Convention on Biological Diversity

About: Convention on Biological Diversity is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2232 publications have been published within this topic receiving 65599 citations. The topic is also known as: CBD & United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

Providing Protection for Plant Genetic Resources: Patents, sui generis Systems and Biopartnerships

Abstract: The purpose of this book is to show that the access to plant genetic resources and the compliance to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity can only be realized, in this biotechnological era, through the balance of rights and duties of States and stakeholders. Specifically, this book suggests that the global partnership, as professed in the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in 1992, has so far not been reached. It examines the possibility of achieving the global partnership though clear, fair, ethical and equitable biopartnerships in, between, and among States. For this purpose, the author analyzes international instruments and national laws dealing with patents, plant breeders' rights, farmers' rights and sui generis protection and shows how they affect developing countries rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge, such as Brazil. She raises awareness of problems derived from the patenting of genetic resources, plants and traditional knowledge and presents sui generis alternatives proposed by different sectors of society in several countries. This book critically examines five biopartnerships of countries in four different continents. The author proposes measures to protect traditional knowledge and innovations and suggests which indigenous peoples, traditional farmers and developing countries may achieve an equitable share of benefits for their contribution in the development of new medicines and foods.

Conservation of Medicinal Plants : Conventional and Contemporary Strategies, Regulations and Executions

Abstract: The philosophy of use and conservation of medicinal plants has evolved with the social and cultural groupings of human beings. At present, there are many international and national treaties and laws pertaining to the conservation and management of medicinal plants. Internationally, the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora are the two major treaties and India is one of the signatories of both the treaties. At the national level in India, there are many Acts and regulations, Indian Forest Act 1927, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980 and Biological Diversity Act 2002, for instance. These Acts enable to conserve and regulate the over-exploitation of valuable biodiversity including the rare and endangered species of medicinal values. Besides, the creation of the National Medicinal Plants Board has accelerated and given impetus to sustainable utilization of medicinal plants across the country. The present article discusses the major strategies and policies related to the conservation and management of the medicinal plants.

Intellectual property and biotechnology: trade interests of developing countries

Abstract: Biotechnology has the potential to provide the answers to some of the developing world's most intractable problems. There is scope for developing countries to interpret the provisions of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on biotechnology at different levels, as evidenced by differing interpretations in the developed world. Equally, however, demands of developing countries on biodiversity-related issues can be countered through the ambiguities in the Convention on Biological Diversity. Instead of attempting to amend TRIPS, developing countries should aim to obtain access to the new technologies, at reasonable terms, by collaboration and not confrontation with their owners, with the help of multilateral developmental institutions.

The species Plantarum Project, an international collaborative initiative for higher plant taxonomy

Abstract: Basic understanding of the higher plant resources of the world for the successful management of biodiversity requires international collaboration and the setting up of a global taxonomic database. Botanists at all levels should be involved in the taxonomic work, and biologists and conservationists need to be actively aware of the need for such work on a global basis. The database must include census, descriptive, and identification aspects. At present, existing available information is haphazardly distributed on library shelves and inadequately organised. Published data on threatened species have been shown to be hopelessly inaccurate. National and regional Floras may often portray a false perspective of the plants they include. The world's botanists have to organise themselves to pool their information, and substantial international funding is needed to support this. The Species Plantarum Project, set up in 1995 under the International Organisation for Plant Information affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS), aims to overcome "the taxonomic impediment", and is currently seeking appropriate funding. It responds to the priorities highlighted in the work programme being developed under the Global Taxonomy Initiative of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The project has an international Steering Committee representing all regions of the world, and aims to develop a further network of collaborators. Publication of data will be in both hard copy and electronic form. Instructions to contributors and accounts of five relatively small families have already been published in hard copy, and accounts of two further families totalling nearly 1000 species are in press. Future plans emphasise the need for capacity building in floristic work throughout the world. The project now invites the collaboration of taxonomists throughout the community, but the future of the project is dependent on funding being made available.