Biodiversity talks end, making little progress<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations meeting on the environment
\nended here yesterday with a mixture of success and continuing
\nchallenges.<\/p>\n
The participants in the UN Conference of Parties to the
\nConvention on Biodiversity agreed to enhance cooperation in
\nconservation and sustainable development, although the forms that
\nthe cooperation will have yet to be spelled out.<\/p>\n
The conference, which started on Nov. 6, also agreed to
\npromote recognition of traditional knowledge in the face of rapid
\nadvances in biotechnology.<\/p>\n
Another decision of the 117 attending parties was that a new
\npost for indigenous peoples be established in the Convention
\nSecretariat.<\/p>\n
The convention has been ratified by 134 countries.<\/p>\n
The post is meant as a forum to address such problems as
\nprotecting traditional knowledge and \"prior informed consent\" in
\nthe taking of natural resources from a local community.<\/p>\n
This measure was a response to the demands of some government
\ndelegates as well as representatives of indigenous peoples that a
\nformal representation of indigenous communities be established.<\/p>\n
On intellectual property rights, delegates decided to work
\nwith the World Trade Organization to study the impact on such
\nrights of biodiversity conservation and use.<\/p>\n
Another step agreed upon is the holding of consultations with
\nall stakeholders in natural resources - the private sector, local
\nand indigenous peoples - to ensure \"equal sharing\" in the use of
\ngenetic resources.<\/p>\n
\"Equal sharing\" has yet to be defined.<\/p>\n
Private sector<\/p>\n
The initial conference document only mentioned consultation
\nwith the private sector.<\/p>\n
Another result of the conference is the Jakarta Mandate on
\nCoastal and Marine Biodiversity. This states that Indonesia is
\nthe world center of expert meetings on coastal and marine
\nbiodiversity.<\/p>\n
The meeting, however, could not decide on the question of new
\nfunding for developing countries' environmental programs. This
\nparticular issue pitted developed countries against developing
\nones during the conference.<\/p>\n
A permanent source of funding will be decided at the next
\nconference, to be held next year in Argentina.<\/p>\n
The convention, which states governments' commitment to
\nconservation and equal sharing of benefits of natural resources,
\nwas issued at the 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil.<\/p>\n
Observers said the slow pace of progress in Jakarta reflected
\ndifficulties in reconciling economic interests with less tangible
\nenvironmental benefits.<\/p>\n
NGOs blamed developed countries for holding back progress at
\nthe conference.<\/p>\n
Trade interests held up talks on conservation measures for
\nforest, marine and coastal biodiversity. But an informal
\nagreement among 11 equatorial countries was eventually reached
\nafter days of negotiations.<\/p>\n
\"The talks have been very tough because countries have been
\ngrouped in ways that make them uncomfortable,\" said the
\nconference chairman Sarwono Kusumaatmadja.<\/p>\n
The countries which reached the informal agreement are
\nColombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Kenya, Uganda, Zaire, Equatorial
\nGuinea, Rwanda, Maldivez, Kiribati and Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Yesterday Indonesia received aid from the World Wide Fund for
\nNature to increase its ability to live up to the convention.
\n(anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/biodiversity-talks-end-making-little-progress-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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