National Focal Point Biodiversity

The Belgian National Focal Point to the Convention on Biological Diversity (or, short: the National Focal Point, NFP CBD) is an information hub and catalyser on anything that has to do with biodiversity in Belgium.

We stimulate the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, by formulating advice to policy makers, by informing, raising awareness and educating, and by promoting collaboration and projects on biodiversity (see Activities).

The Convention on Biological Diversity is an intergovernmental agreement that has three main objectives:

1) the conservation of biological diversity,
2) the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity,
3) the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

Every country that has ratified the convention is deemed to install a national focal point. In our country the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences hosts this national focal point. Consequently, it is ideally suited to supply scientific support to policy related to biodiversity.

The National Focal Point is part of the Operational Directorate Natural Environment and supplies science-based policy support in collaboration with partners within the BIOPOLS group, in particular the CEBioS-programme. The latter organizes capacity-building to partners of the Belgian Development Cooperation.