| Overview : South Africa, through the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF), is part of the UNDP-GEF Global ABS Project titled: “Strengthening human resources, legal framework and institutional capacities to implement the Nagoya Protocol” which aims to facilitate the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). Under Component 3 of the project, ‘Strengthening the capacity of indigenous and local communities to contribute to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol’, the development of a BioCultural Community Protocol (BCP) is envisaged. The South African bioprospecting/biotrade sub-sector of the biodiversity economy has demonstrated the potential for significant development and growth, contributing to national imperatives such as job creation, rural development, and conservation of our natural resources. For the sector to achieve its full potential, a strategic partnership between the state, private sector, and importantly Indigenous and Local Communities (ILC’s) is required. South Africa is actively engaged in bioprospecting activities which involve the exploration of biodiversity for valuable genetic resources that may be used for commercial purposes. This is largely due to the countries’ rich and unique biodiversity, traditional knowledge/indigenous knowledge (TK/IK) and well-developed research and institutional capacities, which provides an extremely favourable environment for bioprospecting. According to the Convention on Biological Diversity, “Access and benefit-sharing (ABS) refers to the way in which biological or genetic resources may be accessed, and how the benefits that result from their use are shared between the people or countries using the resources (users) and the people or countries that provide them (providers).” Many activities within the bioprospecting sector are associated with unique and valuable TK/IK held by various ILC’s of the country. The knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities, are key components that make up Traditional/Indigenous Knowledge. TK/IK is developed from the experience gained over a long period of time which has been adapted to the local culture and environment. This knowledge is valuable not only to those who depend on it in their daily lives, but to modern industry, agricultural sectors, and to the research and development environment. Indigenous and local communities have close linkages with their surrounding environment which forms the foundation of their identity, culture, language and way of life. The natural resources, specifically the biodiversity, and culture form interdependent components within communities. Communities’ unique cultural and spiritual values are often enshrined in the biological resources, ecosystems and ancestral landscapes which have the potential to sustain the biodiversity and related TK/IK, and in return the sustainable use of these resources preserves the TK/IK and cultural values of the ILC’s. BCPs are critical for Communities who are being or will be approached by industries and researchers amongst other stakeholders, seeking their prior informed consent for access to their indigenous biological and genetic resources (IBGR) and also their TK/IK associated with the use of their IBGR for bioprospecting and biotrade projects, as referenced in the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization under Convention on Biological Diversity. South Africa through the UNDP-GEF Global ABS project committed to support the development of a Biocultural community protocol by ILCs relating to their biodiversity, and also to consider any other community rules and procedures where TK/IK associated with indigenous biological and genetic resources is concerned. The DEFF has identified communities in the Vhembe area, Limpopo to be assisted in the development of a BCP. The identified communities are as follows: Manenzhe, Tshikundamalema, Makuya, Mutele, Thengwe and Rammbuda Traditional Authorities (Chiefdoms). A BioCultural Community Protocol will assist these communities to: - Assert and defend their customary rights in relation to their surrounding biodiversity;
- Promote and facilitate constructive dialogue and equitable partnerships with external stakeholders;
- Prescribe a manner in which external stakeholders communicate with the communities;
- Improve organization, representation and cohesion between and within communities;
- Establish local systems and institutions in relation to ABS arrangements, in accordance with their customary laws and livelihood needs;
- Set out conditions for granting access to their lands, resources and knowledge, such as procedures for Prior and Informed Consent (define rules for access to traditional knowledge/indigenous knowledge, plant materials, animal materials, microorganisms and benefit sharing agreement); and
- Highlight the communities’ aspirations as well as the challenges and possible solutions.
The approved Annual Work Plan for the UNDP-GEF Global ABS project for the 2019/2020 financial year indicated that the body of work will require a national consultant to develop a BioCultural Community Protocol with DEFF as the supporting partner. |
