The General Assembly,
 
     Reaffirming its resolutions 49/117 on the Convention on Biological
Diversity and 49/119 on the International Day for Biological Diversity, of 19
December 1994,
 
     Recalling the Convention on Biological Diversity,
 
     Recalling also Agenda 21, particularly its chapter 15 on the conservation
of biological diversity, and related chapters,
 
     Recalling further the recommendations made at the third session of the
Commission on Sustainable Development on the review of chapter 15 of Agenda 21
on the conservation of biological diversity,
 
     Deeply concerned by the continuing loss of the world's biological
diversity and, on the basis of the provisions of the Convention, reiterating
the commitment to the conservation of biological diversity, and the
sustainable use of its components, as well as the fair and equitable sharing
of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources,
 
     1.   Welcomes the results of the first meeting of the Conference of the
Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, held at Nassau from 28
November to 9 December 1994, as reflected in the report of the Executive
Secretary of the Convention, submitted in accordance with paragraph 4 of
General Assembly resolution 49/117;
 
     2.   Takes note that the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on
Biological Diversity has decided to accept the offer of the Government of
Canada to host the secretariat of the Convention, and expresses its
appreciation for the support offered by the Canadian authorities to ensure the
effective functioning of the secretariat;
 
     3.   Also takes note of the results of the first meeting of the
Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, held at the
headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization in Paris from 4 to 8 September 1995, including its medium-term
programme of work for 1996-1997 and its contribution to the Open-ended Ad Hoc
Intergovernmental Panel on Forests of the Commission on Sustainable
Development;
 
     4.   Calls upon those States that have not yet ratified the Convention to
expedite their internal procedures of ratification, acceptance or approval;
 
     5.   Invites the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological
Diversity to report, through the Economic and Social Council, to the General
Assembly at its fifty-first session on the results of the second meeting of
the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, held at Jakarta from 6 to 17
November 1995, and also invites the Secretary to make the reports of the
Conference of the Parties to the Convention available to the Commission on
Sustainable Development.