Press Conference on Nagoya Protocol to Convention on Biological Diversity

 

Only three months after being opened for signature, the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity had more than a quarter of the signatories needed to move towards ratification, officials said at a Headquarters press conference today.

About 10 more countries were expected to sign up to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization at a ceremony held after the press conference, bringing the total number of signatories to 23, said Ahmed Djoghlaf, the Convention’s Executive Secretary.  That demonstrated the global interest generated by the issue, he added.

The Nagoya Protocol was adopted by the Conference of Parties to the Convention on 29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan.

Accompanying Mr. Djoghlaf today was Hideki Minamkiwa, Japan’s Administrative Vice-Minister for the Environment, who said his country was committed to exerting all efforts to ensure the Protocol’s smooth implementation.  Japan now represented the presidency of the Conference of Parties, and India would take over at the next session, in October 2012, he added.

T. Chatterjee, Secretary to India’s Ministry of Environment and Forests, said his country welcomed the progress made towards implementation of the Protocol and was optimistic that it would enter into force by late 2012, when India hosted the next Conference of Parties.

Two of the Protocol’s objectives were conservation and the sustainable use of species, he said, noting that India accounted for 7 to 8 per cent of the world’s recorded species, and that its sources of traditional knowledge could be used for medicines, herbicides and cosmetics.  The Protocol filled a missing pillar in the incorrect use of genetic resources, he added.

Before today’s ceremony, the following countries had signed the Protocol: Algeria, Brazil, Central African Republic, Colombia, Ecuador, Mali, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan and Yemen.  Mr. Djoghlaf said that India, Germany, Japan and Switzerland would sign today, but declined to name the other countries.

Noting Japan’s position as a leader in technology, Mr. Djoghlaf said its decision to sign the Protocol demonstrated its support.

Mr. Minamikawa said he expected other countries, including those of the European Union, would soon sign up.

The Protocol will enter into force on the ninetieth day after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States or regional economic integration organizations that are parties to the Convention.

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For information media • not an official record