The National Validation workshop on the Draft Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) will look for outcomes and resolutions for the conservation of marine biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable environment for our future generation.

This was highlighted by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Local Government, Housing and Environment, Joshua Wycliffe, while officiating at the launch of the National Validation workshop on the Draft Access and Benefit sharing workshop held in Pacific Harbour yesterday.

Mr Wycliffe said the project is unique not only because it is a pilot project for Fiji and the region but also because of the collaborative partnership that the project entails.

“The project is focused on trying to pave the way forward for ABS in Fiji and at the same time; conserving our biodiversity and this is in close collaboration with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Ministry of Fisheries and the Institute of Applied Sciences (IAS).

“Although a very challenging project, the ABS Project is one of vital importance for Fiji as we strive to work together to look for possible outcomes and resolutions for the betterment of our people; from the resource owners, to the Government who oversee all public interests and needs, to the researchers whether local, regional or international and even to the commercial businesses.”

Mr Wycliffe said the Government through the ministry as the focal point of the United Nations Convention of Biological Diversity (UNCBD) stands firm in its stance to ensure that all necessary and vital steps and processes are undertaken to preserve and sustain our environment, thus the Government’s decision to sign to the Nagoya Protocol.

The Nagoya Protocol is the international agreement that is in alignment to Article 15 of the UNCBD; in particular, genetic resources and traditional knowledge in association with traditional knowledge and the benefits arising out of the utilisation of such knowledge.

The ABS pilot project is marine based as its implementation focuses on methods and mechanisms that can help protect all stakeholders involved in both research undertaken for marine and terrestrial genetic resources and also that of traditional knowledge inclusive of music, medicine and dance and so on.

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