Write a note on 'biological diversity'.

Biological Diversity: Biological diversity is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact. An international treaty - "the Convention on Biological Diversity" was adopted in United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, which had following three main goals- conservation of biological diversity sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources. In India, the Biological Diversity Act 2002 was born out of India's attempt to realise the objectives enshrined in the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992, which recognizes the sovereign rights of states to use their own Biological Resources. The Act provides for conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources and associated knowledge as well as facilitating access to them in a sustainable manner and through a just process.