WG ABS 8

  • Day 1
  • Day 2
  • Day 3
  • Day 4
  • Day 5
  • Day 6

Monday, 9 November 2009

INTERNATIONAL VILM WORKSHOP ON MATTERS RELATED TO TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE ASSOCIATED WITH GENETIC RESOURCES AND THE INTERNATIONAL ABS-REGIME - RESULTS AND SPECIFIC IDEAS
GERMAN FEDERAL MINISTRY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, GERMAN FEDERAL AGENCY FOR NATURE CONSERVATION, INSTITUTE FOR BIODIVERSITY NETWORK (IBN)

The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety has organized an International Vilm Workshop on matters related to Traditional Knowledge associated with Genetic Resources and the International ABS-Regime. The goal of the expert meeting was to exchange information and discuss practical implications in order to support the rights of indigenous and local communities in the negotiations of the International ABS Regime. The side-event presented results and specific ideas like biocultural protocols and ABS 'commons' licensing models.

Presentation(s):

BALANCING BUILDING BLOCKS OF A FUNCTIONAL ABS SYSTEM: KEY LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING THE CREATION OF THE ABS REGIME
THE FRIDTJOF NANSEN INSTITUTE, NORWAY

This side event presented a legal analysis of the functional challenges that must be addressed by the Parties in creating and implementing the ABS regime. The analysis has been written by Tomme Young and Morten Walløe Tvedt as part of a research project on ABS that is currently carried out by the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Norway, in collaboration with the ABS Capacity Development Initiative for Africa. The analysis is included as one of the documents of this meeting (UNEP/CBD/WG-ABS/8/INF/2). Chair: Peter Johan Schei. Presenters: Regine Andersen, Tomme Young.

Presentation(s):

UN DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
QUEBEC NATIVE WOMEN/FEMMES AUTOCHTONES DU QUÉBEC INDIGENOUS WORLD ASSOCIATION CANADIAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE

Indigenous representatives discussed the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the relationship to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The discussion also examined Canada's current position on the Declaration.

Presentations(s):

INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF BIODIVERSITY
SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. It is a celebration of life on earth and of the value of biodiversity for our lives. The world is invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.

  • Presentation(s):
  • PRESENTATION OF A COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH AGREEMENT DEALING WITH SCIENTIFIC EVALUATION OF TRADITIONAL MEDICINE FOR DIABETES; PROTECTION OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
    UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL

    The Canadian Institutes of Health Research Team in Aboriginal Antidiabetic Medicines (CIHR-TAAM) is a multidisciplinary group of university researchers indigenous community members and the health board of the Canadian James Bay Cree Territory devoted to evaluating the effectiveness of Indigenous Traditional Medicine (TM) to fight against diabetes. In order to do so, a comprehensive research agreement was devised to oversee the access to and protection to TM and related joint intellectual property and the sharing of benefits resulting from the research. The event discussed the major tools and mechanisms used to ensure a mutually trusting, respectful and beneficial relationship.

    Tuesday, 10 November 2009

    THE INTERNATIONAL REGIME - ADDRESSING TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CUSTOMARY RIGHTS
    INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT

    IIED presented key findings of research on customary laws and practices for TK protection and ABS conducted with indigenous and local communities in Peru, Panama, India, China and Kenya; and recommendations for the International Regime. ANDES (Peru) presented more detailed findings of their work, focusing on “Biocultural Protocols and Benefit Sharing in the Potato Park”; and the Centre for Chinese Agricultural Policy (China) presented their work on "Equitable Benefit-Sharing from Participatory Plant Breeding in SW China". Film clips were also shown.

    Presentation(s):

    SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY, METAGENOMICS AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF DIGITAL BIOPIRACY
    ACTION GROUP ON EROSION TECHNOLOGY AND CONCENTRATION

    Synthetic Biology is the rational design and construction of new lifeforms from synthetic DNA using engineering principles. It is rapidly becoming a key tool for the energy, chemical and pharmaceutical industry to synthesize chemicals, biofuels, plastics and medicinal compounds. Unlike recombinant DNA which requires access to physical samples of DNA, Synthetic biologists acquire their genetic materials from digital libraries without material transfer agreements. Meanwhile the new field of metagenomics which samples the genomes of entire ecosystems is providing access to gene sequences without reference to specific organisms. Together the two fields enable efficient digital biopiracy undermining biodiversity-based livelihoods and circumventing ABS arrangements.

    LINKING SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT AND ABS - CONFLICTS, POTENTIALS SYNERGIES AT NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVEL
    THE ABS CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR AFRICA; CENTER FOR INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT LAW (CISDL); UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP); SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY (SCBD)

    Presentation and discussion of the recommendations of the Panafrican Workshop on ABS and Forests (July 2009 at UNEP Nairobi) end the preliminary results of the CISDL study "Interface between forest management and Access and Benefit-Sharing".

