Participants attending a Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Working Group have addressed issues of traditional knowledge protection and agreed on a voluntary fund for indigenous and local community participation in the process.

The fourth meeting of the Ad hoc Open-ended Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) met from 23-27 January 2006, in Granada, Spain. The meeting was held in a cooperative spirit, with all recommendations adopted by Friday at noon and progress achieved on some important issues.
Delegates considered an ethical code of conduct for the respect of the cultural and intellectual heritage of indigenous and local communities, and established a participatory and time-bound process aiming for its adoption by COP-9. The creation of a voluntary funding mechanism for indigenous and local community representatives to participate in the CBD process was also hailed as an important step towards improving inclusiveness and enhancing indigenous participation in the framework of the Convention. Progress was generally thought to be slower on genetic use restriction technologies (GURTs), as the Working Group reaffirmed a previous COP Decision, invited the World Intellectual Property Organization to report on GURTs patents and recommended studies on their socioeconomic impacts. Finally, on collaboration with the CBD Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) regarding the negotiation of an international ABS regime, some initial steps were taken to enhance indigenous participation in the ABS discussions, and the issue is expected to be revised during the fourth meeting of the ABS Working Group, taking place in Granada from 30 January to 3 February.
The Working Group recommendations will be submitted to COP-8, to be held from 20-31 March 2006, in Curitiba, Brazil.
Link to further information
IISDRS coverage of the meeting