Introduction to the CBD Alliance

Founded after the 6^th COP in Den Haag, the Netherlands (April 2002), The Convention on Biological Diversity Alliance (CBD Alliance)is a loose network of activists and representatives from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), community-based organizations (CBOs), social movements and Indigenous Peoples’ Organizations (IPOs) advocating for improved and informed participation in CBD processes. The Alliance does not act as a representative of civil society organizations (CSOs) around the CBD, nor does it speak for the diversity of civil society’s voices. Rather, it exists in order to facilitate more diverse, coordinated, and effective civil society input into CBD policy-making and processes.

CBD ALLIANCE AT THE COP11, HYDERABAD, INDIA, 2012

The Alliance is open to all CSOs working progressively on CBD issues and is governed by a representative board, democratically selected from the community. The CBD Alliance has as its ongoing mandate and mission: to ensure the diverse and effective participation of civil society in CBD processes - which are typically the purview of global elites, and increasingly, under the influence of powerful private sector forces.This project and its funds will continue to be managed by its host organization and fiscal agent, Kalpavriksh based in Pune, India, and will be governed by the new 2011/2012 term board of the CBD Alliance.