Factors That Explain the Utilization of the Nagoya Protocol Framework for Access and Benefit Sharing

Abstract

One of the primary concerns of countries with high levels of biodiversity is the conservation of species and natural environments. This prioritization is based in part on a recognition of the importance of ecosystem services, understood as the various benefits that humans derive from ecosystems, which may be developed into goods and services that are transacted in markets. The Nagoya Protocol is an international agreement whose purpose is to provide a framework under which countries can support biodiversity conservation by regulating access to native genetic materials. Such materials may be of interest to companies, organizations, and institutions for commercial, non-commercial, or both purposes. Furthermore, genetic resources constitute important inputs in numerous industries, including those in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, botany and horticultural, agricultural, personal hygiene and cosmetics, and food and beverage sectors. The present study explores whether there is a relationship between biodiversity, the implementation of systems to protect natural areas and the quality of institutions, and the utilization of the Nagoya Protocol framework in individual countries. A Probit model was estimated to test these relationships, and a Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was conducted to identify whether the aforementioned factors explain the execution of access and benefit sharing (ABS) agreements, as measured through the lodging of Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCC) in the Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House (ABSCH) of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The findings indicated that biodiversity conservation policies, specifically the designation of protected natural areas, are important factors that might motivate actors in Nagoya Protocol member countries to utilize the protocol system. The CCA also revealed that the quality of institution factors such as the protection of property rights, the efficiency of legal frameworks for dispute resolution, investor protection, and a low government regulation burden. also help to explain the utilization of ABS agreements.

Conservation Policy: Helping or hindering science to unlock properties of plants and fungi

“…As of 1st February 2020, the ABSCH website had registered more than double the total number of IRCCs registered six months earlier (1,192 in Figure 2) (Aviles‐Polanco, Jefferson, Almendarez‐Hernandez, & Beltran‐Morales, 2019). This is possibly due to more focus on the NP within the CBD Global Biodiversity Framework in 2020.…”

Consumer Preferences for Labeled Plant-Based Products Associated with Traditional Knowledge: A Study in Protected Natural Areas of Northwest Mexico

“…Other studies have analyzed the willingness of consumers to participate in experimental clinical treatments aiming to identify treatment preferences for specific conditions through a couple of approaches: (1) Investigate the availability of patients or consumers that would use treatments to prevent or reduce the incidence of skin diseases such as psoriasis and actinic keratosis, considering attributes and efficacy levels (percentage of improvement in skin appearance and reduction of skin cancer risk), intensity, duration, and severity of secondary reactions Kopasker et al [15]; (2) analyze the commercial availability of cosmetic treatments with different attributes, including the function (restore wrinkled skin, reduce pore size, treat acne dots and spots, skin moisturizer), presentation (ointment, cream, lotion), packaging (pump-style, tube, jar, ampoule), and price [16].…”

“…However, its main limitations were the non-binding nature and limited attention to the interests of genetic-resource providers related to conservation and sustainable use. Finally, the Nagoya Protocol was finalized at the Nagoya 2010 conference of the parties; from that year, interested parties signed and ratified the Protocol, which came into force on 12 October 2014 [2].…”

Implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in Livestock Sector: What Have We Learnt So Far?

“…According to Avilés-Polanco et al [ 30 ], a relatively high level of biodiversity and the existence of conservation policies in a given country are factors associated with the establishment of both commercial and non-commercial ABS agreements between genetic resource providers and users.…”

“…As analyzed by Avilés-Polanco et al [ 30 ], of the total number of IRCC issued by 2019, 34% were for commercial purposes, 64% for non-commercial utilization, and 1% declared a potential change of intent. This indicates significantly higher interest in access to genetic resources for research than for other purposes.…”