshall be reused or recycled;

(d) Non-renewable resources which are consumed as they are used shall beexploited with restraint, taking into account their abundance, the rationalpossibilities of converting them for consumption, and the compatibility oftheir exploitation with the functioning of natural systems.

11. Activities which might have an impact on nature shall be controlled,and the best available technologies that minimize significant risks to natureor other adverse effects shall be used; in particular:

(a) Activities which are likely to cause irreversible damage to natureshall be avoided;

(b) Activities which are likely to pose a significant risk to natureshall be preceded by an exhaustive examination; their proponents shalldemonstrate that expected benefits outweigh potential damage to nature, andwhere potential adverse effects are not fully understood, the activitiesshould not proceed;

(c) Activities which may disturb nature shall be preceded by assessmentof their consequences, and environmental impact studies of developmentprojects shall be conducted sufficiently in advance, and if they are to beundertaken, such activities shall be planned and carried out so as to minimizepotential adverse effects;

(d) Agriculture, grazing, forestry and fisheries practices shall beadapted to the natural characteristics and constraints of given areas;

(e) Areas degraded by human activities shall be rehabilitated forpurposes in accord with their natural potential and compatible with thewell-being of affected populations.

12. Discharge of pollutants into natural systems shall be avoided and:

(a) Where this is not feasible, such pollutants shall be treated at thesource, using the best practicable means available;

(b) Special precautions shall be taken to prevent discharge ofradioactive or toxic wastes.

13. Measures intended to prevent, control or limit natural disasters,infestations and diseases shall be specifically directed to the causes ofthese scourges and shall avoid adverse side-effects on nature.

III. IMPLEMENTATION

14. The principles set forth in the present Charter shall be reflectedin the law and practice of each State, as well as at the international level.

15. Knowledge of nature shall be broadly disseminated by all possiblemeans, particularly by ecological education as an integral part of generaleducation.

16. All planning shall include, among its essential elements, theformulation of strategies for the conservation of nature, the establishment ofinventories of ecosystems and assessments of the effects on nature of proposedpolicies and activities; all of these elements shall be disclosed to thepublic by appropriate means in time to permit effective consultation andparticipation.

17. Funds, programmes and administrative structures necessary to achievethe objective of the conservation of nature shall be provided.

18. Constant efforts shall be made to increase knowledge of nature byscientific research and to disseminate such knowledge unimpeded byrestrictions of any kind.

19. The status of natural processes, ecosystems and species shall beclosely monitored to enable early detection of degradation or threat, ensuretimely intervention and facilitate the evaluation of conservation policies andmethods.

20. Military activities damaging to nature shall be avoided.

21. States and, to the extent they are able, other public authorities,international organizations, individuals, groups and corporations shall:

(a) Co-operate in the task of conserving nature through commonactivities and other relevant actions, including information exchange andconsultations;

(b) Establish standards for products and manufacturing processes thatmay have adverse effects on nature, as well as agreed methodologies forassessing these effects;

(c) Implement the applicable international legal provisions for theconservation of nature and the protection of the environment;

(d) Ensure that activities within their jurisdictions or control do notcause damage to the natural systems located within other States or in theareas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction;

(e) Safeguard and conserve nature in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

22. Taking fully into account the sovereignty of States over theirnatural resources, each State shall give effect to the provisions of thepresent Charter through its competent organs and in co-operation with otherStates.

23. All persons, in accordance with their national legislation, shallhave the opportunity to participate, individually or with others, in theformulation of decisions of direct concern to their environment, and shallhave access to means of redress when their environment has suffered damage ordegradation.

24. Each person has a duty to act in accordance with the provisions ofthe present Charter; acting individually, in association with others orthrough participation in the political process, each person shall strive toensure that the objectives and requirements of the present Charter are met.