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| Main Information |
| Title |
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Benefits-Sharing Draft Environmental Impact Statement |
| Type of Information |
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Other |
| Description |
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The US National Park Service (NPS) has evaluated the environmental impacts of three alternatives concerning potential implementation of benefits-sharing agreements with scientists who conduct research in National Park System units. The Benefits-Sharing Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) concerns a Servicewide proposal to clarify the rights and responsibilities of researchers and NPS regarding the use of valuable discoveries, inventions, and other developments that result from research involving specimens lawfully collected from units of the National Park System. The DEIS examines whether the NPS should share in potential scientific and economic benefits when researchers studying park resources invent something commercially valuable based on their research.
The Preferred Alternative requires researchers who study park scientific specimens to enter into benefits-sharing agreements with NPS before using their research results for any commercial purpose. Benefits-sharing agreements could return scientific benefits, in-kind services and sometimes royalties and other monetary benefits to parks for conservation-related purposes. Another alternative prohibits scientific research involving NPS specimens if associated with the development of commercial products. The No-Action alternative would allow research that may lead to commercial products to continue in parks but without any obligation to share any resulting benefits with the NPS.
The final decision document is due to be finalized in the course of 2007. |
| Web Link |
|
/impact/case-studies/cs-impact-odeis-benefits-sharing-en.pdf |
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| Additional Information |
| Authors |
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US National Park Service, Benefits-Sharing DEIS Team |
| Programme Areas |
|
Impact Assessment
Ecosystem Approach
Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing |
| Countries |
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United States of America |
| |
| |
