Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, governments began to realize the importance of protecting the world around us. While certain conservation-related conventions existed before that time, it was in this period that the world truly woke up to environmental degradation and species loss. In these early days, conservation efforts often focused on specific habitats and species, with treaties such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species entering into force in 1975, the Convention on Migratory Species entering into force in 1983, and the Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar Convention) entering into force in 1975.

However, the effectiveness of focusing on species and habitats has been fiercely debated. By the 1990s, many scientists and academics began to spot holes in the protections provided. This eventually led to a different approach to international conservation, one in which biodiversity writ large became the focus. Following the Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force in 1993, with the goal of promoting the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity while ensuring its benefits were shared around the globe.

This course will analyze these conventions, and others, engaging students in discussions on their development and effectiveness. The course will further focus on how biodiversity protections have developed through litigation, both in international and domestic fora. Through readings, papers, and discussion, students will critically analyze the network of diverse global actors shaping the conservation of biodiversity around the world.