What is Nagoya Protocol, Convention on Biological Diversity and CITES? (Important)

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and UK՚s Natural History Museum (NHM) have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in field of genetic and taxonomic studies, research, and training, conservation of India, including species and habitat assessments.

Scope: Nagoya Protocol and ITPGRFA

Objectives of the MoU?

  • Collaborate on science, support research and boost scientific study for both India and UK
  • Use scientific evidence to support Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES and Nagoya Protocol.
  • Capacity building and scientific exchanges between two nations
  • Learn from each other and work collaboratively to address important scientific questions and deliver benefit to humanity.
  • Pave way for BSI to work in NHM and for staff there to work in BSI- exchange knowledge and information between two esteemed research organizations.
  • Both organisations share benefits arising from collection, study and conservation of plant materials such as seeds, herbarium specimens and tissue samples and exchange associated data and images
  • NHM will help BSI in capacity building in areas of systematic botany and long-term conservation of plant genetic resource in India.

Achievements under MoU

  • Three staff members of BSI have received Rutherford Fellowships (funded by the UK government՚s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy - BEIS) to undertake this important work in London.
  • They have received training in all aspects of digitisation and herbarium curation, and have already imaged some 16,000 sheets in plant families essential to crop science and food security.
  • Two botanists from NHM are working in BSI herbaria throughout the country, identifying specimens, capacity building, interacting with young Indian taxonomists, and exchanging ideas.
  • Both countries are committed to the use of scientific evidence to support the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, CITES and the Nagoya Protocol

Facts About Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

  • BSI is Government of India, Ministry of Environment Forest, and Climate Change՚s organization.
  • Focuses on survey, research and conservation of plant resources, flora and endangered species of India, including collecting and maintaining germplasm and gene bank of endangered, patent and venerable plant species

What is NHM?

  • The Natural History Museum in London exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history.
  • Home to life and earth science specimens with 80 million items within five main collections: botany, entomology, paleontology, mineralogy, and zoology.
  • Centre of research specializing in taxonomy, identification, and conservation.

What is Convention on Biological Diversity?

  • Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development.
  • Translates the principles of Agenda 21 into reality by recognizing that biological diversity is more than plants, animals and microorganisms and their ecosystems - it is about people and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live.
  • Has three main goals:
    • Conservation of biological diversity (or biodiversity)
    • Sustainable use of its components
    • Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic resources.

What is CITES?

  • CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
  • Drafted as a result of a resolution adopted in 1963 at a meeting of members of IUCN (The World Conservation Union) . Convention was finally agreed at a meeting of representatives of 80 countries in Washington, D. C. , on 3 March 1973, and on 1 July 1975 CITES entered in force.
  • CITES is an international agreement to which States and regional economic integration organizations adhere voluntarily.
  • States bound by the Convention (joined CITES) are known as Parties. CITES is legally binding on the Parties but does not take the place of national laws. Provides framework for domestic legislation to ensure that CITES is implemented at the national level.

What is Nagoya Protocol and ABS?

  • 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, also known as the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) is a 2010 supplementary agreement to the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) .
  • Implements one of the three objectives of the CBD: the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
  • Protocol was adopted on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, and entered into force on 12 October 2014. It was ratified by 97 parties, which includes 96 UN member states and the European Union.
  • It is the second protocol to the CBD; the first is the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
  • The Nagoya Protocol applies to genetic resources covered by the CBD. The protocol also covers traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources covered by the CBD.
NAGOYA Protocol

Examrace Team at Aug 20, 2021