Peru has recently ratified the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Andean country's Foreign Ministry reported Tuesday.
According to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) secretariat, the entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol will provide greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources.
“The said treat will create a framework that promotes the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge while strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use,” the secretariat said in a press release.
The Protocol will create new incentives to conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and further enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and human well-being.
For his part, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that practical tools such as the Nagoya Protocol are critical for the sustainable and equitable use of biodiversity, and praised member states that have ratified it.
"By fulfilling the promise made at the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, they have made a significant contribution to the post-2015 sustainable development agenda,” he added.
The first meeting of parties to the protocol will be held during the Conference of Parties of the CBD, which will take place from 13-17 October in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Peru is one of the world's leading centers of origin of useful species and a genetic reservoir of enormous value for the indispensable technological innovation to tackle local and global issues such as climate change.
(END) NDP/DLG/RMB