NEW YORK: Nepal has ratified the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty proposed by the United Nations.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud, who is in New York to attend the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, signed the agreement on behalf of Nepal.

The BBNJ Treaty sets up a procedure to establish large-scale marine protected areas in the high seas.

This facilitates the achievement of the target to effectively conserve and manage 30 percent of land and sea by 2030, which was agreed in December 2022 within the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The agreement is intended to ensure conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction.

The Treaty is reportedly key to protect the ocean, promote equity and fairness, tackle environmental degradation, fight climate change, and prevent biodiversity loss in the high seas.

The deadline for signing this treaty is September 20, 2025, starting from September 20, 2023.

The Treaty is legally binding and will come into force after 60 state parties ratify it.