ThePushpa Gujral Science City organized a webinar in collaboration withConfederation of Indian Industry (CII), on ‘Industry and Access & BenefitSharing (ABS) provisions under the Biological Diversity Act’ at the occasion ofInternational Biodiversity Day, 2021.
Thewebinar was supported by Punjab Bio-Diversity Board and National BiodiversityAuthority. It was attended by about 300 industrialists, experts, researchers,Biology students and teachers from across the country.
Addressingthe participants, Dr.V.B Mathur, Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority,underlined the significance of ABS in the national and internationalperspective. He highlighted that ABS could become a powerful tool to achievethe objectives of conservation and sustainable use of bio-resources and itsadoption could lead communities towards the path of sustainable growth.
Heinformed that India was a world leader in enacting and implementing theBiological Diversity Act and countries were looking up to us for implementingthe ABS mechanism also. He, however, expressed his concern over the slowimplementation of the ABS provisions in the country as called for underArticles 15, 16, and 19 of the CBD.
MrBhavdeep Sardana, Eminent industrialist & Chairman, CII Punjab, in hisopening remarks, said that like many key resources in the world, geneticresources were not evenly distributed and countries rich in bio-resourcesneeded to use them judiciously to ensure sustainable economic growth.
Sharinghis views during the webinar Shri J Justin Mohan, IFS, Secretary, NationalBiodiversity Authority underscored the importance of awareness on proceduresfor gaining access to genetic resources, and the provisions under the ABSGuidelines.
He noted that several industries were now coming forwardvoluntarily to implement these Guidelines and their achievements needed to beacknowledged, appreciated and emulated. Such industries could become RoleModels for their counterparts.
Dr.Neelima Jerath, Director General, Pushpa Gujral Science City, informed that ithas been estimated that bio-resources provide services worth US$ 125 trillionper annum globally. Hence, recognizing sovereign rights of every country on itsbiological resources is important. India is in the elite group of Mega-diversecountries.
She said that human actions including deforestation, encroachment onwildlife habitats, intensified agriculture, and acceleration of climate change,have pushed nature beyond its limit. If we continue on this path, biodiversityloss will have severe implications for humanity, including the collapse of foodand health systems.
Further,the emergence of COVID-19 has underscored the fact that when we destroybiodiversity we destroy the system that supports human life. Nature is sendingus a message which we need to decode and take collective action, she added.
Speakingat the occasion, Dr. Geetha Nayak, GIZ, emphasized that protecting naturesupports global economy, creates jobs and protects livelihoods. An investmentof 1$ in conservation can yield a return of 9$. Access & Benefit Sharing is therefore, integral to thesustainability of Bio-resource based industry.
Mr.Sanjay Kumar, Country Manager of Valagro Biosciences, Hyderabad, which receivedthe India Biodiversity Award, 2021 in the ABS category, said that the aim ofABS was to enable fair distribution of benefits between the users and providersso as to open the doors for innovation, as well as, create incentives forconservation. Therefore, access to genetic resources in general, andbenefit-sharing from that access, is a key to sustainable development.
Dr.Jatinder Kaur Arora, Member Secretary, Punjab Biodiversity Board (PBB) in herremarks highlighted the role being played by PBB for conservation of wild anddomesticated flora & fauna in the state with the prime object to promotesustainable utilization of biological resources.