Developed nations win in biodiversity talks: NGOs

Developed nations win in biodiversity talks: NGOs

JAKARTA (JP): Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) blamed the developed countries for various glitches in the just-concluded international talks on biodiversity.

The Indonesian Network for Forest Conservation, SKEPHI, said the Second Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity, which ended Friday, was marked with obstacles due to campaigns by the developed countries to secure their own interests.

The talks "have been won by the developed countries," said SKEPHI spokesman S. Indro Tjahjono.

SKEPHI was appointed to work with the Indonesian delegation at the 11-day conference. The NGO stated that "in many ways (developed countries) sought to set back the progress" achieved in the meetings prior to Jakarta, including the meeting in Madrid, Spain, which discussed scientific and technical advice .

The results of the Madrid meeting included an outline for international regulations on genetic engineering, known as "biosafety protocol".

Despite the preliminary debates, this month's conference could only agree to establish a working group to work on further protocol details.

Another NGO, the World Wide Fund for Nature, urged developed countries "to live up to their funding obligations". The call was made in response to the conference's failure to secure more funding sources for developing countries.

The Convention states developed countries "shall provide new and additional financial resources" to help developing countries carry out the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

Another issue tackled at the talks was "biopiracy practices."

The Coalition Against Biopiracy said the Conference failed to address the attempts of private pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetic companies of Northern countries to take and patent micro-organisms from Southern countries.

"Microbial diversity is generally undervalued and under- recognized in biodiversity debates," a CAB bulletin said yesterday.

"Sadly, the (conference) has not shed any more light on this important area," it read.

The Coalition was set up by the Indigenous Peoples Organizations and Farmers Organizations, and includes groups from Canada, the Philippines, Spain and Nepal.

The Convention, regarded as the major achievement of the 1992 Earth Summit, recognizes the need for "equal sharing of benefits" and the rights of traditional communities to their natural resources.

Apart from the criticism, NGOs also helped delegates with suggestions.

The Malaysia-based Third World Network and the local Konphalindo organization hosted talks on a Southeast Asian approach to implementing the Convention.

Indonesian, Malaysian and Filipino officials attended and addressed the possibilities of working with NGOs.

Legal expert Gurdial Singh Nijar of the Network said earlier that a Southeast Asian approach is urgent in light of increasing "biopiracy," and because the countries share similar natural resources.

Meanwhile, NGO members from Indonesia, the United States, India, Canada, Japan and Australia stated their concern with the "irreparable damage" to the rich biodiversity of Irian Jaya.

The operations of PT Freeport Indonesia, owned by the US Freeport McMoran, Inc., are an example of the international dimensions of biodiversity loss, which should be addressed under the Convention. (anr)