In decision VI/26, the Conference of the Parties (COP) adopted the Strategic Plan for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In the Plan's mission statement, Parties committed themselves to a more effective and coherent implementation of the three objectives of the Convention, to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.

The 2010 Biodiversity Target was subsequently endorsed by the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the United Nations General Assembly at the 2005 World Summit. The Summit also highlighted the essential role of biodiversity in meeting the Millennium Development Goals, especially the targets to halve the incidence of poverty and hunger by 2015. It recognized that the Convention is the key international instrument on biodiversity.

The 2010 Biodiversity Target is one of four new targets being incorporated into the Millennium Development Goals, as proposed by the UN Secretary-General in his report to the 61st General Assembly.

In decision VII/30, the COP adopted a framework to facilitate the assessment of progress towards achieving the 2010 Biodiversity Target and communication of this assessment, to promote coherence among the programmes of work of the Convention and to provide a flexible framework within which national and regional targets may be set, and indicators identified. The framework was further refined through decision VIII/15.

The framework includes seven focal areas. The COP identified indicators for assessing progress towards and communicating the 2010 Biodiversity Target at the global level, and goals and sub-targets for each of the focal areas, as well as a general approach for the integration of goals and sub-targets into the programmes of work of the Convention.

Parties are invited to establish their own targets and identify indicators within this flexible framework.