by Jaime Cavelier, Natural Resources
 
Access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their utilization (or ABS for short) is one of the three objectives of the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD). The international recognition of the importance of this issue was reiterated with the establishment of the Ad-Hoc Open-ended Working Group on ABS at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) in May 2000 in Nairobi. Since then, reports on the activities of this Group have been presented at subsequent COPs: The Hague (2002), Kuala Lumpur (2004), Curitiba (2006), and Bonn (2008).  
 
While the tool box for the implementation of ABS national schemes and the International Regime is completed, governments and agencies have submitted a number of global, regional- (i.e. Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean), and national projects (India and Czech Republic) to the GEF for financial support,. The analysis of these projects shows that proponents have sought support to: i) develop policy, regulations, and operational mechanisms (i.e. tools, methods, and guidelines), ii) increase awareness and public participation on ABS, and; iii) develop individual and institutional capacity to ABS.. In addition, the identification and valuation of biodiversity and needs assessments have been included in country ABS strategies in the early stages of development.  Piloting ABS agreements and sharing experiences at the regional level have been included in other projects.
 
Achieving the goal that ABS aims for will greatly benefit humanity and biodiversity. However, the pathway to accomplish this goal is less clear than more traditional conservation investments. Because the ABS agenda is complex, the Ad-Hoc Open Ended Group on ABS is addressing the relevant issues with the help of three expert groups working in parallel on: (i) compliance, ii) concepts, terms, definitions, and sectoral approaches, and iii) traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.  To illustrate the complexity of the ABS agenda, one just has to look at the recent CBD report on ABS[1]. This report systematically explores the intersection of five (5) key sectors (Pharmaceutical- and Biotechnology-Industry, Seeds, Crops Protection and Plant Biotechnology Industries, ornamental Horticulture and “Natural Personal Care”), and seven (7) highly relevant issues on ABS (Prior Informed Consent –PIC and Agreements, Traditional Knowledge, Agreements, Compliance and Tracking, benefit-sharing, technology transfer, Intellectual Property rights and partnerships and agreements).  
 
The Ad-Hoc Open Ended Group on ABS should finalize and submit the conclusions of their work in the form of an “International Regime” by 2010. This “International Regime” is basically an instrument or series of instruments to effectively implement the provisions on ABS listed in the CBD [Articles 15 and 8(j)].  In GEF-5, countries may seek support through the strategic program on ABS capacity building that was first developed for the GEF-4 biodiversity strategy, and that will remain in place as a priority. This strategic program provides ample opportunities for governments to address the ABS agenda head-on and help ensure its final “lift-off”.
 
We would like to hear your thoughts about the potential capacity barriers to implementation at national level of any International Regime that may result, so as to start preparing for what is about to come. Let us hear from you.
[1]Convention on Biodiversity (2008) Access and Benefit-Sharing in Practices: Trends in partnerships across Sectors. Technical Report Series No. 38, 140 pp.,