Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing Mechanism in the Hindu Kush - Himalaya region - key challenges. Presented by Krishna Prasad Oli at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.

1. Implementation of Access and
Benefit Sharing Mechanism in the
Hindu Kush - Himalaya region – key
challenges
By
Krishna Prasad Oli and Eklabya Sharma
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Kathmandu, Nepal

2. Hindu Kush Himalayan Region

3. Biodiversity of the HKH region
…has a wide variety of ecosystems, species, genes, and
traditional knowledge that contribute to the biodiversity

4. Genetic resources and TK are vital to
livelihood
Mountain communities are
able to sustainably collect
and market various
biodiversity based
products through
livelihood diversification
and pro-poor value chain
interventions and market
exchange

5. Hindu Kush-Himalayas (“ICIMOD
region”)
– rich in biodiversity-and cultural diversity
– many indigenous peoples and minorities
– geo-politically complex
– include very “poor countries” and top emerging
economies
– ...some very low in index of human development

6. “problem statement”
immense bio-cultural diversity & agro-
biodiversity… crucial for identity, livelihood,
security, food sovereignty…
…yet many poor people, low human
development index, natural resources
depleting…
outsiders taking advantage of genetic
resources and traditional knowledge without
compensation and in non transparent,
fraudulent ways.

7. Broader Challenges
…design ABS mechanism in such a way
that:
• it does NOT JUST facilitate access to
genetic resource and traditional
knowledge for business companies…
• but it also safeguards the rights of
indigenous peoples and local
communities
• it helps them in their own fight against
poverty

8. •
it provides incentives to the conservation
of bio-cultural diversity
it benefits the countries and promotes
friendly and mutually supportive
relations among the people
and policy and legal instruments are
practically implemented for the benefits
of People.

9. ABS implementation approaches
…building awareness of traditional knowledge and access
and benefit sharing

10. Knowledge and cultural diversity
“Respect, preserve and maintain knowledge,
innovations and practices of indigenous and
local communities embodying traditional
lifestyles relevant for the conservation and
sustainable use of biological diversity and
promote their wider application with the approval
and involvement of the holders of such
knowledge, innovations and practices …….”
Source: CBD

11. Key challenges in ABS
implementation in the HKH region
• Practically free access to
bioprospectors on GR and TK
• Bioprospectors not willing to
disclose the sources of origin
• Ownership over GR and TK
unclear and complex
• Problems in identifying and
recognising the single ownership
of Indigeneous and local
community

12. • Restrictive and lengthy legal
mechanisms(Concerns of sovereignty)
• Uneasy relation between the
biodiversity law and researchers.
• Lack in harmonizing policies and laws
within and among countries resulting
poor governance
• Conflicting institutional interests.

13. Contd----
• Insufficient measures/incentives
for TK promotion and protection
• Lack of involvement of
indigenous and local communities
in negotiation and benefits
sharing.
• Flow of raw biological resources
to user countries creating
opportunities for bio piracy.
Insufficient awareness about ABS
at various levels.( Trainers
Manual)

14. Benefits from Conservation and
management approaches
Access and benefit sharing mechanisms
Country providing genetic resources Country accessing
genetic resources
Seeking prior informed
Government consent (PIC)
National laws, (central,
administrative
measures, etc provincial/
local Access granted
Contract finalised
Companies,
Seeking prior informed researchers
Traditional consent (PIC) individuals,
knowledge etc
National laws,
commercial holders and
Mutually agreed terms
practices, etc parties (MAT)
involved
Contract implementation
Adapted from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industries, and Japan Bioindustry Association ( 2006)

15. ICIMOD publications
Download from: http://books.icimod.org/index.php/search/subject/2
…..and
others and
more than
500 on
diverse
topics

16. Thank you