ABS capacity development workshop in Bhutan

Left to right:
 Dr. Tashi Yangzome (Director, National Biodiversity Center),
Morten Tvedt (Fridtjof Nansen Institute),
Dr. Pema Gyamtsho (Minister for Agriculture and Forests),
 Dr. Kabir Bavikatte (Natural Justice),
 Mani Prasad Nirola (Scientist, National Biodiversity Center).
Courtesy of Kabir

Kabir Bavikatte from Natural Justice and Morten Tvedt from the Fridtjof Nansen Institute facilitated an ABS capacity development workshop in Bhutan from the 12th-14th of March 2013. The workshop was hosted by the National Biodiversity Centre and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests with the aim of developing Bhutan's national ABS capacity.

The workshop was attended by representatives of the various ministries and departments in Bhutan and covered a number of issues ranging from intellectual property to community protocols. Previously Kabir and Morten have assisted Bhutan in developing their national ABS policy and the current workshop sought to provide the context to this policy by focusing on issues of access to genetic resources, benefit sharing and community rights.

Kabir and Morten and their respective organizations were formally thanked by Bhutan's Minister for Agriculture and Forests, Dr. Pema Gyamtsho for their services rendered to Bhutan and its people.

IPR and ABS Workshop in Bhutan

Via  www.moaf.gov.bt

Kabir Bavikatte (Natural Justice) is involved in a workshop on 'Intellectual Property Related to Genetic Resources and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) in relation to the Nagoya Protocol and International Treaties'.

It is being held over four days (12-15 March) in Thimphu, Bhutan.

Keep up to speed on crucial developments here.

Supporting Bhutan's ABS Policy Drafting Process

Kabir Bavikatte from Natural Justice and Morten Tvedt from the Fridjof Nansen Institute were in Bhutan from the 28th of March to the 7th of April to provide legal assistance to the Bhutan's National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) to develop Bhutan's Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Policy. Bhutan, which is a signatory to the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing, began the process of developing its national ABS Policy in April 2011 with the assistance of Kabir and Morten. The multi-stakeholder consultation in April 2011 led to a draft national ABS Policy. 

The national ABS Policy has been through a number of public consultations since, most recently in Central and Southern Bhutan. Kabir and Morten were involved in some of these consultations assisting the NBC in a re-draft of the ABS policy based on the inputs from these consultations. The NBC will conduct further community consultations on the Policy in the East of Bhutan after which the draft ABS policy will be presented to the Gross National Happiness Commission and the Cabinet of Bhutan for approval. The Policy, if it is approved, is likely to become one of the most innovative ABS policies in the world as it will ensure the conservation and sustainable use of Bhutan's biodiversity while foregrounding the social, spiritual and economic wellbeing of Bhutan's communities.