Evolution of States' obligations in protecting biodiversity in international open waters

Subject Areas : International Legal Research

Pegah Nik Far Lialestani ¹ , Hasan Savari ² , Mohammed Hussain ramezani ³ , Ali Mashhadhi ⁴

1 - PhD student in Public International Law, Department of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Email: [e-mail]
2 - Assistant Professor, Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Author. Email: [e-mail]
3 - Associate Professor, Department of Human Rights, Environment and International Law, Faculty of Law, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Email: [e-mail]
4 - Associate Professor, Public and International Law Department, Faculty of Law, Qom University, Qom, Iran. Email: [e-mail]

Received: 2021-04-18 Accepted : 2022-04-23 Published : 2022-05-22

Keywords: pollution, Biodiversity, environment, Evolution of international obligations of governments, high seas,

Abstract :

Field and Aims: Biodiversity is one of the main elements of environmental care and the source of human life on the planet and includes plants and animals that live and interact in water, land and air. As technological advances provide more opportunities to exploit the natural resources of the oceans, so do threats to biodiversity. Due to the importance of marine biodiversity in areas outside the national jurisdiction and the increasing use of its resources, the international community's concern for the protection of biodiversity in these areas has increased. Gaps in the legal system of maritime areas outside national jurisdiction double the need for effective action to protect the marine environment in these areas.Method: This research has been conducted in terms of practical purpose and in terms of gathering information by documentary method and through the study of valid laws and sources, and the obtained information has been analyzed in a descriptive-analytical manner.Findings and Conclusions: In order to protect this marine environment, there is a need for the adoption of rules and regulations at the international level, which should be respected by the subjects of international law, because despite the multilateral agreements, conventions and agreements, there is still a binding mechanism. Regarding the protection of the environment, there are no high seas, therefore, given the current commitments of governments in the field of biodiversity protection in the high seas, the need for the adoption of a binding document is felt more than ever.

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