Programme Overview

The workshop consisted of the following elements of work:

Towards best practices for ABS

Shedding light into bioprospecting experiences is essential to come to practical and realistic solutions for regulating and implementing ABS highlighting approaches ensuring compliance by users of genetic resources. A field visit and discussion with stakeholders involved in the bioprospecting activities of the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) in Northern Madagascar will provide insights and first hand experiences in a long-term programme aiming to link drug discovery, biodiversity research, conservation and development. For an overview on ICBG’s activities in Madagascar see www.wlbcenter.org/icbg.htm.

Specific tools for the management of the negotiation process of bioprospecting agreements and for ABS related communication, education and public awareness (CEPA) were introduced and

discussed.

Linking up to the negotiation of the International ABS Regime

The agenda for the negotiation of the International ABS regime will be presented. Building on the experiences in the presented bioprospecting cases, recommendations for African positions on the agenda items “compliance” and “concepts” will be formulated and compared against first drafts of operational text for these agenda items.

The ABS Africa Initiative: review of the first phase and the way forward

The expected high-intensity roadmap for the negotiation of the International ABS Regime provides guidance for the implementation of the Initiative for the coming two years. Taking stock of the achievements so far provided the basis for the discussion of the roadmap until COP 10.