Abstract
As part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing calls for 'fair and equitable sharing of benefits' derived from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. However, implementation of the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol has been challenged by the inadequacies of existing policies, lack of national-level frameworks, and inadequate knowledge among stakeholders. We used focus group meetings and structured interviews with rural communities, government representatives, researchers and Members of Parliament in Bhutan to collect data on awareness, knowledge and perceptions of components of the CBD related to access and benefit sharing. Our study indicated generally low levels of awareness about most components of the Convention, particularly among rural residents. Although local people in rural communities feel that benefits derived from local biological resources and traditional knowledge should be shared, there is uncertainty about who owns these resources. These results indicate that there is an urgent need to develop educational and awareness programmes, using a variety of media, to target particular stakeholder groups, with emphasis on residents in rural communities. This could empower local communities to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes to develop Bhutan's national access and benefit sharing framework, and to allow them to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of local resources.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | ORYX |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2019 Jan 1 |
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Keywords
- Access and benefit sharing framework
- awareness
- Bhutan
- biodiversity
- CBD
- Convention on Biological Diversity
- Nagoya Protocol
- natural resources
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
- Nature and Landscape Conservation
Cite this
Awareness of the Convention on Biological Diversity and provisions regarding access and benefit sharing among multiple stakeholder groups in Bhutan. / Wang, Sonam Wangyel; Lee, Woo-Kyun; Brooks, Jeremy; Dorji, Chencho.
In: ORYX, 01.01.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Awareness of the Convention on Biological Diversity and provisions regarding access and benefit sharing among multiple stakeholder groups in Bhutan
AU - Wang, Sonam Wangyel
AU - Lee, Woo-Kyun
AU - Brooks, Jeremy
AU - Dorji, Chencho
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - As part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing calls for 'fair and equitable sharing of benefits' derived from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. However, implementation of the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol has been challenged by the inadequacies of existing policies, lack of national-level frameworks, and inadequate knowledge among stakeholders. We used focus group meetings and structured interviews with rural communities, government representatives, researchers and Members of Parliament in Bhutan to collect data on awareness, knowledge and perceptions of components of the CBD related to access and benefit sharing. Our study indicated generally low levels of awareness about most components of the Convention, particularly among rural residents. Although local people in rural communities feel that benefits derived from local biological resources and traditional knowledge should be shared, there is uncertainty about who owns these resources. These results indicate that there is an urgent need to develop educational and awareness programmes, using a variety of media, to target particular stakeholder groups, with emphasis on residents in rural communities. This could empower local communities to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes to develop Bhutan's national access and benefit sharing framework, and to allow them to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of local resources.
AB - As part of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing calls for 'fair and equitable sharing of benefits' derived from the use of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. However, implementation of the Convention and the Nagoya Protocol has been challenged by the inadequacies of existing policies, lack of national-level frameworks, and inadequate knowledge among stakeholders. We used focus group meetings and structured interviews with rural communities, government representatives, researchers and Members of Parliament in Bhutan to collect data on awareness, knowledge and perceptions of components of the CBD related to access and benefit sharing. Our study indicated generally low levels of awareness about most components of the Convention, particularly among rural residents. Although local people in rural communities feel that benefits derived from local biological resources and traditional knowledge should be shared, there is uncertainty about who owns these resources. These results indicate that there is an urgent need to develop educational and awareness programmes, using a variety of media, to target particular stakeholder groups, with emphasis on residents in rural communities. This could empower local communities to participate meaningfully in decision-making processes to develop Bhutan's national access and benefit sharing framework, and to allow them to benefit from the conservation and sustainable use of local resources.
KW - Access and benefit sharing framework
KW - awareness
KW - Bhutan
KW - biodiversity
KW - CBD
KW - Convention on Biological Diversity
KW - Nagoya Protocol
KW - natural resources
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85061527276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85061527276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/S0030605318000819
DO - 10.1017/S0030605318000819
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85061527276
JO - Oryx
JF - Oryx
SN - 0030-6053
ER -