Sustainable Use of Genetic Resources under the Convention on Biological Diversity: Exploring Access and Benefit Sharing Issues

The Convention on Biological Diversity is a complex document, particularly in those articles dealing with the ownership and use of genetic resources. While only limited progress has been made in applying the Convention, countries are nevertheless acting unilaterally on its placement of genetic resources as their sovereign right to exploit. There is a need to review and synthesize all of the aspects of these issues, and this book aims to fill that gap in the literature. Its focus is the presentation of legal and economic issues regarding the sustainable use and transfer of genetic resources and associated technologies. It also identifies specific steps that can be taken and their expected consequences.

Drawing particularly on Articles 8, 9, 15, 16, 18 and 19 of the Convention, it will assist positive and timely action during this critical juncture in its application. It will be invaluable for scientists, policy-makers and NGOs, whether from the perspectives of economics or law, or more applied fields such as biological conservation or plant breeding and biotechnology.