Brand Guidelines

The primary colour of the CBD is the characteristic green of the CBD logo. It is immediately recognizable and should be prominent in all CBD communications.

Furthermore, in order to allow more flexibility in expressing the Protocols and the various Programmes of Work and initiatives, the primary palette is extended with blue (Nagoya Protocol) and brown (Cartagena Protocol). Together, these three colours represent nature and Earth.

CBD GREEN

CMYK: 96, 0, 88, 1

RGB: 0, 155, 72

Hex: 009B48

Pantone: 347 C or 347 U

CBD BLUE

CMYK: 92, 0, 0, 28

RGB: 0, 134, 183

Hex: 0086B7

Pantone: 17-4433 TPX

CBD BROWN

CMYK: 30, 60, 100, 10

RGB: 160, 88, 0

Hex: A05800

Pantone: 160 C

In order to allow more contrast, the primary colours may be complemented with a darker shade. The darkening coefficient is the same as the one in the logo of the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.

CBD DARK GREEN

CMYK: 100, 0, 60, 72

RGB: 0, 72, 58

Hex: 00483A

Pantone: 3308 C

CBD DARK BLUE

CMYK: 100, 30, 0, 64

RGB: 0, 64, 92

Hex: 004059

Pantone: 19-4034 TCX

CBD DARK BROWN

CMYK: 0, 45, 100, 69

RGB: 78, 43, 0

Hex: 4E2B00

Pantone: 4625 UP

Secondary palette

The secondary palette may be used when publications and graphics require additional colours.

Yellow and red are nature’s way of attracting attention, and should be used for highlights.

Orange and violet are the same shade as the primary colours when converted to grey, and can be used when a wider range of colours is needed, for example, when presenting data, graphs. As much as possible, only one secondary colour should be used at a time with the primary colours.

CMYK: 0, 100, 80, 40

RGB: 152, 0, 31

Hex: 98001F

CMYK: 0, 14, 100, 10

RGB: 232, 200, 0

Hex: E8C800

CMYK: 0, 73, 100, 15

RGB: 218, 59, 1

Hex: DA3B01

CMYK: 48, 55, 0, 27

RGB: 96, 84, 186

Hex: 6054BA

CBD Logos

From available anecdotal evidence (institutional memory), the idea of a CBD logo was first raised by the late Angela Cropper, the first CBD Executive Secretary (1993-1995), when she was heading the interim CBD Secretariat in Geneva. A number of ideas for the logo had been floated and the current logo (the leaves without the words "Convention on Biological Diversity") was proposed by one of the experts. It was then agreed to be used on temporary basis, but it lasted for good (and it was never considered by the Conference of the Parties).

The CBD logo is the one element that unifies and represents the organization. The three leaves symbolize not only the CBD’s name, but also its three objectives: the conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity); the sustainable use of its components; and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.