Strengthening Capacity to implement the Nagoya Protocol in Lao PDR

1. Strengthening Capacity to implement the Nagoya Protocol in Lao PDR Prepared by Ms. Kongchay PHIMMAKONG Deputy Director General Department of Science, Ministry of Science and Technology NFP- Assistant to Nagoya Protocol of the Convention on Biological Diversity National Dialogue for GCF&GEF, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, 12-14 February 2019, Crown Plaza, Vientiane Lao PDR

2. Contents • Genetic resources and why useful and important? • Issues are facing on the genetic resource utilization? • What is Nagoya Protocol? • How the Nagoya Protocol benefits to Lao PDR? • The proposed project to GEF 7 • Achievements of the project implementation

3. 1). Why are genetic resources useful and important? The rapid development of modern biotechnology over the past decades has enable us to use genetic resources in ways that have not only fundamentally altered our understanding of the living world, but has also led to the development of new products and practices that contribute to human well-being, ranging from vital medicines to methods that improve the security of our food supplies. It has also improved conservation methods that help safeguard global biodiversity. Genetic resources can be put to commercial or non-commercial: • In commercial use, companies can use genetic resources to develop specialty enzymes, enhance genes, or small molecules. These can be used in crop protection, drug development, production of special chemicals, or industrial processing. It is also possible to insert genes into crops to obtain desirable traits that can enhance their productivity or resilience to disease. • In non-commercial use, genetic resources can be used to increase knowledge or understanding of the natural world, with activities ranging from taxonomic research to ecosystem analysis. This work is usually conducted by academic and public research institutes.

4. 2). Issues are facing on the genetic resource utilization • We are not able to fully benefits from our genetic resources due to lacking of R&D or technology. • Genetic resources are accessed and used by other parties

5. 3). What is the Nagoya Protocol? • The Nagoya Protocol is a new international treaty that builds on and supports the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) for the fair and equitable sharing benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. Laos ratified on 26 September 2012 • The protocol is based on the fundamental principles of access and benefit sharing enshrined in the CBD. These principles are based on prior informed consent (PIC) and mutually agreed terms (MAT). • The protocol covers genetic resources and traditional knowledge (TK) associated with genetic resources, as well as the benefits arising from their utilization. • The protocol core elements are access obligations, benefit sharing obligations and compliance obligations.

6. Country life map • Creating National ABS Pilot Project through research and development for commercialized products (e.g highly economic plants); gene sources • Building capability for CNAs and concerned stakeholders • Raising common ABS understanding • Establishing ABS measures (e.g legislations, guidelines, model of contractual agreement, etc.) • Building Capacity • Supporting related information to CBD and related partners in both domestic and international • Raising awareness on ABS and mainstreaming through NBSAP, NABP • Facilitating ABS requests from domestic and international users National ABS Framework Lao PDR ratified Nagoya Protocol on ABS 2015-2018 Accession to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety Working plan from now… 2013-2014 Sept., 2012 Nov., 2004 Lao PDR acceded the CBD Sept., 1996

8. 4). How the Nagoya Protocol benefits to Lao PDR? • Solving the issues of sustainable use of genetic resources and biodiversity conservation • Create an opportunity of the national economic development by using the potential genetic resources existing in the country • Biodiversity conservation in line with benefit sharing and sustainable use of the genetic resourceutilization International agreement using as a tool to manage GR through access and benefit sharing between users and providers of the GR utilization

9. 5). The proposed project to GEF 7 Project title: Strengthening capacity to implement the Nagoya Protocol in Lao PDR

10. GEF Agency: UNEP Lead agency: Ministry of Science and Technology Project partners: • Domestic counterparts : Govn. agencies (MONRE, MAF, MOH and other line agencies), Research Institute for Development (IRD), Helvetas, Sivath Association, Lao Biodiversity Association. • International counterparts : CBD, ACB, UNCTAD, WIPO, Union for Ethical Biotrade(UEBT), Nimura Genetic Solutions (Japan) Project duration: 36 months Project objective: To implement the Nagoya Protocol in Lao PDR by creating the national framework to enable use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge in support of conservation, sustainable use and benefit sharing of the biological diversity

11. GEF finance:

13. 6). Achievements of the project implementation 1). To implement National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) 2016-2025, Strategy 3 (3.1.1 and 3.1.2); Aichi targets 1, 13, 16, 18, 19 2). National Agro-Biodiversity Programme and Action Plan II 2015-2025 (1.1.5; 1.2.3) 3). Obligation as a party to the Nagoya Protocol 4). Biotechnology Safety Law Article 22 (TK), 24 (ABS) and STI 2015-2025

14. Thank you for your attendtion Ministry of Science and Technology Km 14, DoonTeaw, Thangon Road, Vientiane, Lao People Democratic Republic E-mail: kongchaybeechan@gmail.com, viengpasith@yahoo.com; sourioudong@yahoo.co.uk, kosonh@yahoo.com

15. Problem statements