ABS Management Tool

1. International Meeting on Implementation of the ABS Management Tool October 9, 2007 Montreal ABS Management Tool Sponsored by: SECOOrganized by: IISD, Stratos Inc., Jorge Cabrera

2. Meeting Objectives • To launch the ABS Management Tool – Final version • To build support and engagement for implementation of the ABS Management Tool

3. Agenda • Welcome and Introductions • The ABS – MT Project and Presentation of the Management Tool • Discussion of the Implementation Plan • Discussion of Factors for Successful Implementation • Next Steps

4. ABS Management Tool Project Phase 1 (2003 - 2004) • Research on ABS and other standards • Development of working draft Management Tool Phase 2 (2004 – 2007) • Field Testing • Outreach and stakeholder consultations • Assessment of implementation options • Revision and finalization of the ABS-MT International Advisory Committee -------------------------- Supported by • Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Executed by • IISD • Stratos Inc. • Jorge Cabrera

5. Project Activities Development of the Management Tool: • Working Draft + User Guide – 2004 • Revised Working Draft – 2006 • Best Practice Standard and Handbook - 2007 Outreach and Stakeholder Engagement Field Testing of the ABS – MT Design of an Implementation Plan

6. Outreach and Feedback • CBD Forums • Industry • Indigenous Peoples • Governments • Researchers • NGOs • International ABS Practitioners Workshop - Costa Rica

7. Testing the Management Tool in Practice • Field Tests • Use of the ABS-MT in new ABS negotiations (project level) • Australia • Bolivia • Cameroon • Malaysia • Tanzania

8. Lessons Learned – ABS Trends • Growing areas of activity • Micro-organisms, plants, animals with novel enzymes • Bulk collection of genetic/biological resources – cosmetics, herbal medicines • New environments – marine, severe environmental conditions • Strong demand for international guidance: • By governments, industry, research institutions + communities

9. Lessons Learnt – ABS Challenges • Lack of legal certainty – particularly at national level • Many genetic resource users still don’t understand ABS requirements covered by CBD: • Need for capacity building – governments, Indigenous peoples, other communities, companies • Chilling effect of publicized cases • Fragmentation/increasingly complex supply chain • Importance of linking ABS to conservation objectives • No clear boundaries between access for research and bio-prospecting

10. Collaborative and mutually beneficial relationships Provider User The Need ABS Management Tool

11. Purpose of the ABS Management Tool • Best practice standard and handbook which provides guidance and tools on ABS practice for Users and Providers to ensure compliance with the Bonn Guidelines and CBD requirements • A structured process and fair and equitable means of participating in and making decisions about ABS negotiations and the implementation of ABS agreements • To inform and guide Users and Providers in a neutral way to help them establish necessary relationships based on confidence and trust • The ABS-MT applies to all stages of genetic resource activity: • Prior to access • Access (collection and discovery) • Academic research • Research and development • Commercialization

14. Management Processes • Use in an Organization’s Management System or Procedures • Other Management Considerations: • The Participation of Indigenous and Local Communities • Documentation and Information-management sharing • Reporting • Emerging Practices on Certificate of Origin/Compliance with National Law

15. ABS – MT Decision Making www.iisd.org/abs/abs_mt.asp

16. Implementation Support Program Purpose is to facilitate: • Broad use of the ABS-MT as a neutral source of guidance to ABS practice; • Adoption of the ABS- MT as a recognized ABS best practice standard for compliance with the Bonn Guidelines (and an international regime in the future); and • Support to users and providers of genetic resources to improve ABS practices and processes.

17. Proposed Implementation Strategy • Main Activities • Dissemination of information & ABS-MT • Capacity building • Support & technical services Strategic Elements Host Institution Partnerships Funding Governance

18. Host Institution – Potential TOR • Identify key partner institutions to establish cooperative agreements, joint ventures, or contracted activities to support implementation • Create an active ABS website with an interactive version of the ABS-MT • Promote and provide outreach on use of the ABS-MT through guidance and the dissemination of neutral information • Provide and facilitate capacity building and training for Providers and Users, using the ABS-MT as the basis • Facilitate access to ABS expertise for development of ABS agreements or needed technical assistance through partnerships with other organizations or experts • Liaison with the CBD Secretariat and represent the ABS MT at key international and national meetings related to ABS • Animate the best practice network of ABS practitioners; and • Identify funding sources and submit proposal for on-going funding to support ABS functions and activities

19. Host Institution Selection • Criteria • Knowledge of CBD and ABS issues • Perceived as neutral among a range of ABS interests • Experience in developing countries and cross-cultural environments • Existing institutional relationships and networks • Strong communications platforms in place • Organizational management capacity • Process • Swiss government (SECO) to identify and select : • Tender; or • Selection and direct negotiation

20. Potential Host Institutions ABS-MT Office would best be housed in an existing organization. Four neutral and internationally recognized organizations have been identified as possible hosts for an ABS-MT Office: • IUCN – The World Conservation Union ; • UNCTAD BioTrade Program; • United Nations University – Institute for Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS); • the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). • Other?

21. Potential Partnerships • Industry associations active on ABS; • Organizations promoting the use of related standards such as the • BioTrade Facilitation Program (BTFP); and • the IUCN/WWF/BfN International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) • Research institutions; • Aboriginal and community groups; • Inter-governmental /multilateral organizations; • International NGOs; • Foundations ; and • Professional societies.

22. Fundraising + Potential Donors • To date, funding has been provided by SECO. • Potential donors can include: • foundations • bilateral donors • multilateral donors • industry.

23. Governance • Adoption and wide use of the ABS-MT will require international support and endorsement. • The Implementation Program may benefit from a governance structure which brings together key interests with a stake in the successful application of the ABS-MT. Possible elements of such a governance structure could include: • An International Steering Committee – with representation or individual membership from a regionally balanced set of interests – government, Indigenous and communities, industry, research community and NGOs; • A Tecnhnical Advisory Committee comprising of experts from a variety of disciplines and aspects of ABS practice; and 3) A Network of ABS Practitioners to ensure that the ABS MT remains up-to-date in its application, informed by experience and best practices around the world.

24. Factors for Successful Implementation Key factors for successful implementation of the ABS-MT: • Authoritative endorsement • Widely distributed • Adopted and applied • Feasible plan in place • Other?

25. Initiating the Implementation Support Program • Identify and select host institution 2. Fundraising from a variety of sources 3. Establishment of initial partnerships 4. Mounting web based version of ABS - MT 5. Broad dissemination of the ABS-MT