New TWN Book on Nagoya Protocol Negotiations

The Third World Network (TWN) has released the second edition of "The Road to an Anti-Biopiracy Agreement: The Negotiations Under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity". Comprised of a series of reports and articles, the book provides detailed descriptions and analyses of the 14 sets of negotiations since 2004 that led to the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing in 2010. It also provides initial analysis of...

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UNFCCC Meetings & Event on REDD Safeguards

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) recently held parallel meetings in Bonn, Germany. The 34th sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) took place from 6-16 June. The second part of the fourteenth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative...

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New Publication on Development & Customary Law

The International Work Group on Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) recently released an issue of "Indigenous Affairs". Edited by Jens Dahl and Geneviève Rose, it includes a range of articles on different aspects of customary law, self-determination, and development among Indigenous peoples in Kenya, Sabah (Malaysia), India, Bolivia, and Russia. The editorial explores the importance of customary law for Indigenous peoples' self-determined development, self-governance,...

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CBD Meeting on Sustainable Use Held in Montreal

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) hosted a meeting from 31 May to 3 June in Montreal on the sustainable use of biological diversity, with particular focus on customary sustainable use (i.e. Article 10(c)). Participants agreed on recommendations regarding elements of a strategy to integrate Article 10(c) as a cross-cutting issue into the CBD work programmes and thematic areas, beginning with the programme of work on protected...

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Viewing People and Parks through a New Lens

From 18-19 June, Natural Justice attended a seminar on biocultural diversity and conservation in Sabah, Malaysia. It was the second of three seminars and part of an interactive course designed by the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF) and funded by the Darwin Initiative UK. The first seminar, "Reframing Our Ecology: Concepts and Debates for Research and Advocacy in Human-Environment Relationships", took place in April.This second seminar was facilitated...

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Discussing Community Conserved Areas in Sabah

On 16 June, a back-to-back roundtable and panel session on community conservation initiatives was held at the International Symposium on Society and Resource Management (ISSRM) in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. The roundtable focused on Model Ecologically Sustainable Community Conservation and Tourism (MESCOT), a community-based initiative comprising four villages in Sabah's Lower Kinabatangan Floodplain that includes home stays, a rainforest eco-camp, wildlife...

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New Publications from RRI and FPP

Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and their partners recently released 6 case studies and a synthesis report on customary sustainable use of biodiversity by Indigenous peoples and local communities. Case studies from Bangladesh, Cameroon, Guyana, Suriname, and Thailand provide insights into the sophistication of local management systems, in particular the customary law systems that guide the wise use of biological resources. The communities also describe...

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Substantive and Procedural Injustices of the Nagoya Protocol

A Joint Submission of the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee), endorsed by 73 organizations globally (and counting), comprehensively details the substantive and procedural injustices of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing in relation to Indigenous peoples' human rights. The executive summary and full text of Joint Submission are available online. Some of the injustices detailed include, among others:lack of full respect for international...

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Latest Edition of CBD Civil Society Newsletter

The fifth issue of [square brackets], the newsletter for civil society involved in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), was recently released. This issue focuses on implementation of the 2011-2020 Strategic Plan as well as reaching the Aichi Biodiversity Targets. Other articles address biofuels, the new focus in the CBD on customary sustainable use, and the green economy. Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) served on the editorial board along...

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New Publication: Agricultural Biodiversity in Europe

Michel Pimbert (International Institute for Environment and Development) has written a new publication entitled, "Participatory Research and On-farm Management of Agricultural Biodiversity in Europe". He summarizes the publication (available for download) as follows: "Drawing on experience in Europe and the wider literature, this paper offers some critical reflections on how— and under what conditions— the European Union might support the development...

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Legislative Review of South Africa's IP Amendment Bill

On 8 and 10 June, Johanna von Braun and Laureen Manuel (Natural Justice) participated as experts at the Portfolio Committee for Trade and Industry in South Africa's Parliament to give input into further amendments proposed to the Intellectual Property Amendment Bill. The Bill (B8-2010), which has been discussed within South Africa's government for more than a year, seeks to amend four national intellectual property frameworks, namely the Performers'...

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First Meeting of the IGC on the Nagoya Protocol

From 6-10 June in Montreal, Kabir Bavikatte (Natural Justice) participated in the First Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ICNP-1) under the auspices of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Kabir was involved in the negotiations of the ICNP in his capacity as the legal advisor to the African Group of Countries. Over the 5 days, the ICNP focused on the modalities of establishing...

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Side Event on Community Protocols at ICNP-1

At the First Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ICNP-1) in Montreal, a side event was hosted on 6 June on biocultural community protocols. Entitled "Biocultural Community Protocols Under the Nagoya Protocol: Nurturing ABS-TK Implementation and Awareness Raising Approach", it was jointly organized by Seneca International, Asociacion ANDES (Peru), INBRAPI (Brazil), and Chinchansuyo...

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OSISA Meeting on Economic Justice

Kabir Bavikatte and Gino Cocchiaro (Natural Justice) attended the Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA) Economic Justice Partners Meeting from 30-31 May. The meeting was attended by approximately 50 participants from Southern Africa who have been working with OSISA's Economic Justice Division to address various issues facing the region. The meeting heard from a number of participants who shared their experiences and engaged in vibrant...

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