NEW from GRAIN
Posted 10/02/2002

Traditional knowledge and biodiversity in Asia-Pacific:

Problems of piracy and protection www.grain.org/publications/tk-asia-2002-en.cfm (144 KB) GRAIN & Kalpavriksh, October 2002 GRAIN has published a new briefing on the state of traditional knowledge and biodiversity in the Asia-Pacific region. Most people across Asia, a region rich in biodiversity, are directly dependent on plant genetic resources for their livelihoods. But both these resources and the knowledge related to them are under threat.

The quest for "green gold" by transnational companies and global institutions is penetrating all countries of the region, bringing with it a rise in the problem of biopiracy. The misappropriation of traditional knowledge has been helped by changes in regulations - mainly the introduction of intellectual property rights. Governments are increasingly trying to manage rights to biodiversity and traditional knowledge through exclusive monopoly systems, while mechanisms to protect and strengthen the collective rights of local communities remain weak. GRAIN's 30-page briefing provides details, with numerous examples, of the changes that are occurring in Asia-Pacific; from international agreements, and regional initiatives to action taken by farming communities.

Many people at the grassroots level are working to fight back and protect their resources and knowledge from blatant exploitation. Emerging strategies on what communities and organisations could do to further ensure the strengthening of community rights are outlined. "It is clear that industry, with increased support from governments, is quickly establishing control over plant genetic resources and associated knowledge through the use of IPR. Yet resistance to this incursion on community rights has been disparate and experimental.

As awareness among groups, communities and even governments increases, and as those affected become more organised, the tide has begun to turn." This briefing was prepared by GRAIN in collaboration with Kalpavriksh, an Indian environmental action group. (To find out more about Kalpavriksh, visit http://kalpavriksh0.tripod.com/) The full briefing, "Traditional knowledge of biodiversity in Asia-Pacific: problems of piracy and protection", is available on GRAIN's website: www.grain.org/publications/tk-asia-2002-en.cfm (144 KB) (a print version is also available at: www.grain.org/publications/tk-asia-2002-en-p.cfm (144 KB)