The 12th meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity opened at a resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on Monday for 19 days of discussion sessions on sustainable development, under the auspices of the U.N. Conference on Environment and Development.

The South Korean Secretariat of the U.N. Biodiversity Conference 2014 estimates that about 20,000 participants will join the biennial meeting, slated to run until Oct. 17, in the eco-friendly district.

The global community shares the view that biodiversity encompasses more than plants, animals, microorganisms and their ecosystems.

Biodiversity is essential for human life, food safety, medicine, the atmosphere, water quality and the environments we live in, said local secretariat official Kim Hyo-jeong.

Kim said the 12th meeting is scheduled to undertake a midterm review of the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.

She also said it would develop a road map ― dubbed the Pyeongchang Road Map ― for the enhanced implementation of the Strategic Plan.

The Pyeongchang Road Map is expected to include enhanced mechanisms for technical and scientific cooperation, capacity-building, financial resources and the integration of biodiversity into development plans and other national processes.

The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed by more than 150 nations at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 to propel sustainable development.

By Kim Yon-se (kys@heraldcorp.com)