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 (CBD)
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 aimed at innovative and sustainable approaches to
conserve biodiversity and alleviate poverty. Over 50 international experts and
practitioners will elaborate an African ABS roadmap from Monday, 20 November to
Friday, 24 November 2006 in workshop hosted by the South African Department of
Environment and Tourism (DEAT) in Cape Town.
The event will be officially inaugurated with an opening reception on
Sunday, 19 November 2006, 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.
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
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% of the global biological diversity is found.
Countries with endemic plants, like South Africa with 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 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
DEAT Spokesperson
Cell: 083 381 2939
Issued by: the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and GTZ
17 November 2006
