FIJIGEFPROJECT

T:
ACCESSBENEFIT
T
S
SHARING
G
Discoveringnaturebasedproductsandbuildin
ing
capacitiesfortheapplicationoftheNagoya
Protocolonaccesstogeneticresourcesand
BenefitSharing(abs)inFiji

Mr.SavenacaKaunisela
PermanentSecretaryofiTaukeiAffairs
st y o au e
a s, asese, Su a
MinistryofiTaukeiAffairs,Nasese,Suva

CONTENT
1. Convention on Biodiversity
y and the Nagoya Protocol
2. The Issue?
3. National Context: Fijis Acc
cess Benefit Sharing Project
4. Rationale approach for iTa
aukei Institutions
A Developing
A.
D
l i
guidelines
id li
and
d procedures
d
ent and Compliance
B. Monitoring/ Enforceme
5 Areas of Concern
5.
6. Conclusion

v2014

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS

v,2014

1. CONVENTION ON
N BIODIVERSITY
Ratified in 1992 its objective is to:-.
address gradual loss of biodiversity.;
Encourage conservation and susta
ainably use biological diversity,
the fair and equitable sharing off benefits arising out of the
utilization of g
genetic resources (GR).
The Nagoya Protocol (24th Octobe
er, 2012) requires measures be
developed
p
to access g
genetic resourrces:i. prior informed consent,
ii. mutually agreed terms according to legislation or regulatory
requirements of Contracting Parrty.
iii. benefits arising including those associated with TK is covered.

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI.

2 Pressing
2.
P
i
I
Issues
ABS?
In-depth knowledge of ABS concept at all levels especially
at decision making level
Expertise on ABS especially legal
research methods
how resources are acquired,

the formal relationship between tho

ose who have historically
held these resources and associated
d indigenous knowledge
(TK),
and parties who seek this knowledg
ge for commercial
purposes.
esource ownership
Land and marine tenure system- re

2,2012

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V,2014

3. National Context : Fijis GEF ABS

Project
July 2014 MTA and DOE signed
d Fiji ABS project endorsed:1. Discovering active compoun
nds for pharmaceutical and
agrochemical uses from organisms in marine areas; (
scientific survey & transfer knowledge)
k
2. Operationalization of ABS Ag
greements and Benefit Sharing;
3. Increased capacity
p
y to operat
p
tionalize Nagoya
g y obligations
g
(awareness programme, adm
ministrative systems and
procedures and establishme
ent database

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI

V,2014

Stakeholders: range of stakeholders from communities

(managing their local areas through
t
the FLMMA initiative),
DOE, FIPO, National Trust, Min
nistry and Pharmaceutical
Companies.
Each stakeholder identified wiith specific responsibility
itemised.
The existence of FLMMA as marine conservation sites
initiated under the FLMMA prroject at the consent of the
communities. (15 of the 420 s
sites)
Remuneration will be paid outt through establishment of a
new Trust, or an existing trust but this must be
determined by the community
y.

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI

V,2014

4. Approach
pp
by
y Fiji
ji Government
A. Guidelines and Procedures
i.

National ABS Framework aligned

a
to Bonn Guidelines
provides for transparent
p
p
p
pro
ocessers that will assist
stakeholders on approache
es and processes to facilitate
access to genetics.
The framework puts measurres to ensure ::

prior informed consent is ob

bserved,

mutually agreed terms are established

e

monitoring and transparentt processes are in place.

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI

V,2014

ii. DevelopingaFree Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)

Framework aligned to PIC Pro

otocols is vital . Purpose is:
is:-

a. to encourage development through

t
a transparent process to
t i
trigger
community
it ownershi
hiip;
b. provide and allow for the do
ocumentation of each;
c. instruction when carrying out community consultation.

iii. The draft Traditional Knowled

dge
g and Expressions
p
of Culture
Policy is focused on ABS but emphasis
e
is on EC; this will
provide an excellent template to
t draw on when attempting to
develop an ABS legislation.

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI

B. MONITORING ENFORCEMENT & COMPLIANCE (MEC)

emains the biggest challenge

he move towards environmental sustainab

bility commenced in 2011,
olicies endorsed would assist MEC efforts:NATIONAL ITAUKEI RESOURCE OWNER
RS COMMITTEE (NTROC)
Is a bid to encourage resource owners to
o effectively manage their
resources representatives from PC and discuss ABS , REDD PLUS ,
resources,
other issues affecting environment including space and sub-surface
issues. More importantly it is a representative forum for resource
owners.
The appointment of Conservation Officers(2014) within the 14
provinces, will assist with the implementtation of resolutions passed
b th
by
the NTROC committee
itt and
d monitoring
it i g ( ffunding
di
ffrom external
t
l
sponsors ie private foundation Packard
d Foundation.

V,2014

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI

. Cultural Mapping
pp g - Mapping
pp g TK
K & EC
aligned to international and region
nal
agreements and the utilisation of to
determine compliance
p
and set stan
ndards
s vital to ABS process (9 of 14
provinces completed since 2010; about
a
630 of 1170
0 villages)
g )

. NGO/ Research/Consultants
Registration Database- Concerne
ed
with activities occurring in Province
es,
developing
p g a registration
g
database
e is
vital to monitor activities but to en
nsure
sustainability and continuity of
community
yp
projects.
j

V,2014

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI

5. Challenges and Needs

N

per and appropriate awareness packages

ranslation of concepts into local languages

ccess to multiple funding sources;

plementation of FPIC and standard reporting templa

ates and procedures;

propriate monitoring mechanisms;

quiring appropriate Information and technology

d skilled personnel to oversee each stage including implementation.

kages of the two treaties ( Nagoya protocol- marine

e bio-prospecting and ITPGRFA Treaty
o- biodiversity)

reased
eased capac
capacity
ty to ope
operationalize
at o a e Nagoya
agoya ob
obligation
gat ons
s (awareness
(a a e ess p
programme,
og a
e, ad
administrative
st at e
tems and procedures and establishment database )

ole of government involvement

LessonsLearned
MarinebioprospectingexperienceinF
Fijisince1990sbeforeABS
ratification
Resourceownersinterestduedepletin
ngrateofresource
Recognitionofthevalueofgeneticressources
Valueaddingproject recentNationalGEF
ABSGEFfundedprojectshasopportun
nityforstrengtheningmulti
governmentcollaboration
t ll b ti
FijiLMMANetworkworkwithcommunitiesonnaturalresource
management
g
Existenceofresearchinterestsinthea
academicfield USP
Existenceofotherenablinglegislation
g g
ns,eg
, g EMA2005andEPSAct2002
5

2,2012

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6. Conclusion
Reminded words of George Bernard Shaw:
Progress is impossible without change, and those who
cannot change
h
their
h i mind
i d ca
annot change
h
anything
hi
Yes ABS is foreign but acknow
wledging the benefits for
developing nations, change is
s inevitable, with commitment
and passion we can determine
e how it will benefit our nation.

MINISTRYOFITAUKEIAFFAIRS,FIJI