    ABS-LEGISLATION IN NORWAY - THE NEW NATURE MANAGEMENT ACT
    NORWEGIAN MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND COASTAL AFFAIRS
    Presentation of the Norwegian Nature Management Act and the Marine Resources Act containing rules on access to genetic material and benefit-sharing.

    MANAGEMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES: AN INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S PERSPECTIVE
    NATIVE WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF CANADA

    Wednesday, 11 November 2009

    BIO-CULTURAL PROTOCOLS: PRESENTATIONS BY A VARIETY OF STAKEHOLDERS ON BIO-CULTURAL COMMUNITY PROTOCOLS, INCLUDING UNEP, UNESCO, GTZ AND NATURAL JUSTICE
    UNEP, NATURAL JUSTICE AND UNESCO

    Presentations by a variety of stakeholders on bio-cultural community protocols and an exposition of the TK commons.

    Presentation(s):

    ACCESS AND BENEFIT SHARING FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS
    INTERNATIONAL BIOCONTROL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

    Explanation of the use of genetic resources by the Biological Control Industry and the impact of the ABS IR.

    BENEFIT-SHARING UNDER THE REGIME OF THE INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
    INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE (ITPGRFA) OF FAO

    The event provided information on the current status of the Benefit-sharing Fund and the first projects approved.

    Thursday, 12 November 2009

    FINAL OUTPUTS OF THE ABS PROJECT -- DETAILED STUDIES OF ABS CONTRACTS AND A PROJECT OVERVIEW
    IUCN ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTRE

    This event launched the final two books in the series of books published by the IUCN under The ABS Project, and introduced IUCN's new work on this issue. It featured presentations by Thomas Greiber, IUCN; Tomme Young, IRIS; and many other persons.

    Presentation(s):

    THE ROLE OF CUSTOMARY LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS IN ABS AND TK GOVERNANCE
    IRISH CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (ICHR), UNU-IAS, SPDA AND NATURAL JUSTICE

    The event presented the findings of a study by UNU-IAS on the role of customary law in ABS and TK Governance in Andean and Pacific Island countries and of a recent publication by the Initiative for Biopiracy on complementarity and conflict between customary resource and knowledge management and national sui generis TK legislation in Peru. Both studies examine the interrelationship between between TK protection, recognition of customary law and realization of indigenous peoples human rights and provide insights into the practical, legal and cultural challenges facing indigenous peoples and regulators in defining and securing the role of customary law in national and international TK law and policy. Presentations were followed by a panel discussion and open debate.

    Friday, 13 November 2009

    LAUNCH OF UNU-IAS AND UNEP PUBLICATION ON 'LEARNING FROM THE PRACTIONERS: BENEFIT SHARING PRINCIPLES FROM ENTERPRISING COMMUNITIES' IN COLLABORATION WITH THE EQUATOR INITIATIVE
    UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY-INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED STUDIES

    The event launched and presented perspectives from 14 community partners of the Equator Initiative, who are engaged in biodiversity based enterprises. The research views such community enterprises as localized bio-prospecting activities, and analysed principles followed by the communities to share benefits resulting from the enterprises. It further analyzes the implications of the local principles and practices to their well-being, and attempts to extract lessons from this in an ABS context.

    Presentation(s):

    CONSIDERING GENETIC RESOURCES FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE IN THE NEGOTIATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL REGIME
    BIOVERSITY INTERNATIONAL, SYSTEM-WIDE GENETIC RESOURCES PROGRAMME OF THE CGIAR

    Speakers addressed how the International Regime can support the use of genetic resources for food and agriculture to achieve food security. Speakers: Dr. Jose Maria Sampaio, Policy Advisor, Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (Embrapa) - Ministry of Agriculture - Countries' dependence on 'exotic' genetic resources for food and agriculture: the case of Brazil Dr. Chee Yoke Ling, Third World Network, - Food security and access and benefit sharing for food and agriculture Dr. Michael Halewood, Bioversity International, Italy - Policy implications of increased interdependence on genetic resources for food and agriculture as a result of climate change Dr. Javad Mozafari Hashjin, Chair, UNFAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture; Head, National Plant Gene Bank of Iran - Resolution 1/2009 of the 12th Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, October 19-23, 2009, concerning 'Policies and arrangements for access and benefit sharing for genetic resources for food and agriculture' - Technical studies concerning access and benefit sharing prepared for the 12th Session of the Commission.

    Saturday, 14 November 2009

    TOWARDS AN ABS COMMONS SYSTEM
    INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION

    IDLO, Natural Justice, SPDA, Association Andes and CESAGEN: presentation on the initiatives currently underway in Latin America, Africa and India on the issue of Commons. Topics covered: The work of CESAGEN and SPDA on ABS Commons; Association Andes on open source seed systems; and Natural Justice on a system of Traditional Knowledge Commons.

    Presentation(s):