Side Event
Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol: Some early experiences from India
Organizer
United Nations Development Programme
Date and Time
26 February 2014 13:15 - 14:45
The proposed side-event aims at presenting early efforts undertaken in India with regard to the Nagoya Protocol, using a case study of a GEF-UNDP-Government of India project on ‘Mainstreaming Conservation and Sustainable Use of Medicinal Plant Diversity in Three Indian States’. At a time, when member countries are exploring sources to mobilise resources to meet the global Aichi Biodiversity Targets, this project shows the way on how existing resources (both national and donor) with modification and convergence could address the implementation of Nagoya Protocol. The project has generated number of experiences – policy and practices related to conservation of biological resources with a special focus on medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge. Two of the project states (Arunachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh) are pre-dominantly inhabited by tribal and ethnic communities who are largely dependent on these resources for their livelihoods and health security. In view of this dependence, the project states have developed Bio-cultural Community Protocols to operationalize the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol and the Biological Diversity Act of India 2002 relating to the implementation of the ABS mechanism at the community-level. The activities undertaken in the project support various articles of the Nagoya Protocol such as Arts 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22, etc. The case study presented will also highlight the role of multiple stakeholders in the implementation of the provisions of the protocol and in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of medicinal plants through convergent efforts. Challenges and opportunities from these early experiences will be discussed by representatives of the federal government, state agency, community and folk healers.