The Biodiversity Convention and in situ Conservation in Zambia

This article describes biological diversity, its importance to the global community and to the African continent, focusing particularly on Zambia, my home country. The article considers briefly the provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity¹ (the Biodiversity Convention) and in particular the in situ conservation obligations under the Convention. The article identifiies the required actions for the effective in situ conservation of biological diversity in Zambia. In this regard, the article high-lights the main problems associated with biological diversity loss, examines Zambia's legislation on the conservation of biological diversity and considers whether the obligations thereunder comply with the actions required for the effective conservation of biological diversity identified under the Biodiversity Convention. The article concludes with recommendations on what actions are needed for effective in situ conservation of biological diversity in Zambia.