Integration of Conservation Strategies of Plant Genetic ... - Genres

working with local people on conservation issues. In the past, ethnobotany has too often meant
compilation of lists of species used by different ethnic groups, especially as medicines. Such preservation
of cultural knowledge has its values, but, in itself, it serves no conservation purpose. In recognition of
the urgent need to augment the capacity in many countries to work with local people for conservation,
WWF, UNESCO and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have launched a 4 year programme "People and
Plants". The approach is to develop a number of model projects (in Malaysia, Madagascar, Tanzania,
Uganda, Mexico, Brazil and Bolivia), to provide technical manuals in ethnobotany and related subjects,
and to hold training workshops.
There is considerable commercial interest in the development of new natural products, such as pesticides
and pharmaceuticals. Over 200 firms worldwide are said to be interested in exploring the plant world
in the search for new drugs, sometimes using local knowledge about plants as a guide. Geographically,
most research and related commerce is based in the richer "northern" countries, while many of the plants
and other organisms under inspection come from the biologically rich countries of the tropics. The
Convention of Biological Diversity recognizes that this type of exploitation of biodiversity must be
undertaken in ways which benefit conservation of biodiversity, recognizing also that a priority in many
source countries is alleviation of poverty. There is a need for equitable partnerships, in which a fair share
of the benefits accrue to the countries and local areas which are the sources of the plant samples. The
benefits should be used in ways which increase the motivation at these levels to conserve biodiversity
and which increase the capacity to do so. WWF has prepared a working paper outlining the issues and
with guidelines as to how fair deals may be struck (Cunningham 1993c).
Similar arguments hold in the case of use of germplasm for crop breeding. The main areas of debate
relate to local knowledge, farmers' rights and equity in the distribution and control of genetic resources
from crop plants (Mooney 1983). The issue was partially resolved when the Commission on Plant
Genetic Resources revised the FAO Undertaking for Plant Genetic Resources to recognize both plantbreeders'
and farmers' rights (WRI 1992).
Benefit sharing and intellectual property rights
As indicated earlier, benefit sharing to ensure that local communities benefit from conservation and
sustainable use is a priority in achievement of biodiversity conservation. This is recognised in the
Convention on Biological Diversity. Examination of incentives (and counter-incentives - for example,
some of the structural issues associated with reform of the EC's CAP) for conservation and sustainable
use is also crucial.
In this context, it is WWF's view that current trends towards extending intellectual property rights (IPRs)
regimes could exacerbate the loss of biodiversity. The patenting of novel biotechnologies for agriculture
will accelerate the trend towards monocultures and the narrowing of the genetic base of resources used
for agriculture, because, in conjunction with other policy settings (eg. bank lending policies, government
subsidies, extension services, and corporate marketing strategies), it will increase the pressures on
farmers to use patented seeds and animals and so further undermine the biological diversity associated
with traditional and low input farming systems.
Furthermore, current IPR regimes do not recognise and reward the knowledge and innovations of local
communities, especially indigenous peoples, in conserving, breeding and experimenting on the diversity
of cultivated and wild organisms - for instance, those with medicinal or agricultural values - despite the
fact that these very characteristics often form the basis of the IPRs issued to others. In consequence,
such IPR regimes undermine the benefit sharing provisions, recognised as crucial to the conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity, of the Convention on Biological Diversity.