Linking bioprospecting with sustainable development and conservation: the Panama case

Abstract

The limited international resources for economic aid and conservation can only mitigate poverty and losses of biodiversity. Hence, developing nations must establish the capacity to resolve their problems. Additionally, policy-makers and donors need to obtain scientific input on issues such as global change and ecosystem services. We propose that for nations rich in biodiversity, ecosystem services derived from bioprospecting, or drug discovery, could contribute to economic development. In the case where unstudied samples are shipped abroad for research, the chances of obtaining royalties are infmitesimally small. Therefore developing nations will only realize benefits from bioprospecting through in-country research on their own biodiversity. Policy-makers and donors have failed to appreciate the value of this approach. In order to provide an example of the inherent links between conservation and sustainable economic development, we initiated a drug discovery effort in Panama that emphasizes local benefit. As much of the drug discovery process as possible is conducted in Panamanian laboratories, providing jobs dependent on intact biodiversity and enhancing local research and training. In short, research, plus the spin-offs from research, provide immediate and long-lasting benefits to Panama. The connection between conservation and development has been highlighted in publicity about the project in Panama's urban media. This provides a constructive alternative to the perception the among the urban populace that economic development inevitably competes with conservation. In summary, our program uses biodiversity to promote human health as well as to support research capacity, economic development and conservation within Panama. The program provides an example of the widely recognized but little developed concept of bioprospecting research as an ecosystem service.

Potentiation of aminoglycoside antibiotic activity using the body fat from the snake Boa constrictor

“…Harvey (2008) reported that 225 drugs from natural sources were in developmental stages and, of these, 24 had been extracted from animals. The search for medicines and genes from nature has been promoted as a non-destructive use of habitat that promotes human health as well as supporting economic development and conservation (Kursar et al, 2007).…”

“…There is a need to promote conservation and to protect species utilized for medicinal purposes considering all the potential of these species, because bioprospecting is one of the incentives for the conservation of species (Kursar et al, 2007). This situation demonstrates the importance of developing more detailed studies focusing on the interactions between humans and reptiles in order to be able to evaluate the true implications of the use of these animals for medicinal purposes and to develop viable strategies for their conservation (Ferreira et al, 2009c).…”

“…Biodiversity has been a source of products for the treatment of diseases, and thus, people have developed various practices and techniques to exploit biodiversity, accumulating a broad knowledge of the therapeutic and medicinal properties of animals, plants and minerals, which represent important alternatives in the substitution of allopathic medications (Kursar et al, 2007;Alves, 2009).…”

Bioprospecting: A Tool to Conserve Chilean Bryophytes

“…This program conducts most of the studies in Panamanian laboratories, thus providing jobs and boosting the local research skills of students by offering training and practical research experience. This initiative has been constructive in the fields of conservation and sustainable development (Kursar et al 2007). …”

“…Because the research in bioprospecting and related activities and benefits depend on maintaining an intact ecosystem, this activity is recognized as a ecosystem service (Kursar et al 2007). Bioprospecting improves human wellbeing and highlights the value of biodiversity, as emphasized by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005).…”