Africa
17 November 2006
Cape Town workshop launches Pan-African initiative to build capacity on
"ABS", the Access and Equitable Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources, major
goal of United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity.
Biodiversity and genetic resources have been a major trade commodity for
centuries; but in global business developing countries are often not fairly
treated. A Dutch-German initiative supports to develop African capacities to
negotiate for equitable shares and to establish national legislations. The
three year programme is aiming at innovative and sustainable approaches to
conserve biodiversity and alleviate poverty. Over 50 international experts and
practitioners will elaborate an African ABS roadmap from 20 to 24 November in a
workshop hosted by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism (DEAT) in Cape Town.
The event will be officially inaugurated with an opening reception on
Sunday, 19 November, 18h00 at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Silver
Tree Restaurant in Cape Town, with high level keynote addresses from the Dutch,
German and South African governments.+
Click on the attached link to access invitation: http://www.deat.gov.za/NewsMedia/MedStat/2006Nov17/Cape%20town%20InvitationOpening_141106-1.pdf
Background
Plants and animals are transported from country to country and from
continent to continent for use outside of their regions of origin, e.g. as crop
plants to improve seed stock and livestock breeds or as medicinal plants. The
UN Trade Organisation roughly estimates a global annual turnover of US$700
billion facing a rapidly growing need for genetic information for the
application in modern biochemistry and genetic engineering in industrialised
countries. In contrast providers of this genetic information are mainly
developing countries in which about 80 percent of the global biological
diversity is found. Countries with endemic plants, for e.g. South Africa with
the fynbos are in this context, of particular interest. As yet, the potential
uses of the vast majority of plants, animals and micro-organisms have barely
been established scientifically. Meanwhile their habitats are at risk and many
species are threatened with extinction. The traditional knowledge of indigenous
peoples and local communities about the potential applications of the
biodiversity that surrounds them is an important resource especially in the
quest for new medicines.
In order to give an incentive to conserve nature, the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) is about to set out an international regime for
access to and sharing of genetic resources:
* To give the countries of origin an equitable share in the profits and
technological progress from the use of genetic resources and associated
traditional knowledge and thus to provide a benefit in return for conserving
these resources in their natural locations as far as possible. This includes
the transfer of technologies (including biotechnology) and know-how which
developing countries so urgently require and their participation in genetic
resources research.
In this context the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Directorate-General for Development Co-operation (DGIS) and the Deutsche
Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), are supporting African
stakeholders from governmental institutions, civil society organisations and
science to cope with these challenges with an African vision and specific
African approaches.
The GTZ is a German government owned international co-operation enterprise
for sustainable development with worldwide operations. It provides viable,
forward-looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social
development in a globalised world. Its corporate objective is to improve
people's living conditions on a sustainable basis. The German Federal Ministry
for Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) is its major client.
More information on the Dutch-German ABS Capacity Building initiative for
Africa and the workshop in Cape Town can be obtained at: http://www.abs-africa.info
For media queries contact:
Blessing Manale
Ministerial Spokesperson
Cell: 083 381 2939
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
17 November 2006
