Global biodiversity research tied up by juridical interpretations of access and benefit sharing

The toolbox of instruments regulating access, transfer and use of biological material is currently re-equipped: the Nagoya Protocol was initiated to provide a legal framework to the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity – the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge (an aspect not discussed here). In the ongoing implementation of the protocol, potentially harmful and far-reaching effects on biological research become evident. Here, we illustrate how vague definitions, lack of legal clarity and coordination, and often restrictive and complex regulations affect the transfer of biological material and associated data. Instead of promoting basic research in conservation and biodiversity, the current situation potentially jeopardises international collaboration, biodiversity research and its applications in monitoring, biocontrol and food safety. We address these challenges and discuss possible options for its practical implementation in the future.     

《生物多样性公约》研究知识图谱:基于CiteSpace的文献计量分析

《生物多样性公约》(简称《公约》)作为保护地球生物资源的国际性公约,与生态文明建设、构建人类命运共同体息息相关.对《公约》进行不同角度的研究,分析当前生物多样性保护进展中的热点与趋势能为科学制定"2020年后框架"提供参考,也能为推动生态文明建设提供智力支持.本文以CNKI中的论文为研究对象,通过CiteSpace软件...     

《名古屋议定书》政府间委员会谈判进展回顾

2010年10月《生物多样性公约》缔约方大会第十次会议通过的《生物多样性公约关于获取遗传资源和公正和公平分享其利用所产生惠益的名古屋议定书》(简称《名古屋议定书》) , 是实现《生物多样性公约》确保公平公正地分享因利用遗传资源而产生惠益目标的里程碑式文件, 该议定书将会在2014年10月12日正式生效。本文回顾了《名古屋议定书》政府间委员会上对遵约机制、全球多边惠益分享机制、信息交换所、能力建设和意识提高等议题的谈判过程, 并对下一步相关工作的开展提出了建议。     

Best practices for the use and exchange of invertebrate biological control genetic resources relevant for food and agriculture

The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity that provides a framework for the effective implementation of the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including invertebrate biological control agents. The Protocol came into force on 12 October 2014, and requires signatories and countries acceding to the Protocol to develop a legal framework to ensure access to genetic resources, benefit-sharing and compliance. The biological control community of practice needs to comply with access and benefit sharing regulations arising under the Protocol. The IOBC Global Commission on Biological Control and Access and Benefit Sharing has prepared this best practices guide for the use and exchange of invertebrate biological control genetic resources for the biological control community of practice to demonstrate due diligence in responding to access and benefit sharing requirements, and to reassure the international community that biological control is a very successful and environmentally safe pest management method based on the use of biological diversity. We propose that components of best practice include: collaborations to facilitate information exchange about what invertebrate biological control agents are available and where they may be obtained; knowledge sharing through freely available databases that document successes (and failures); cooperative research to develop capacity in source countries; and transfer of production technology to provide opportunities for small-scale economic activity. We also provide a model concept agreement that can be used for scientific research and non-commercial release into nature where access and benefit sharing regulations exist, and a model policy for provision of invertebrate biological control agents to other parties where access and benefit sharing regulations are not restrictive or do not exist.     

国际政府间组织对传统知识议题的态度以及中国的对策建议

传统知识是多个国际政府间组织的重要议题,各个组织开展了一系列讨论,形成了相关报告和决议,反映了不同的利益诉求,也表达了对于传统知识的不同见解和立场。在国际政府间组织中,以《生物多样性公约》为代表的国际组织关注环境与生物;以世界知识产权组织和世界贸易组织为代表的国际组织关注经济与贸易;以《土著人民权利宣言》为代表的国际组织关注社会和权利。结合我国在国际政府间组织中的已有承诺,以及丰富多样的传统知识等具体国情,建议我国需要更重视传统知识保护,并采取惠益分享的立法行动,制定以《名古屋议定书》为基础的传统知识保护制度和惠益分享制度,以期达成环境、经济和社会的协调发展。     

