Rwanda ratifies the Nagoya Protocol

Rwanda became the third country to ratify the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. In addition to Rwanda, Gabon and Jordan have also ratified the Protocol.

The Nagoya Protocol was open for signature between 2 February 2011 and 1 February 2012. There are 92 signatories to the Protocol.
Rose Mukankomeje, Director General, Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA), said: “The ratification of the Nagoya Protocol by our country is an important step towards a better sustainable management of our rich biodiversity.

This new international instrument under the Convention on Biological Diversity will certainly contribute in boosting our economy and at the end the livelihoods of communities will be improved.

Like other developing countries around the world, once the Protocol enters into force, Rwanda would be in a position to benefit meaningfully from its biological resources and associated traditional knowledge, which have been exploited over the years without real return.”

Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said: “The Nagoya Protocol has the potential to unlock the full value of the genetic resources of our world.

The benefits to be realized and then shared with equity are considerable. I urge other Parties to the Convention to take the steps to ratify as soon as possible.”

In order to become Parties to the Nagoya Protocol, Parties to the Convention that have signed the Nagoya Protocol may then proceed to take steps at the domestic level that would lead to depositing their instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval with the Depositary.

The entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol will provide greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources, creating a framework that promotes the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge while strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use.

Hence, the Protocol will create new incentives to conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and further enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and human well-being.

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Posted by AfricaSTI on April 10, 2012. Filed under Environment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry