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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)

The Phuket Declaration

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.


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