by: United Nations

“ Use of Terms
⁠For the purposes of this Convention: "Biological diversity" means the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part: this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems. "Biological resources' includes genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity. ”

“ Principle
⁠States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. ”

“ CONVENTION [1] ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Preamble
⁠The Contracting Parties. ⁠Conscious of the intrinsic value of biological diversity and of the ecological, genetic, social, economic, scientific, educational, cultural, recreational and aesthetic values of biological diversity and its components. ⁠Conscious also of the importance of biological diversity for evolution and for maintaining life sustaining systems of the biosphere. ⁠Affirming that the conservation of biological diversity is a common concern of humankind. ”