‘LEARN by doing. Innovate by learning. This has been the approach of the Asean Centre for Biodiversity in implementing the UNEP [United Nations Environment Programme]-China Trust Fund project on ABS [Access and Benefit Sharing],” said Anthony Foronda, Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Programme specialist on ABS. Foronda made the statement during the side event at the 13th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP13) at the Moon Palace Arena, Cancun, Mexico, last week.
“This side event is an opportune time for the countries to share their respective ABS project activities and the challenges they encountered in the implementation process,” Foronda added. The meeting was organized by the UNEP, in cooperation with the ACB and China, the Sharing of Knowledge and Experience among Asean Countries and China in the Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS, showcased achievements of the ABS Regional Project.
It was graced by Dr. Balakrishna Pisupati, head of Biodiversity, Land and Governance Programme, Environmental Law and Conventions Division, UNEP, Nairobi; ACB Executive Director Atty. Roberto Oliva; Clarissa Arida, director of the ACB Programme Development and Implementation; Dr. Inthavy Akkharath, CBD focal point and acting secretary-general, National Mekong Committee, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lao PDR;
Win Naing Thaw, director, Nature and Wildlife Conservation Division, Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation, Myanmar; Dr. Nguyen Thanh Vinh, deputy director, Biodiversity Conservation Agency, Vietnam; Marcal Gusmao, ABS focal point for Timor Leste, National University of East Timor; Dr. Xu Jing, Minzu, researcher, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Services, China; Anthony Foronda, ABS Programme specialist of ACB; Makiko Yashiro, programme officer, Ecosystems Division, Asia and Pacific Office, UN Environment; and Atty. Elpidio Peria, ABS project consultant.
“We are fortunate that there is the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity, or simply known as the Nagoya Protocol on ABS, that was crafted to provide greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources, by creating a framework that promotes the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge while strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use,” Oliva said.
The ABS project provides technical support to selected countries—Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam—in developing national ABS regulatory and institutional frameworks for select Asean member-states and piloting initiatives to implement the Nagoya Protocol on ABS. It has a strong focus on promoting regional cooperation, knowledge sharing and learning on ABS within Asean member-states and China.
This side event provided opportunities for exchanging views on potential areas and opportunities for future collaboration within Asean, as well as for promoting the South-South cooperation between Asean and China on ABS.