| Popis: |
Central among the thorniest aspects of implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is how to make progress on the Convention's objectives of guaranteeing appropriate access to genetic sources and arranging for the equitable sharing of benefits derived from these sources. Although a fundamental aspect of the Convention is the requirement for implementation through national legislation, strategies, plans and programs for both access and benefit-sharing, arriving at them has not been easy. In spite of several existing legislations with some bearing on the issues, including the trade and intellectual property aspects, the existing provisions are either too vague or too narrow to address the relevant issues. Sharing the benefits associated with the commercialization of genetic and other biological resources involves not only the determination of the nature and quantum of the benefits, but also the mode of distribution of those benefits to a range of stakeholders, and in a fashion that serves defined objectives over time. One possible model for distribution builds upon the delivery mechanisms employed in other areas of conservation and development such as conservation trust funds. The paper discusses the origins of the trust fund concept, its development in the context of conservation, and its application to biodiversity prospecting. It highlights the basic principles that should be taken into consideration and the issues to be addressed in designing the framework. It will describe concrete steps to developing and implementing a biodiversity prospecting trust fund and relate through specific case studies some of the lessons learned from past experiences. |
