The primary goal is to highlight some of the principles which should be considered by planners, legislative drafters and policy-makers as they work to develop legal frameworks on access to genetic resources in their countries. Contextual information on the Convention on Biological Diversity and examples of how countries have approached the issue to date are provided
For centuries, genetic resources not protected by Intellectual Property Rights were collected and used without any regulation. They were a free good available for everyone. Huge profits were made but never shared with the custodians of biological diversity. "Access to genetic resources" underscores the importance of informed national approaches to enforce access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing provisions of the Convention on biological diversity.
It is not surprising that the issues involved in what is known as the "trade and environment" debate are manifold and complex. What is involved is an intersection of objectives which address economy, development, enviornment and equity. All this in an attempt to find the appropriate balance between free and controlled markets.
One of a series of reports which have been produced by IUCN Nepal as part of its work in the legal implementation of the Nepal's National Conservation Startegy (NCS). It gives an account of the status of international environmental law in Nepal
