The Biodiversity Programme and Implementation Strategy (BPIS) is a flagship activity of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). It is the first major result of the efforts to refocus UNEP's activities and to concentrate its energies in leveraging global, regional and national action to conserve the environment and promote the sustainable use of natural resources. The BPIS is a multidisciplinary, multi-sectoral approach to the integrated management and sustainable utilization of biodiversity in oceans and coastal areas, freshwater ecosystems and terrestrial ecosystems. The BPIS takes into account the strong linkages between Agenda 21 and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). The provisions of the latter are reinforced by Chapter 15 and 16 of Agenda 21 which stress the value of biological resources as a capital asset with great potential for yielding sustainable benefits at the country level and the importance of biotechnology in development. Chapter 15 of Agenda 21 emphasizes the need to build capacities for the assessment, evaluation and monitoring of biodiversity at the national level, while ensuring the full participation of, and support to, local communities. It also calls for support for the preparation of country studies, with particular reference to costs, benefits and socio-economic issues relevant to effective biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of biological resources. This call complements the provisions of the CBD which relate to the preparation of biodiversity strategies and actions plans are prerequisites for policy formulation.