The Nagoya accord on biodiversity
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
After nearly two weeks of tense talks on how best to protect the world's threatened ecosystems, delegates from the 193 rich and poor countries, attending the UN Biodiversity summit in the Japanese city of Nagoya, finally reached a 'historic global treaty' last Saturday, pledging to take 'effective and urgent action' to prevent the destruction of nature and halt further loss of the world's genetic wealth. Most were upbeat about the 20-point accord, saying it offered hope that the UN could be forthcoming about helping solve the planet's multiple environmental problems. But the US, being one of the few countries not to have ratified the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) -- initiated at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992 -- was not a signatory, as expected. This is likely to 'limit' the pact in many ways.
One of the most significant achievements was the agreement on sharing the knowledge and benefits of genetic resources found in the Amazon basin for example, and other treasure troves across the globe in developing countries' territories. Brazil, along with other naturally endowed countries, have been arguing over the past 18 years that powerful nations and companies should not be given a blank cheque for exploiting their genetic riches, such as wild plants for making medicines, cosmetics and other products for sky-high profits that they alone enjoy, unfairly. The European Union managed to break the stand-off, persuading the rich countries to finally agree to an Access and Benefits Sharing Protocol (ABSP). This has been made legally binding to ensure that countries with the genetic resources in their territories also benefit from at least a modest share of the huge profits generated by the commercial development of those natural assets. So far so good, but the details of the protocol have not yet been worked out. How much this ABSP would cost the conglomerates and countries, so used to the free exploitation of other people's resources, has been left for 'later negotiations', according to reports. It is hoped the merit of this protocol is not lost in unnecessary dilatory tactics -- which cynics point out may just be a ploy to prolong the practice of shameless bio-piracy as long as possible.
Other points worth mentioning are the conservation targets of keeping 17 per cent of the world's land and 10 per cent of the oceans reserved so that the genetic riches therein can thrive freely. Some green groups that have been lobbying for the initial conservation of 20 per cent of the oceans, eventually reaching 40 per cent, were somewhat disappointed, but many lauded the accord as a positive step which would lead to greater awareness about the need for united global action to tackle biodiversity problems and protect the health of the planet. The list of endangered and disappearing flora and fauna keeps growing in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Nearly a quarter of mammals, one third of amphibians and more than a fifth of plant species worldwide are now said to be facing the threat of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In planet earth's inextricably interconnected ecosystem --- man's one and only habitat --- the implications of such rapid loss are very serious indeed and calls for sustained action to educate the ignorant --- at home and abroad --- and build a strong global consensus to get on with the accord.
One of the most significant achievements was the agreement on sharing the knowledge and benefits of genetic resources found in the Amazon basin for example, and other treasure troves across the globe in developing countries' territories. Brazil, along with other naturally endowed countries, have been arguing over the past 18 years that powerful nations and companies should not be given a blank cheque for exploiting their genetic riches, such as wild plants for making medicines, cosmetics and other products for sky-high profits that they alone enjoy, unfairly. The European Union managed to break the stand-off, persuading the rich countries to finally agree to an Access and Benefits Sharing Protocol (ABSP). This has been made legally binding to ensure that countries with the genetic resources in their territories also benefit from at least a modest share of the huge profits generated by the commercial development of those natural assets. So far so good, but the details of the protocol have not yet been worked out. How much this ABSP would cost the conglomerates and countries, so used to the free exploitation of other people's resources, has been left for 'later negotiations', according to reports. It is hoped the merit of this protocol is not lost in unnecessary dilatory tactics -- which cynics point out may just be a ploy to prolong the practice of shameless bio-piracy as long as possible.
Other points worth mentioning are the conservation targets of keeping 17 per cent of the world's land and 10 per cent of the oceans reserved so that the genetic riches therein can thrive freely. Some green groups that have been lobbying for the initial conservation of 20 per cent of the oceans, eventually reaching 40 per cent, were somewhat disappointed, but many lauded the accord as a positive step which would lead to greater awareness about the need for united global action to tackle biodiversity problems and protect the health of the planet. The list of endangered and disappearing flora and fauna keeps growing in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Nearly a quarter of mammals, one third of amphibians and more than a fifth of plant species worldwide are now said to be facing the threat of extinction, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In planet earth's inextricably interconnected ecosystem --- man's one and only habitat --- the implications of such rapid loss are very serious indeed and calls for sustained action to educate the ignorant --- at home and abroad --- and build a strong global consensus to get on with the accord.