27 October 1981

41st plenary meeting

Draft World Charter for Nature

The General Assembly, Having considered the report of the Secretary-General on the draft World Charter for Nature,

Recalling its resolution 35/7 of 30 October 1980, Aware of the crucial importance attached by the international community to the promotion and development of co-operation aimed at protecting and safeguarding the balance and quality of nature,

Also aware that life on earth is part of nature and depends on the uninterrupted functioning of natural systems, Noting resolution CM/Res.852 (XXXVII) adopted by the Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity at its thirty-seventh ordinary session, held at Nairobi from 15 to 26 June 1981,

1. Takes note of the report of the Secretary-General, which contains a revised version of the draft World Charter for Nature prepared on the basis of views and observations communicated by Member States in accordance with General Assembly resolution 35/7;

2. Invites Member States which have not yet done so to communicate their views and observations to the Secretary-General;

3. Requests the Secretary-General, in co-operation with the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, to complete if necessary, on the basis of observations received from Member States, the revision of the draft World Charter for Nature and to submit a supplementary report to the General Assembly at its thirty-seventh session;

4. Invites the Secretary-General to transmit to Member States the text of the report of the Ad Hoc Group of Experts on the Draft World Charter for Nature, containing the revised version of the draft Charter, as well as any further observations by States, with a view to appropriate consideration at the thirty-seventh session of the General Assembly;

5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its thirty-seventh session an item entitled "Consideration and adoption of the revised draft World Charter for Nature: report of the Secretary-General".