KEY FINDINGS:

1) ABS and forest management are inextricably linked. However existing legislation relating to forests and the environment do not sufficiently address the issue of ABS. This is a result of the lack of linkages between ABS and forestry legal mechanisms in many African countries.

2) There is a lack of awareness and low level of stakeholder participation. There is therefore a need to develop capacity at different levels.

3) There is a need to develop/implement legal provisions as well as tracking and monitoring systems that address ABS and forestry issues.

4) Genetic resources and traditional knowledge are shared between countries and communities. This requires regional strategies to deal with ABS and forest management.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE ABS COMMUNITY:

The ABS community should:

1)         Put in place a communication strategy to reach out to all users and custodians of biological resources that may be subject to ABS

2)         Make use of the existing body of knowledge and experience in the forestry sector in implementing ABS

3)         Extend capacity building on ABS to the forestry community

4)         Clarify benefit sharing modalities to the forestry community

5)         Develop appropriate and clear ABS policies and legislation

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FORESTRY COMMUNITY

The forestry community should:

1)       Integrate ABS issues into forest policy and legislation

2)       Build capacity to address ABS issues in forest legislation and implementation

3)       Put in place a communication strategy on relevant forest issues to the ABS community

4)       Identify potential values of biological resources and TK for income generation under ABS

5)       Explore the potential of including ABS aspects within licensing schemes such as forest certification

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION LEVEL

1) Develop, harmonize and enforce legislation on ABS and forestry

2) Develop and implement a strategy for capacity building, communication, awareness creation and information sharing on ABS, forestry and their linkages

3) Develop a funding mechanism for sustainable ABS and forestry activities

4) Ensure full participation of all stakeholders including women and youth in ABS and forestry activities

5) Put in place mechanisms to facilitate the mutual briefing of ABS and forestry focal points before attending local and international meetings

6) Clarify how ABS functions under different land tenure systems

7) Establish clear modalities on benefit sharing

RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL

1)       Involve regional and subregional organizations in the organizing workshops for ABS and UNFF focal points

2)       UNEP should ensure that there is an interface between ABS, REDD and UNFF processes

3)       Undertake a study on the linkages between ABS and the non-legally binding instruments of the UNFF to inform the ongoing negotiations towards an IRABS and under UNFF

4)       Develop a sustainable funding mechanism to support the ABS and forestry activities in Africa