Lúcia Nórcio
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Curitiba - The 8th Conference of the Parties (COP-8) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) ended Friday (31) with advances in the discussion of issues considered relevant to Brazil. The minister of Environment, Marina Silva, presented a report on the decisions reached at the meeting. The elaboration of an International System of Access and Benefit-Sharing [related to the use of genetic resources] was one of the principal items discussed in Curitiba.

The four thousand delegates present at the conference decided to adopt the text presented in February, in Spain, by the permanent work group on the International System of Access and Benefit-Sharing. The year 2010 was set as the time limit for the task to be completed. Until then, the negotiations will proceed, and two meetings will be held prior to the COP-9, which is scheduled to occur two years from now, in Germany. A group formed of 25 specialists and seven observers will be created to formulate options for certificates of origin and legal provenance regarding genetic resources and the traditional knowledge associated with them. The idea is for such certificates to be issued by the countries of origin, ensuring that national laws are respected.

The countries were asked to increase the number of representatives of indigenous and local communities in their official delegations and to seek formulas for these peoples to participate effectively in the decisions of the CBD. The delegates decided to set up a voluntary fund to guarantee this participation, not only in the elaboration of the International System of Access and Benefit-Sharing, but in all discussions related to traditional knowledge. Guidelines were defined for the development of a unique system for the protection of traditional knowledge and a code of conduct ensuring respect for the cultural and intellectual patrimony of these peoples.

In the sphere of agricultural biodiversity, the decision was to maintain the existing moratorium on seeds that incorporate Genetic Use Restricted Technology (GURTs), commonly referred to as "terminator" or sterile seeds. The original text of the CBD, which bans the field-testing and commercialization of these seeds, prevailed. The delegates decided in favor of promoting and disseminating research on the impact of these seeds, as well as reaffirming the decision to respect the traditional knowledge and methods of farmers. They also resolved to direct countries in the execution of cross-sectorial activities linked to biodiversity, food, and nutrition.

For the very first time, an effort was made to involve the private sector in the implementation of the convention. This initiative, urging the sector of align its policies and practices to the goals and objectives of the CBD, was led by Brazil, together with the United Kingdom and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), and ratified by the conference.

The minister of Environment, Marina Silva, called attention to the fact that most of the decisions are cross-sectorial in nature. She mentioned the decisions dealing with synergies between biodiversity, food, and nutrition, the decisions on GURTs; the decision encouraging the parties to respect the traditional knowledge and methods of farmers, and the transgenic trees decision, which acknowledged the uncertainties regarding their potential environmental and socioeconomic impacts and led the minister to reaffirm the need for a careful examination of the matter.

In its report, the COP-8 claims progress in relation to previous COPs with respect to the attempt to make the ministerial segment of the conference more than just a meeting of ministers of Environment, isolated from what goes on at the delegates' negotiating tables, and turn it into a debate reflecting the variety of sectors and actors that participate in the official negotiations. The idea is to enhance the high-level participation of more sectors, permitting these debates to exert a more pointed influence on the conference's negotiations.

It was also decided that more rapid action is needed at all levels in order to achieve the goals of the convention and that long-term financing needs to be assured for the implementation of the convention.

The report concludes that the current indicators of biodiversity loss are extremely alarming and that the world can't keep postponing the necessary steps. "The commitment assumed in Curitiba is more than with one another, it is with life on earth. We need to demonstrate this to the citizens who gave us the authority to be gathered here and to discuss in their name the type of planet we will bequeath to future generations," the delegates affirm in their report.

Translation: David Silberstein