Estimating the costs and benefits of the Nagoya Protocol

1
Estimating the costs and benefits of the Nagoya
Protocol

• Pierre du Plessis
• CRIAA SA-DC (Namibia)
• Quito, 6 March 2012

2
Why costs and benefits matter

• NP aims to mobilise benefit-sharing as incentive
  for sustainable use and conservation
• Creating benefits requires investment, which only
  happens if there is legal certainty
• Transaction costs must be proportionate (for
  users and providers) to protect profits and avoid
  creating disincentives
• Benefits must reach custodians of biodiversity

3
To optimise cost-benefit balance...

• Scope of coverage must be wide as possible
• Decisions must be predictable (non-arbitrary)
• Existing information management systems to be
  used as far as possible (plug-in ABS)
• Administrative procedures must be routine
• Case-by-case review of PIC applications,
  negotiation of MAT and monitoring of compliance
  only for very high-value uses

4
Investments required

• Ratification stakeholder consultation,
  awareness-raising
• National implementation legislation,
  administrative capacity, strategy ...
• User measures on compliance best done through
  existing systems (IP, product registration,
  marketing approval ...)
• Aim should be to modify user behaviour

5
Suggested guidelines

• Initial PIC through simple notification
• Predictable formula for MAT (by sector)
• Checkpoints where users want to obtain something
  (rights, permission) from regulators
• Transparent level playing field reporting
• Pro-active investment in low hanging fruits
• Benefits directly to resource custodians, with
  clear link to sound resource management