《名古屋议定书》在微生物领域的实施: 影响、最佳做法及我国立法选择

《名古屋议定书》继承了《生物多样性公约》在规范遗传资源的获取和惠益分享问题上采取的双边路径。但是, 这一路径不能完全按照《生物多样性公约》和《名古屋议定书》预设的前提和模式在微生物领域得到实施, 已有的旨在实施《名古屋议定书》的措施对微生物研究和开发活动产生了消极的影响。世界微生物菌种保藏联合会致力于推动《生物多样性公约》及其《名古屋议定书》在微生物领域的有效实施, 并为此制定了相关的行为守则和准则。2016年世界微生物菌种保藏联合会推出的TRUST准则代表了微生物领域的获取和惠益分享最佳做法, 该准则针对微生物遗传资源的原生境获取、保藏、非原生境获取以及惠益分享等问题提出了一系列务实的建议。为了实施《名古屋议定书》, 我国启动了遗传资源的获取和惠益分享立法进程, 当前立法已经进入到一个关键阶段。TRUST准则对我国遗传资源的获取和惠益分享立法具有重要的启示。立法机关可以借鉴TRUST准则提出的受规制活动类型及相对应的建议, 并结合我国国情构建一套适用于微生物遗传资源的获取和惠益分享法律规则。这套法律规则将由对植物、动物和微生物遗传资源都予以适用的法律规则和仅对微生物遗传资源适用的法律规则构成, 后者可被纳入我国获取和惠益分享立法的实施细则之中。     

《生物多样性公约》中“土著和地方社区”术语在中国的适用性和评价指标体系

《生物多样性公约》第8(j)条提出了术语“土著和地方社区”, 《名古屋议定书》关于遗传资源特别是传统知识获取与惠益分享的很多重要条款中都涉及该术语。然而, 二者均未对该术语予以定义, 国际社会对该术语的适用范围至今尚未达成一致, 缔约方只能根据公约文本内涵和各国具体国情予以推断和解读。当前的普遍理解包括殖民主义特征的“狭义土著和地方社区”和仅具有原住民特征的“广义土著和地方社区”两种情况。对于中国而言, “土著和地方社区”是否与中国少数民族社区概念上等同或完全不同, 对于全面履行《生物多样性公约》和《名古屋议定书》具有重要意义。本文通过词源分析、定性和定量化等理论和实证研究, 构建了以少数民族具体地方社区为评估单元的“土著和地方社区特征”评价指标体系, 进而对部分少数民族具体地方社区进行了实际评估。结果表明, 一些至今仍然维持传统生产和生活方式及保留传统文化的少数民族地方社区具有明显的“土著和地方社区”特征, 适用于国际公约的相关规定。这为理解国际上的“土著和地方社区”和中国“少数民族”提供了思路, 为中国履行《生物多样性公约》《名古屋议定书》中涉及“土著和地方社区”的条款提供了技术支持, 也为维护中国少数民族地方社区在遗传资源及相关传统知识获取与公平惠益分享中的应有权益提供了理论基础。     

Regulating access to genetic resources under the Convention on Biological Diversity: an analysis of selected case studies

In 1992 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) agreed to develop and implement policies to regulate and facilitate access to genetic resources (AGR). We examine regulations and agreements in Brazil, Colombia, and the Philippines in detail and discuss how these countries are implementing the AGR mandate. In particular, we evaluate progress toward achieving the CBD objectives of conserving biological diversity, using its components in a sustainable manner, and equitably sharing the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. We highlight the difficulties in developing and implementing these policies, arising from the conflicting goals of regulating and facilitating AGR, as well as the special character of genetic resources, existing ex situ collections, issues of ownership and tenure, and the dearth of legal, institutional, and scientific capacity in many countries. We recommend (1) independent, multidisciplinary evaluation of the success of the access policy in achieving CBD objectives, (2) resolution of the conflict between traditional land tenure and legal property rights of genetic resources so as to match conservation obligations with benefit-sharing rights, (3) recognition that benefits obtained from AGR may be entirely non-monetary, and (4) that countries provide a 'two-track AGR application process separately for commercial and non-commercial users.     

