RESOURCES
Target 16
Strategic Goal D: Target 16 – Access to and sharing benefits from genetic resources 105 TARGET ELEMENTS
1. The Nagoya Protocol is in force 2. The Nagoya Protocol is operational
1 2
Box 16.1. Progress made in other relevant ABS international agreements and initiatives Beyond the Nagoya Protocol, progress has been made since 2010 under a number of international bodies and initiatives to extend access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their utilization:
ɠ The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture facilitates access to plant genetic resources for farmers and plant breeders, helping to develop new crop varieties and adapt agricultural production to a changing environment. As of February 2020, over 5.5 million samples have been transferred globally, through more than 76,000 contracts known as Standard Material Transfer Agreements (SMTAs).6
ɠ In 2015, the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) developed ‘Elements to Facilitate Domestic Implementation of Access and Benefit-sharing for Different Subsectors of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ABS Elements)’.7
ɠ In 2017, The Intergovernmental Conference on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) convened to develop the text of an international legally-binding instrument under the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea. The negotiating text addresses access and benefit-sharing for marine genetic resources, as well as traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples and local communities associated with marine genetic resources.8
ɠ In 2011, the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework for the Sharing of Influenza Viruses and Access to Vaccines and Other Benefits (PIP Framework) was adopted under the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO coordinates the sharing of influenza viruses through an international network of public health laboratories called the ‘Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System’ (GISRS). The laboratories in GISRS exchange viruses using standard material transfer agreements, binding contracts that established the conditions and obligations for benefit-sharing.
ɠ The Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) is a mechanism to promote and incentivize the rapid sharing of influenza virus data, permitting free and open access to anyone who provides positive identification, and agrees to respect the inherent rights of the contributor.
GISAID requires users to acknowledge the origin and contributors in their publication, and to make best efforts to collaborate with them, thus making data-sharing beneficial for the submitter.
In 2020, GISAID entered the global research effort to understand the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. As of 26 May 2020, more than 32,000 such SARS-CoV-2 sequences had been added to the GISAID database, thereby helping to detect viral mutations and track movement of the virus across the planet.9
Status
RELEVANT SDG TARGET
traditional knowledge for their utilization, and some of those benefits are contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In addition, an analysis of corporate reports and websites of cosmetic and food companies found that references to ABS appear to be receiving increasing attention including by 17% of beauty companies (up from 2%
in 2009) and 5% of food and beverage companies (up from 2% in 2012).10
The first assessment and review of progress in the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol revealed that Parties and non-Parties to the Protocol are at various levels of implementation, and that there are a number of areas requiring further work.11 These include the need to develop ABS measures, to enhance implementation of the provisions on compliance and monitoring the utilization of genetic resources, including the designation of checkpoints, as well as the provi-sions to support the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities
in the implementation of the Protocol, and to raise awareness among relevant stakeholders and encourage their participation in its implementation.
Fewer than three quarters (69%) of NBSAPs contain targets related to Aichi Biodiversity
Target 16, of which about a quarter (28%) are similar to the overall scope and level of ambition set out in the Aichi Biodiversity Target. Many of the targets that were set were general and referred to access and benefit-sharing broadly, and several did not make an explicit reference to the Nagoya Protocol. Almost half of Parties to the Convention indicate in their sixth national reports that they are on track to reach (38%) or exceed (8%) their national targets. Most others (44%) have made progress towards their targets but not at a rate that will allow them to be met. Few Parties report that they are making no progress towards the target (9%) or are moving away from it (1%). One in seven Parties (15%) have national targets similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 16 and are on track to meet them (see bar chart).
Target 15.6 - Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed
Figure 16.1. Trends in the ratification of the Nagoya Protocol and in the progress of establishing ABS measures
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Ratifications per month Total ratifications Parties with ABS measures (49%)
Parties in process of or planning to develop measures (12%)
No information 15%
Non-Parties with measures (12%)
Non-Parties in process of or planning to develop measures (12%)
Progress in establishing ABS measures
The pie chart illustrates the proportion of Parties to the Nagoya Protocol and non-Parties that have developed, are in the process of, or planning to put in place ABS measures as of July 2020. The trend line shows the total number of ratifications of the Nagoya Protocol. The bars illustrate the number of ratifications per month.
107 Strategic Goal D: Target 16 – Access to and sharing benefits from genetic resources
Lina Loos / Unsplash
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
The colour bars show the percentage of Parties reporting a given level of progress towards their national targets. (Blue: exceeds target; Green: on track; Yellow: some progress; Red: no change;
Purple: moving away from target). The intensity of the colour indicates alignment of national targets with the Aichi Target (Darker colours indicate close alignment).
Assessment of progress towards national targets
Box 16.2. Examples of country experiences and national progress
ɠ India: As of May 2020, India has published a total of 928 internationally-recognized certificates of compliance in the ABS Clearing-House.12
ɠ Bhutan: The national ABS framework encourages ABS agreements to include support for
national capacities, to adopt sustainable cultivation and the use of collection methods, and secure premium prices for communities. It also ensures that a portion of the monetary benefits received are channelled into the Bhutan ABS fund which has been established to support conservation efforts. ABS agreements supported capacity-building on laboratory techniques for plant analysis, natural product development and documentation of traditional knowledge.13
ɠ Ethiopia: The value chain which was part of the initial phase of an ABS agreement created job opportunities for 857 young people in local communities.14
ɠ Finland: The Sami Parliament manages a database enabling the recording of traditional
knowledge of the Sami people associated with genetic resources that is intended for research and development purposes. Applications to access the knowledge in the database can be submitted to the competent authority, which notifies the Sami Parliament. The mutually agreed terms between the Sami Parliament and the user must be approved by the competent authority.15
ɠ Madagascar: Users of genetic resources have financed research institutions, masters students and the installation of a new arboretum of endemic species.16
ɠ South Africa: has carried out many activities to raise awareness of ABS, and how ABS and the Nagoya Protocol are being implemented nationally. These activities include biodiversity awareness workshops with Muthi traders and traditional healers, development of an Indigenous Knowledge System Bioprospecting and Product Development Platform, a bioprospecting forum, and workshops for stakeholder engagement.17