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WORLD CHARTER FOR NATURE
The World Charter for Nature was adopted by United Nations member nation-states
during 1982. It proclaims five "principles of conservation
by which all human conduct affecting nature
is to be guided and judged."
The Preamble and General Principles plus
outline of Contents are quoted below.
The General Assembly,
Reaffirming the fundamental purposes of the
United Nations, in particular the maintenance
of international peace and security, the
development of friendly relations among nations
and the achievement of international cooperation
in solving international problems of an economic,
social, cultural, technical, intellectual
or humanitarian character.
Aware that:
(a) Mankind is a part of nature and life
depends on the uninterrupted functioning
of natural systems which ensure the supply
of energy and nutrients,
(b) Civilization is rooted in nature, which
has shaped human culture and influenced all
artistic and scientific achievement, and
living in harmony with nature gives man the
best opportunities for the development of
his creativity and for rest and recreation,
Convinced that:
(a) Every form of life is unique, warranting
respect regardless of its worth to man, and,
to accord other organisms such recognition,
man must be guided by a moral code of action,
(b) Man can alter nature and exhaust natural
resources by his action or its consequences
and, therefore, must fully recognize the
urgency of maintaining the stability and
quality of nature and of conserving natural
resources,
Persuaded that:
(a) Lasting benefits from nature depend upon
the maintenance of essential ecological processes
and life support systems, and upon the diversity
of life forms, which are jeopardized through
excessive exploitation and habitat destruction
by man,
(b) The degradation of natural systems owing
to excessive consumption and misuse of natural
resources, ... leads to the breakdown of
the economic, social and political framework
of civilization,
(c) Competition for scarce resources creates
conflicts, whereas the conservation of nature
and natural resources contributes to justice
and the maintenance of peace and cannot be
achieved until mankind learns to live in
peace ...
I. General Principles
1. Nature shall be respected and its essential
processes shall not be impaired.
2. The genetic viability on the earth shall
not be compromised; the population levels
of all life forms, wild and domesticated,
must be at least sufficient for their survival,
and to this end necessary habitats shall
be safeguarded.
3. All areas of the earth, both land and
sea, shall be subject to these principles
of conservation; special protection shall
be given to unique areas to representative
samples of all the different types of ecosystems
and to the habitats of rare or endangered
species.
4. Ecosystems and organisms, as well as the
land, marine and atmospheric resources that
are utilized by man shall be managed to achieve
and maintain optimum sustainable productivity,
but not in such a way as to endanger the
integrity of those other ecosystems or species
with which they coexist.
5. Nature shall be secured against degradation
caused by warfare or other hostile activities.
6. - 13.
14. - 24.
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Nature
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