《生物多样性公约》对遗传资源国际交流政策的影响

《生物多样性公约》于1992年在巴西里约热内卢签订,1993年生效。该公约提出了“国家对生物遗传资源拥有主权、获取生物遗传资源须事先得到资源所有者的知情同意、利用生物遗传资源所产生的利益应由资源所有者和开发者公平分享”三项基本原则,其生效与实施促进了各国生物多样性保护的立法行动,在维护资源原产国利益方面发挥了积极的作用,同时也给遗传资源的国际交流增添了一些障碍。本文介绍了《生物多样性公约》中有关生物遗传资源获取和利益分享的条款及其对国际交流政策的影响,并提出了加强遗传资源国际交换的对策和建议。     

Novel strategies for assessing and managing the risks posed by invasive alien species to global crop production and biodiversity

International actions to combat the threat posed by invasive alien species (IAS) to crops and biodiversity have intensified in recent years. The formulation of 15 guiding principles on IAS by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) stimulated the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) to review its role in protecting biodiversity. IPPC standards now demonstrate clearly that the risks posed by any organism that is directly or indirectly injurious to cultivated or uncultivated plants can be assessed and managed under the IPPC. Since the IPPC, unlike the CBD, constitutes an international legal instrument recognised by the World Trade Organization, greater protection from the introduction of IAS is now available. However, phytosanitary measures can only be enacted if they can be justified by risk analysis and we outline some novel strategies to improve the assessment and management of the risks posed by IAS, highlighting some of the key challenges which remain.     

The Legislation for Biodiversity Conservation in China

Effectivebiodiverdityconservationneedsasoundlegalsystemthatincludesthelegisla-tionininternational,nationalandlocallevels.TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)thatenteredintoforceonDecember29,1993,isaninternationallegalinstrument.Asaframeconvention,ithasformedalegalsystem,togetherwiththeotherinternationalagree-mentssuchastheConventiononWetlandsofInternationalImportanceEspeciallyasWater-fowlHabitat(Ramsar1971),theConventionConcerningtheProtectionoftheWorldCul-turalandNaturalHeritage(P…     

Studies on monitoring and tracking genetic resources: an executive summary

The principles underlying fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the utilization of genetic resources are set out in Article 15 of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, which stipulate that access to genetic resources is subject to the prior informed consent of the country where such resources are located and to mutually agreed terms regarding the sharing of benefits that could be derived from such access. One issue of particular concern for provider countries is how to monitor and track genetic resources once they have left the provider country and enter into use in a variety of forms. This report was commissioned to provide a detailed review of advances in DNA sequencing technologies, as those methods apply to identification of genetic resources, and the use of globally unique persistent identifiers for persistently linking to data and other forms of digital documentation that is linked to individual genetic resources. While the report was written for an audience with a mixture of technical, legal, and policy backgrounds it is relevant to the genomics community as it is an example of downstream application of genomics information.     

Challenges and solutions for networking knowledge holders and better informing decision-making on biodiversity and ecosystem services

How to effectively inform decision-making on biodiversity and ecosystem services has been under continuous debate in Europe and globally since the Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted in 1992. On the global level the Intergovernmental science–policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services was installed in 2012 to address this need. Yet, biodiversity and ecosystem services management have to be addressed on multiple levels, across biophysical as well as administrative scales. Also, the knowledge needed to address them has to be brought together from science, management practices and other knowledge domains to become relevant and it must be delivered in ways relevant for policies beyond the environmental sector. This Special Issue brings together papers that analyse the challenges arising from this context. Most of them are based on the EU-funded project KNEU that aimed at developing a new, integrative approach to activate knowledge holders and bring them together for targeted knowledge synthesis activities. The papers address the potential functions, structures and processes of such activities in a joint framework, the Network of Knowledge. Practical aspects are addressed via a number of trial assessments carried out in the project. All in all, they showcase new ways of knowledge synthesis that have the potential to complement and strengthen existing ones across scales and sectors, thus supporting an improved management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.     

