Marine Biodiversity BBNJ

The IUCN Environmental Law Centre (IUCN-ELC) in collaboration with the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) recently organized an international seminar with the objective of making substantive progress in the further development of ideas and concepts regarding recommendations from the 4th meeting of the UN Ad Hoc Open-ended Informal Working Group to study issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity beyond areas of national jurisdiction (BBNJ). Three main issues discussed, amongst others, that play a key role in the BBNJ process included:
- Possible ways of sharing benefits from the utilization of marine genetic resources accessed in areas beyond national jurisdiction;
- Possible governance frameworks for the establishment and management of a network of Marine Protected Areas on the High Seas; and
- Possible role of and consequences for an UNCLOS implementing agreement.

The workshop report will be published at the beginning of 2012.

Background information and presentations

WIPO: 40th GA

The General Assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) decided to renew the mandate of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) for the 2012-2013 biennium. In renewing the IGC’s mandate to hold text-based negotiations with the objective of reaching agreement on a text(s) of an international legal instrument(s), delegations welcomed the progress made by the IGC in the last biennium, especially on traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, and endorsed the decision reached at the IGC’s last session to renew the body’s mandate.

Decision of Renewal

Biocultural Heritage Website

A new website draws on research by the International Institute for Environment and Devleopment (IIED), research partners and indigenous and local communities in Peru, Panama, Kenya, India and China to present biocultural strategies and methodologies for horizontal networking amongst marginalised communities; and emerging biocultural legal and policy frameworks. It provides guidance and downloadable resources for grassroots organisations, researchers, practitioners and policymakers.

Biocultural heritage includes a wealth of biological resources – from genetic to landscape level – and long standing traditions and practices for their sustainable use and adaptive management. It also describes the bundle of rights that support indigenous peoples and local communities – Traditional Resource Rights.

WIPO/IGC: Progress on negotiating text

The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) resulted in a single negotiating text on each of the three items referred to in the IGC’s mandate: traditional knowledge, traditional cultural expressions and genetic resources. The next session of the IGC is the last one before WIPO’s General Assembly, which will decide, in turn, on convening a diplomatic conference. It also remains to be decided whether any instrument produced would be legally binding.

Press Release

ITPGR: Training Materials

The Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) has produced the first in a series of five comprehensive educational modules on the operation of the Treaty.
Subsequent modules will provide details about the Treaty’s main components: conservation and sustainable use, farmers’ rights, the Multilateral System and the Funding Strategy.

Module 1

European Commision: GMO Debate

The EC has made available the speeches and presentations given during a public debate on risk assessment and management of genetically modified organisms, held on 17 March. The resource document contains the agenda of the debate with the names of participating experts and the titles of statements by experts. The presentations are accessible via hyperlinks included in the document. [Agenda and Presentations] [Opening Speech by EU Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy John Dalli] [Debate Webstream]

WIPO: Traditional Knowledge Digital Library

Representatives from 35 countries participated in the International Conference on the Utilization of the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) as a Model for Protection of Traditional Knowledge, convening from 22-24 March, in New Delhi, (India). The objectives of the Conference was to: share experiences and information on the role of the TKDL in the documentation of traditional knowledge (TK); identify the intellectual property issues in, and technical implications of, the establishment of a TKDL; and explore the role and functioning of the TKDL within the international intellectual property (IP) protection system. [WIPO Press Release] [Meeting Website]

ITPGR: 2nd Meeting of Compliance Working Group

In preparation for the 4th session of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGR), to be held in March 2011 in Bali (Indonesia), the Ad Hoc Working Group on Compliance will continue deliberations on procedures and mechanisms to promote compliance and address issues of non-compliance from 17-18 January in Rome (Italy).