Authors: Kokko, Kai;

Biodiversity loss continues although the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has been in force almost 30 years with three main objectives: 1. the conservation of biological, diversity, 2. The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity and 3. The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Regardless new 20 Aichi Biodiversity sub-targets ecological information gives more alarming signals about the poor state of global biodiversity. Conservation biological and ecophilosophical studies have shown that biodiversity needs protection as a complex dynamic system and a target of diverse values. However, the legal implementation of the biodiversity objectives is not successful. At least two aspects can explain the reason. Firstly, the CBD has originally too narrow objectives to safeguard biodiversity. Policy instruments for biodiversity conservation and for the sustainable use of its parts will not guarantee the safeguarding if biodiversity degrades because of pollution or climate change. Secondly, the safeguarding objective cannot be achieved by means of traditional legal solutions and relationships. Recognizing legally relevant safeguarding relationships between persons and nature can improve with new policy instruments the implementation of biodiversity targets. The presentation gives some examples for the legal development towards biodiversity law.