Some expressed disappointment that the pact, forged after two weeks of intense diplomacy at a summit in the central Japanese city of Nagoya, was not more ambitious.

But the general sentiments were that the accord, which committed countries to achieving 20 key targets over the next decade on curbing the destruction of nature, was a major success.

"This agreement reaffirms the fundamental need to conserve nature as the very foundation of our economy and our society," WWF International director general Jim Leape said.

"Governments have sent a strong message that protecting the health of the planet has a place in international politics and countries are ready to join forces to save life on Earth."

Conservation International president Russ Mittermeier was even more upbeat after the talks, which had threatened to collapse at various points amid disputes between rich and poor nations, ended early on Saturday morning.

"This conference must be viewed as a success and a major global achievement," Mittermeier said.

"We were able to solve the key issues that were blocking the negotiations and ended up with a strategic plan with 20 targets to protect biodiversity over the next decade.

"Countries were able to come together as a global community and look beyond their national agendas to focus on the future of life on Earth and its essential role in human development and poverty alleviation."

Wetlands International also applauded the deal.

"This is definitely a very important step towards concrete actions to address the loss of natural areas, their biodiversity and their values for mankind," it said, while cautioning that the hard work had only just begun.

"A lot needs to be done to turn these targets into actions and to make the governments of this world accountable."

Greenpeace International stood out among the major environment groups in being critical, particularly over the accord's target of protecting 17 percent of land and 10 percent of oceans.

Greenpeace had been pushing for 20 percent of oceans to be conserved, as a step towards an eventual target of 40-percent preservation.

"Alarm bells have been ringing for decades, and developed nations have been hitting the snooze button by delaying both action on and funding for environmental protection," Greenpeace said in a statement.

"However, failure by governments to reach the biodiversity protection targets they set themselves eight years ago is shameful."

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