Opportunities of the Nagoya Protocol to nurture the use of native species in Brazil

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.033

Environmental Science & Policy

Volume 127, January 2022, Pages 321-324

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.033 Get rights and content

Highlights

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Shifting from an unprocessed native species resource provider to a developer of new biodiversity based products in Brazil.
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Registering traditional knowledge associated to the use of native species for conservation and sustainable use.
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Finding a balance between material and immaterial values associated to the use of native and wild species.

Abstract

In June 2021, Brazil has become the 130th member of the Nagoya Protocol (NP). This brings both challenges and opportunities. Despite being a megadiverse country with approximately 50 thousand documented flora species, its biodiversity remains virtually untapped due to insufficient mapping and research programs, inefficient governmental support and lack of cooperation with emerging biodiversity markets. Here, we explore opportunities and challenges for Brazil as a new member of the NP. We present ways forward for Brazil to shift from an unprocessed native species resource provider to a developer of new products based on the genetic resources from the wide range of its native species. We stress the need for finding a balance between material and immaterial values of biodiversity. In addition, we call for investments to develop knowledge (taxonomy, conservation, sustainable use), alternative market niches, infrastructure, skills, regulatory frameworks and efficient operational structures. As science and technology continue to develop novel modes for the use of biodiversity, it is important to monitor those developments to ensure that benefits are returned and reinvested in the wellbeing of traditional communities where the biodiversity knowledge originated. To achieve this goal, the country must develop its National Benefit Sharing Fund aimed at supporting the roots of biodiversity knowledge.

Graphical Abstract

Section snippets

Short communication

In June 2021, Brazil has become the 130th member of the Nagoya Protocol (NP). The NP strengthens the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from: a) the use of genetic resources derived from native species and b) the traditional knowledge and practices associated with utilization of native species by local communities. The NP enables legal transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources by establishing conditions to sharing benefits. In Brazil, the NP is

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Sónia Carvalho Ribeiro was responsible for Conceptualization (formulation of overarching research questions) and Writing – original draft. Britaldo Soares Filho was responsible for Writing – original draft and the resubmitted version.

Declaration of Competing Interest

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Acknowledgements

CNPQ National Council for Scientific and Technological Development Grant Nr Bolsa:310606/2018-7.

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Tackling deforestation and forest degradation calls for cross scale coordination of a mix of policies both top-down Command and Control (CC), together with bottom-up, local to regional. While considerable efforts have been made to analyze CC approaches, bottom-up initiatives in place have not yet been characterized. In this study, we use the seeds of good Anthropocene, a framework that emphasize hopeful initiatives existing in practice, to identify bottom-up initiatives in Matopiba, one of the most dynamic agricultural frontiers in Brazil. “Matopiba Seeds” were characterized according to social, technological, economic, ecological, political and value dimensions (STEEPV). We then used the Three Horizon framework, that help uncover multiple pathways towards sustainable development goals, to explore positive transitions in Matopiba. Our results show that out of 379 initiatives only 14 score high in different STEEPV dimensions likely enabling cross scale coordination. About 36% of the initiatives promote traditional knowledge in the use of biodiversity, 29% promote the payment for ecosystem services, 21% assist agriculture modernization and 14% support tourism and cultural identity. However, these initiatives were invested only $11 million between 2016 and 2021 and only three are emerging from local community (bottom-up). This study illustrates paths to instill transformative transitions in Brazil's agricultural frontiers by raising awareness of the importance to nurture existing bottom-up and top-down initiatives that have the capacity to put sustainable development concepts into practice making the explicit need for agribusiness to comply with trade agreements and environmental laws.
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Official reports and academic studies call for profound and immediate transformations in how businesses relate to biodiversity. The urgency is such that the first draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) of the Convention of Biological Diversity has a specific target aimed at full sustainability in biodiversity practices in businesses by 2030. Brazil—a country with the greatest reservoir of biodiversity and the 12th largest economy on the planet —should be fertile ground for new developments and innovations on this front. However, the shortage of academic engagement with businesses in the country may impede this path. We propose six biodiversity-related innovation fronts and opportunities for engagement between high education institutions and companies in Brazil. We reviewed the literature regarding two sets of practices: pressing issues (including environmental licensing, biodiversity offsets, and conservation in private reserves), and new business opportunities (sustainable bioeconomy, access and benefit sharing – ABS, and environmental and social governance – ESG). Such themes have direct relevance to the Post-2020 GBF business sustainability target and potential national impact. There is plenty of room for academic engagement with businesses in all cases. Examples include supporting definition of metrics and standards, providing information systems to increase transparency, among others. In conclusion, we argue that an innovative mindset from corporations and academics will be necessary before Brazilian businesses can move on to develop innovative and sustainable processes and products related to biodiversity.
Are There Bright Spots in an Agriculture Frontier? Characterizing Seeds of Good Anthropocene in Matopiba, Brazil
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View full text

Short communicationOpportunities of the Nagoya Protocol to nurture the use of native species in Brazil

Highlights

Abstract

Graphical Abstract

Section snippets

Short communication

CRediT authorship contribution statement

Declaration of Competing Interest

Acknowledgements

Carbohydr. Polym.

Ind. Crop. Prod.

Ecosyst. Serv.

Mater. Today Commun.

World Dev.

Fuel

Geoforum

Ecol. Econ.

Landsc. Urban Plan.

For. Policy Econ.