The Nagoya protocol
The Nagoya protocol originates from the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which is a multilateral and legally binding international convention. The CBD is one of the three “Rio Conventions”, the outputs of the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.
The objectives of the CBD are:
- The conservation of biological diversity;
- The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity;
- The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
The article 15 of the CBD defines the “access to genetic resources and the benefit-sharing of their utilization”. It recognizes the sovereign right of states over their natural resources. It also requests parties to facilitate access to genetic resources and sharing of their utilization on the basis of prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms.
The Nagoya Protocol is a complementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and aims mainly at the implementation of the third objective of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
An explanation regarding what is Nagoya protocol is available here.
The implications for research projects using biolocal material are detailed in the document available here.
