Cameroon Adopts Nagoya Protocol

• Cameroon, located in central Africa and boasting a rich biodiversity with around 11,000 species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, has recently adopted the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, an agreement under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).

What is the Nagoya Protocol Under UNCBD?

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
• The CBD, a legally binding treaty to conserve biodiversity has been in force since 1993 which has 3 main objectives:

• The conservation of biological diversity.
• The sustainable use of the components of biological diversity.
• The fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
• Nearly all countries have ratified it (notably, the US has signed but not ratified).
• India enacted Biological Diversity Act, 2002 for giving effect to the provisions of the CBD.

• The CBD Secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada and it operates under the United Nations Environment Programme.
• The Parties (Countries) under Convention of Biodiversity (CBD), meet at regular intervals and these meetings are called Conference of Parties (COP).
• In 2000, a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was adopted. 

Nagoya Protocol:

• The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) was adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan at COP10.
• It not only applies to genetic resources that are covered by the CBD, and to the benefits arising from their utilization but also covers traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources that are covered by the CBD and the benefits arising from its utilization.
• Along with the Nagoya Protocol on Genetic Resources, the COP-10 also adopted a ten-year framework for action by all countries to save biodiversity.

Practice Questions for Prelims

Which of the following statements accurately describes the Nagoya Protocol?

A) It is an international agreement aimed at promoting the development of renewable energy sources.
B) The protocol focuses on regulating the export and import of agricultural products to ensure food security.
C) It is a legal framework designed to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.
D) The protocol is primarily concerned with regulating maritime navigation and preventing pollution in international waters.

Ans. C)

Mains Practice Question

Discuss the significance and implications of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in the context of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Analyze the key provisions of the protocol and its impact on facilitating fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.

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