Microorganisms, Australia and the Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity arose as an international agreement for the conservation and continued exploitation of Earth's biological diversity (biodiversity). It directly affects those involved in conservation, exploitation and investigation of biodiversity in all its forms, as well as affecting the viability of all life. Australia is one of more than 170 countries that have ratified the Convention. Its involvement in this Convention will be considered in terms of the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity with a focus on the coverage of microorganisms within this strategy. Microorganisms represent a major part of the biodiversity on Earth but, as yet, remain relatively unknown. Among those microorganisms that have been described, many, originating from a range of countries, have been deposited in culture collections worldwide. The Convention contains articles that impact on ex situ collections, although precise protocols are not set out therein. An international code of conduct is now being formulated to ensure ongoing access to and exchange of microorganisms in the interests of sustainable development in industrialised and developing nations.     

Commercial product exploitation from marine microbial biodiversity: some legal and IP issues

The biodiversity found in the marine environment is remarkable and yet largely unknown compared with the terrestrial one. The associated genetic resource, also wide and unrevealed, has raised a strong interest from the scientific and industrial community. However, despite this growing interest, the discovery of new compounds extracted from marine organisms, more precisely from microorganisms, is ruled by a complex legislation. The access and transfer of genetic resource are ruled by the Convention on Biological Diversity. One of the three core objectives of this convention is to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits generated by the use of genetic resources and to split these benefits between the different stakeholders. From the discovery of a microorganism to the commercialization of a product, three main stakeholders are involved: providers of microorganisms, e.g. academic institutes, the scientists who will perform R&D on biodiversity, and the industrial companies which will commercialize the final product arising from the R&D results. This article describes how difficult and complex it might be to ensure a fair distribution of benefits of this research between the parties.     

Role of traditional knowledge in marine bioprospecting

The “marine world” is endowed with diverse life forms. The life under the oceans is bestowed with a unique gene pool and characteristics owing to extreme conditions such as high salt concentration and temperature variations. The marine biodiversity is an extremely rich resource for the development of a wide array of applications in food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics. Various forms of traditional knowledge, including traditional medicinal knowledge, have been silently developing over the centuries, with the coastal tribes in nations across the globe. Unfortunately, marine traditional knowledge has been underestimated both commercially and legally. It has still not gained its due importance at the international platform for sustainable use and development. An attempt has been made in the present study to collate information on marine traditional knowledge based medicine. Recent trends of marine bioprospecting by various nations including India have been discussed, followed by the study of legal provisions dealing with marine bioprospecting that aim at conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge. Convention of Biological Diversity, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas and World Intellectual Property Organization are the major international legal instruments that discuss the concepts of Prior Informed Consent, access and benefit sharing with regard to biopiracy and provide guidelines and limits for conducting marine scientific research.     

中国履行生物多样性公约的成就和展望

2004年是生物多样性公约实施10周年。中国于1993年1月7日作为第7个国家正式加入“公约”。接着就由国家环境保护总局牵头组建国家履约协调组和许多联络点,下设办公室负责日常工作。可见,国家对生物多样性工作的重视和认真的态度。10年来,中国在履约方面做了大量工作,成绩显著。例如,完成了“中国生物多样性国情研究报告”和“中国生物多样性保护行动计划”等一大批重要文件,建立了“生物多样性委员会”、“生物多样性保护基金会”和相应的科学与教育部门,开展了许多科研项目和讲授相关的课程,出版了系列丛书和“中国生物多样性”学术刊物,重视开展学术交流,建立了生物多样性数据库和相关的管理政策,生物多样性保护实体和产业日益增加和发展等就是明显的事例。履约10年的经验在于下列三个方面(1)保护和发展必须密切结合;(2)“统一协调、分散管理”的方针需要进一步完善;(3)基础性和综合性研究需要加强。展望未来,只有在加强基础和综合研究以及提高管理水平方面下一番功夫,履约工作才能取得更大的成绩。     

