Sharing the Benefits of Biodiversity: A New International Protocol and its Implications for Research and Development

Abstract

Equitable sharing of the benefits of biodiversity is one of the main objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Yet understanding of the CBD rules and principles on access and benefit sharing, as well as how they apply to biodiversity-based research and development remains limited. In October 2010, the CBD adopted additional rules on access and benefit sharing. These rules – known as the Nagoya Protocol – provide clarification on several important issues, including the applicability of access and benefit sharing to research on biochemical compounds and processes. As a result, the Nagoya Protocol constitutes an important opportunity for institutions, organizations, and companies committed to ethical practices regarding biodiversity.

Key words

biodiversity - Convention on Biological Diversity - access and benefit sharing - ethical sourcing practices - traditional knowledge - Ethical BioTrade

References

• 1 Secretary-general welcomes adoption of historic protocol to biological diversity convention on access, benefit sharing of genetic resources. Press release ENV/DEV/1166 11.1.2010
• 2 Bonn guidelines on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization. Montreal: Convention on Biological Diversity; 2006. Available at http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-bonn-gdls-en.pdf Accessed April 14, 2011
• 3 Boyd R. Snaring the wealth: can negotiators reach a uniform position on patenting the world's genetic resources?.  Scientific American. 2010;  Available at http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=snaring-the-wealth-can-negotiators Accessed April 14, 2011
• 4 Bragdon S, Garforth K, Haapala Jr. J E. Safeguarding biodiversity: the convention on biological diversity (CBD). In: Tansey G, Rajotte T, editors The future control of food. London: Earthscan; 2008: 82-114
• 5 Convention on biological diversity: Article 15. Available at http://www.cbd.int/convention/text/ Accessed April 14, 2011
• 6 Oliva M J. Access and benefit sharing: principles, rules and practices. Geneva: Union for Ethical BioTrade; 2009. Available at http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org/dl/ABS-Technical-Brief-English.pdf Accessed April 14, 2011
• 7 Young T R. Utilization of genetic resources: a legislative view. International Expert Workshop on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing, Cuernavaca, Mexico 2006
• 8 Taylor M, Wynberg R. Regulating access to South Africa's biodiversity and ensuring the fair sharing of benefits from its use.  South African Journal of Environmental Science and Policy. 2008;  15 217-243
• 9 Access and benefit sharing: basic information sheet. Geneva: Union for Ethical BioTrade; 2010. Available at http://www.ethicalbiotrade.org/dl/UEBT_ABS_Basic_Info.pdf Accessed April 14, 2011
• 10 Bonn guidelines on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization: Clause 31. Montreal; Convention on Biological Diversity 2006 Available at http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-bonn-gdls-en.pdf Accessed April 14, 2011
• 11 Convention on biological diversity: article 8. Available at http://www.cbd.int/convention/text/ Accessed April 14, 2011
• 12 Laird S, Wynberg R. Study on access and benefit-sharing arrangements. Report prepared for the convention on biological diversity. Montreal; Convention on Biological Diversity 2008: 23
• 13 Summary of the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity: 18–29 October 2010.  Earth Negotiations Bulletin. 2010;  9 544 Available at http://www.iisd.ca/vol09/enb09544e.html Accessed April 14, 2011
• 14 Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing opened for signature. International union for the conservation of nature (IUCN) news story. 2.11.2011 Available at http://www.iucn.org/iyb/resources/news/?6950/Nagoya-Protocol-on-Access-and-Benefit-Sharing-opened-for-signature Accessed May 19, 2011
• 15 Report. Meeting of the group of legal and technical experts on concepts, terms, working definitions and sectoral approaches. Windhoek, Namibia; 2008. Available at http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/abs/absgtle-01/official/absgtle-01-abswg-07-02-en.doc Accessed April 18, 2011
• 16 Wynberg R, Laird S. Bioprospecting, access and benefit sharing: revisiting the ‘Grand Bargain’. In: Wynberg R, Schroeder D, Chennells R, editors Indigenous peoples, consent and benefit sharing. London: Springer; 2009: 74
• 17 Chiarolla C. Making sense of the draft protocol on access and benefit sharing for COP 10. Paris: IDDRI; 2010. Available at http://www.iddri.org/Publications/Collections/Idees-pour-le-debat/Making-Sense-of-the-Draft-Protocol-on-Access-and-Benefit-Sharing-for-COP-10 Accessed April 14, 2011
• 18 Martinez S I, Biber-Klemm S. Good reasons why the ABS protocol should include simple access procedures for non-commercial public good research on biodiversity. MEA Bulletin; 2010 Available at http://www.iisd.ca/mea-l/guestarticle99a.html Accessed April 14, 2011
• 19 Options for Developing Measures in User Countries to Implement the Access and Benefit-Sharing Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Tokyo: UNU/IAS; 2003. Available at http://www.cbd.int/convention/text/ Accessed April 14, 2011
• 20 Cunningham D, Tobin B, Watanabe K. Tracking genetic resources and international access and benefit sharing governance: The role of certificates of origin. Smithsonian/UNU-IAS Roundtable on certificates of origin Washington, D.C.; 2004
• 21 Alexander M. A rights-poor protocol for biodiversity access & benefit-sharing. IP-Watch Inside Views. 10.8.2010 Available at http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/2010/10/08/inside-views-a-rights-poor-protocol-for-biodiversity-access-benefit-sharing/ Accessed April 14, 2011
• 22 Ryser R. Access and benefit: genes. Fourth World Eye. 3.11.2010 Available at http://cwis.org/publications/FWE/2010/11/03/council-of-the-creeconvention-on-biodiversitynyoya-protocolindigenous-peoples/ Accessed April 14, 2011
• 23 The Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilization (ABS) to the convention on biological diversity: article 6. Available at http://www.cbd.int/abs/text/ Accessed April 14, 2011
• 24 The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB), a major international initiative to draw attention to the global economic benefits of biodiversity, to highlight the growing costs of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, and to draw together expertise from the fields of science, economics and policy to enable practical actions moving forward. The various TEEB reports are available at http://www.teebweb.org/Home/tabid/924/Default.aspx Accessed April 18, 2011
• 25 UEBT Biodiversity Barometer 2010. Geneva: Union for Ethical BioTrade; 2010
• 26 Kamiya S, Johnston E. COP10 signs off on protocol: pact reached on biodiversity, genetic resources. Japan Times; 10.31.2010 Available at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20101031a1.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+japantimes+%2528The+Japan+Times%253A+All+Stories%2529 Accessed April 14, 2011