The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization was adopted at the tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity on 29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan. This Protocol aims at further implementing one of the three objectives of the Convention: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources (ABS), thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. It provides a comprehensive legal framework laying down, among others, provisions in relation to access to genetic resources, transfer of relevant technologies, funding, and traditional knowledge associated with generic resources.
The first meeting of the Open-ended Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol on ABS (ICNP1) took place from 6 to 10 June 2011, in Montreal, Canada. The Committee (ICNP) was set up by Parties to the Convention in order to lay the groundwork for the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol. It addressed issues related to capacity-building and development measures in developing countries, the modalities of operation of the ABS clearinghouse, cooperative compliance procedures, and awareness-raising actions on the importance of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge.
The meeting brought together over 300 participants from governments, local communities, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, the private sector and scientific communities. ICNP adopted four recommendations on: capacity-building, awareness-raising, the ABS clearinghouse (phased development, incorporation, submission and management of information, and funding and resource management), and cooperative procedures and institutional mechanisms on compliance (elements and options for procedures and mechanisms).
Given the importance of the issue of the access to genetic resources and their fair benefit-sharing, all delegates, in their concluding remarks, stressed the need for charting the way forward towards the swift entry into force and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol, taking into account the flexible implementation options existed at the national level. A number of delegates expressed their hope that the Protocol will enter into force no later than 10 July 2012 so that the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties, serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol, can be convened back-to-back with the biodiversity summit to be held in Hyderabad, India, in October 2012.
The 2nd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol ABS (ICNP2) is to be held from 23-27 April 2012 in Delhi, India (tentative). ICNP 2 is mandated to address issues related to guidance for the financial mechanism, the budget for the biennium following the entry into force of the Protocol, guidance for resource mobilisation, rule of procedures for COP/MOP1 and items taken up at ICNP1.
Source: IISD Reporting Services, Convention on Biological Diversity Home Page
For further information:
http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/icnp1/
http://www.cbd.int/
About the author
MEPIELAN Centre
MEPIELAN Centre is an international research, training and educational centre established by Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos at the Panteion University of Athens in 2008.
Before its establishment as a University Centre, MEPIELAN operated as a successful international research, training and informational programme (2002-2007) under the scientific direction of Professor Evangelos Raftopoulos and the aegis of the Panteion University of Athens, supported by the Mediterranean Action Plan/UNEP and the Greek Ministry of the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
MEPIELAN Centre is an accredited UNEP/MAP PARTNER (since 2013), a Member of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) (since 2016), and a Member of the Steering Committee of the MCSD (since 2019).
On 22 May 2022, MEPIELAN Centre proceeded to the development of MEPIELAN as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) for the more effective and efficient advancement of its Goals and Missions and furtherance of its activities. MEPIELAN Centre as a Non- Profit Civil Organization (INGO) is registered in Greek Law (Hellenic Business Registry, Reg. No. 16477300100) in accordance with Laws 4072/2012 & 4919/2022 as applicable
