Bio-diversity

The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international agreement which aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. The objective of the Protocol is that appropriate access to utilization of genetic resources by taking into account all rights over those resources the biological diversity will be further conserved and sustainably used. The Protocol was adopted by the Conference of the Parties to the CBD at its tenth meeting on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. Vanuatu has signed the Nagoya Protocol in 2011 and is currently in the process of updating its national law on bio-prospecting accordingly. Once that is achieved Vanuatu can ratify the Nagoya Protocol. With its diversity in genetic resources, both land and marine based, as well as its wealth of customary culture and traditional knowledge (TK) and reliance on customary governance structures, clarity in regards to community rights regarding genetic resources and associated TK and informed community participation will be of critical importance for a successful formulation and implementation of any new ABS law in Vanuatu. To support the capacitating of relevant civil society stakeholders, as well as promote a discussion with respect to how to implement key ABS processes such as Prior Informed Consent (PIC) and Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT) in the Vanuatu context this Strategic Project aims to: a) Inform and empower relevant civil society stakeholder groups on three different islands in Vanuatu on ABS and its relevance for their local context. b) Engage in dialogue with local leadership structures to discuss their position towards ABS and to articulate appropriate processes for PIC and MAT though the development of community protocols or similar instruments. c) Feed these experiences as critical input into the national ABS regulatory review process. The specific project sites selected are Tanna island, Gaua Isalnd and Santo. The sites are of biodiversity significance and are the hotspots for biodiversity in Vanuatu, UNDP Local Landowners Conservation Project , 2006). The wide range of ecosystems in the island range from montane, freshwater, volcanic and the high edemicity of speices and the diverse cultural practices in the 3 isalnds, makes the community vulnerable to bioprospecting activities. And the SGP in Vanuatu intended to provide capacity to the strengthening of traditional management of biodiversity that support local livelihood. MOU currentlly processed.

Vanuatu