从《生物多样性公约》资金机制战略目标变迁解析生物多样性热点问题

全球环境基金是《生物多样性公约》的唯一资金机制, 它按照《生物多样性公约》要求和基金自身的政策导向为发展中国家和经济转型国家提供资金支持。从其试点期到当前的第7增资期, 全球环境基金在生物多样性领域的战略目标发生了多次变迁, 研究这些资金机制战略目标所涉及的生物多样性热点问题的变迁情况对未来相关工作开展具有一定参考意义。本文梳理了各增资期生物多样性领域战略目标所涉及的生物多样性热点问题, 对每个热点问题在全球环境基金各增资期中资金量和内容的变迁情况进行了分析, 并就中国当前情况与之进行比较, 进而提出了加强对保护地中生态系统代表性的考虑、增强保护地资金可持续性、全面推动生物多样性主流化、加强生物安全相关领域研究、推进遗传资源获取和惠益分享立法并注重知识管理、加强新问题新挑战的应对、深化资金机制研究等建议, 以期为开展《生物多样性公约》履约、生物多样性管理和研究工作提供参考。     

《名古屋议定书》背景下我国传统知识的保护:以德昂族酸茶为例

中国于2016年9月6日成为《名古屋议定书》缔约方, 意味着遗传资源及相关传统知识的保护以及获取与惠益分享制度, 在国际和国内层面已经步入履行阶段。传统知识的防御性保护是防范生物剽窃, 建设性保护是促进惠益分享。本研究通过多年的实地调研发现, 德昂族酸茶作为一类与遗传资源相关的传统知识, 在原持有方不知情同意的情况下, 被某利用方申请了专利, 构成了生物剽窃。本研究指出, 传统知识防御性保护可考虑修订国内专利法, 将传统知识强制性来源披露要求纳入其中, 进而防范生物剽窃。为促进传统知识的持有方分享应得惠益和可持续利用, 本研究建议依据《名古屋议定书》精神, 通过立法制定特殊制度, 创造性地发展出可行的惠益分享制度, 区分不同的传统知识主体资格, 以事先知情同意程序和共同商定条件为途径, 以补偿责任或知识共享许可协议为手段, 来实现《生物多样性公约》的保护与可持续利用两大目标, 方能达成传统知识的建设性保护。     

国家管辖范围外海域遗传资源获取和惠益分享机制构建建议

随着人类对海洋资源开发利用强度的增加, 海洋生物多样性的养护面临着更大挑战。《联合国海洋法公约》及其执行协定已不能较好地应对这些挑战。为此, 联合国大会决定成立工作组, 拟订新的国际协定, 以解决国家管辖范围外海域生物多样性的养护与可持续利用问题。建立国家管辖范围外海洋遗传资源的获取和惠益分享机制是该议题的焦点问题之一, 但是目前各国对新的国际执行协定应当包含哪些要素还缺乏共同理解。本文通过分析《生物多样性公约》、《名古屋议定书》及《粮食和农业植物遗传资源国际条约》等与遗传资源获取和惠益分享相关的国际条约在遗传资源的定义、管辖范围、获取条件及惠益分享要求等方面的异同, 提出对海洋遗传资源获取和惠益分享机制的构建建议: (1)国家管辖范围外的海洋遗传资源不可自由获取; (2)海洋遗传资源的定义应当涵盖海洋生物代谢生成的海洋天然产物; (3)惠益分享责任适用于在新执行协定生效前获取, 但在其生效后进行开发利用的遗传资源; (4)获取活动都应得到主管当局批准, 并签订材料转让协议或共同商定条件; (5)应为非商业化的获取活动制定简化程序, 在人类健康、粮食安全等受到重大威胁而急需获取海洋遗传资源时, 也应适用简化程序, 但后续商业化活动须分享惠益; (6)针对海洋遗传资源的不同研发环节, 设置惠益分享类型, 并就后续利用进行披露和监测, 确保惠益得到分享。