International Conference on Biodiversity and Bioresources - Conservation
and Utilization
Phuket, Thailand, 23-27 November 1997
> Published
in Pure Appl. Chem. 70(11), 2065-2145 (1998)
PREFACE
The Phuket Declaration concerning the conservation
and sustainable utilization of biological diversity was developed at
the IUPAC International Conference on Biodiversity and Bioresources
- Conservation and Utilization, held in Phuket, Thailand during 23 to
27 November1997. The Declaration recognises the sovereign rights of
states over their natural resources and their authority to determine
access, in compliance with the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Under the Convention it seeks to accomplish
the following important objectives:
- biological diversity must be protected,
minimizing anthropogenic influences
- the principle of sustainable utilization
of genetic resources must be adopted; appropriate research activity
should be carried out, if possible, within the source country and
in close contact with local scientists
- there should be a fair and equitable sharing of commercial benefits
arising from this research
Regional concerns over the over exploitation
of biological resources led to the Manila Declaration in 1992 which
was endorsed by the Bukittinggi Declaration in 1992, and followed by
the Melaka Accord in 1994. These three documents outlined a regional
standpoint to ensure the conservation and sustainable utilization of
biological resources. The Guidelines to facilitate access to biological
resources and the equitable sharing of benefits in the Southeast Asian
Region was prepared at the Workshop in Kuala Lumpur in April 1996 to
ensure a fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
IUPAC recommendations on the Preservation
and Utilization of
Natural Biodiversity in Context of Search for Economically Valuable
Medicinal Biota have been
published in Pure and Applied Chemistry, Vol. 68, p. 2325-2332,
1996, taking into account IUPAC's global, strictly scientific and non-govern
mental mandate for chemistry.
At the Phuket IUPAC International Conference
on Biodiversity held during 23-27 November 1997, all scientists agreed
that the principles outlined above, in compliance with the Convention
on Biological Diversity should be implemented and the PHUKET DECLARATION
was adopted.
THE
PHUKET DECLARATION Concerning The Conservation and Sustainable
Utilization of Biological Diversity
Adopted at the IUPAC International Conference
on Biodiversity and Bioresources Conservation and Utilization, held
during 23-27 November 1997, in Phuket, Thailand. We, the participants
of the Conference, outlined and agreed on the following principles:
- Recognition of the sovereign rights of
the source countries over their biological resources, and of their
rights to utilize such resources in accordance with their own environmental
policies.
- Development of legislative measures by
the source nations for conserving and sustainably utilizing their
biological resources.
- Provision of incentives to promote the
transfer of technology through collaborative research and training
under "fair and most favorable terms to the parties concerned".
- Ensuring the fair and equitable sharing
of benefits arising from the utilization of biological resources.
It is recommended that the countries endowed
with rich biological resources should:
1. Develop legislative measures to facilitate
effective conservation and responsible access to biological resources
and its molecular diversity.
2. Discuss the establishment of an effective
coordinating/administrative body to ensure that the provisions of the
legislative measures are properly implemented.
3. Adopt national systems of licenses for
foreigners and nationals who plan to have access to biological resources;
develop cooperative research and development programmes that ensure
a mutually agreed level of science and technology transfer.
4. Provide an efficient process for granting
a license with efficient mechanisms to obtain Prior Informed Consent
from the source country and the local communities concerned.
5. Provide mechanisms for the protection of
rights of local communities and indigenous people with a fair and equitable
sharing of benefits.
6. Encourage collaborative research and training
to be carried out preferably within the Source country in order to enhance
scientific and technological capabilities and ensure appropriate recognition
of the contribution of host country collaborators.
7. Facilitate the exchanging of relevant information
regarding scientific, technical, legislative and administrative protocols
among collaborating countries.