As the principal environmental body in the United Nations system, UNEP has a lead role in promoting the actions adopted in Chapter 15 of Agenda 21 on the Conservation of Biological Diversity, as well as those adopted in other relevant chapters. UNEP has initiated negotiations for many international environmental conventions.

Together with the Council of Europe, UNEP's Regional Office for Europe acts as the Secretariat of the Pan-European Biological and Landscape Diversity Strategy (PEBLDS), approved in 1995, which, inter alia, forms the framework for implementing biodiversity-related conventions, in particular, the CBD, in Europe. ROE initiated and manages a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the CBD Secretariat and the PEBLDS Secretariat, containing a programme aimed at harmonizing the work under the CBD and PEBLDS and making it mutually supportive. PEBLDS presents an innovative and proactive approach to stop and reverse the degradation of biological and landscape diversity values in Europe. The principal aim of the Strategy is to ensure the sustainability of the natural environment with special emphasis on concerted European action under the CBD. National authorities, donors, international organizations, NGOs, the research community and the general public implement the Strategy.

Furthermore, UNEP together with its partners, the IUCN, the European Centre for Nature Conservation (ECNC)and the Regional Environmental Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), launched a "Service for Implementing National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans." The Service aims to stimulate the integration of efforts in implementation of national, regional and global instruments for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA). This is accomplished through provision, on request, of expert and advisory services, policy recommendations and guidelines, best available information, as well as experience exchange and training.