7 November 2018: The UN Development Programme (UNDP) has published a book that illustrates the impact of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) and national ABS laws and policies on SDG achievement. The publication finds that ABS is being used by the private sector, researchers, indigenous peoples, and local communities to develop innovative products that contribute to SDG implementation.

Published ahead of the 14th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 14) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the book includes stories from 27 countries on ways in which traditional knowledge, science, technology, and human ingenuity have been used to develop innovative products from genetic resources. The publication reveals the impact of the Nagoya Protocol and national ABS frameworks in countries across Africa, Arab States, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), and the Pacific Islands. The efforts illustrated are supported by UNDP and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and carried out by countries.

The chapters are authored by experts and practitioners from government, research institutions, and indigenous peoples and local communities. Each chapter covers one country and is focused primarily on one “biodiscovery” case. The publication reflects on the impacts of each biodiscovery case, including key challenges and how they were overcome.

The book emphasizes that genetic resources are SDG accelerators, contributing to poverty alleviation (SDG 1), food security (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), gender equality (SDG 5), innovation (SDG 9), and life on land (SDG 15). The biodiscovery stories also provide examples of national and international partnerships (SDG 17).

CBD COP 14 is convening from 17-29 November 2018, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. [Publication: ABS is Genetic Resources for Sustainable Development] [Publication Landing Page]