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Minutes of Biodiversity Working Group Pakistan Meeting- July 26-2011
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Consultative Meeting of Biodiversity Working Group on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Law for Pakistan
July 26, 2011. IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office
MINUTES OF THE MEETING
A consultative meeting of the Biodiversity Working Group (BWG) was held to discuss the draft law on the Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing (ABS) on July 26, 2011 at IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office. The meeting was organized by the IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. The objective of the meeting was to revitalize the Biodiversity Working Group and to discuss the formulation of the ABS law for Pakistan, so as to support the conservation of the biological resources of Pakistan and to ensure that the benefits arising from usage of such resources are equitably shared.
The meeting was chaired by Syed Mahmood Nasir, Inspector General of Forests, while eminent scientists and experts from their relevant disciplines attended the meeting (list of member of BWG is attached as Annex-I).
MINUTES OF THE MEETING (AS PER AGENDA)
During the meeting, experts provided an overview of the Nagoya Protocol and discussed the salient features of the ABS Law for Pakistan. The detailed agenda of the meeting is placed at Annex-II.
AGENDA ITEM-I Introduction of the Members/Participants
The members introduced themselves for the sake of convenience.
AGENDA ITEM-II Welcome Remarks
Syed Mahmood Nasir, while delivering the welcome remarks said that Pakistan has to focus on making the relevant legislation stringent, so that the biological resources of Pakistan can be conserved and sustainably used. Mr. Nasir further said that Pakistan needs to build the capacity of the relevant national organization and the provinces for reaping the benefits from Nagoya Protocol, that has been singed under the umbrella of CBD. Mr. Nasir said that the Nagoya Protocol on ABS has been opened in June 2011 for signature by parties, and thus Pakistan has to make all necessary efforts to complete the modalities in this regard. He thanked IUCN for taking a lead to support the Government of Pakistan for preparing the draft of ABS Law for Pakistan. He also said that the BWG has very important mandate and its membership has to be further diversified.
He appreciated the efforts of the members for making it convenient to attend the meeting.
AGENDA ITEM-III Overview of the Nagoya Protocol
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Dr. Mamoona Wali, Technical Officer Biodiversity at Office of the Inspector General of Forest, delivered a presentation on the process adopted for the Nagoya Protocol and its salient features. She also elaborated on the process adopted by the CDB to establish a draft protocol on ABS at COP-10, Nagoya, on the ABS mechanism. Discussing the Nagoya Protocol, its access on and sharing the benefits from the use of the genetic resources of the planet, she said that it has a total of thirty-six (36) articles written about it. She also discussed the monetary and the non-monetary benefits of the Protocol.
AGENDA ITEM-IV Briefing on Biodiversity Enabling Activities (CHM, ABS)
Mr. Naeem Ashraf Raja, Assistant Inspector General of Forests, gave a presentation on the development of a National Clearing House Mechanism, Capacity Assessment for ABS, Preservation of Traditional Knowledge and In situ/Ex situ conservation in Pakistan. He provided details of the project under Global Environment Facility (GEF) and elaborated on its objectives that are to undertake in depth consultations on the complex issues of ABS, develop the capacity for the Clearing House Mechanism and the assessment of capacity needs in the areas of Ex-situ and In-situ conservation as per the recommendations of CBD. He also explained details of activities to be undertaken under each objective of the project. Mr. Raja also regarded the tenure rights to be considered in detail during formulation of an ABS Law.
AGENDA ITEM-V Briefing on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Law
Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema, Manager of the IUCN-Islamabad Programme Office delivered a presentation on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Law under CBD. After an overview on the concept on biodiversity and explanation of the related chronology to ABS, Mr. Cheema enlisted the obligations of Parties under the Nagoya Protocol and also shared a list of countries which have ratified the Protocol so far. He also presented a comparison of the Nagoya Protocol and the draft Biodiversity Act of 2007.
AGENDA ITEM-VI Discussions
All members of the BWG had a detailed discussion on the modalities and obligations of the Nagoya Protocol, its various aspects and the construction of the draft ABS law for Pakistan. Members of the BWG reviewed the modalities of the Nagoya Protocol under CBD and discussed the framework for preparing an ABS law for the country, particularly in light of the post 18th Constitutional Amendment the subsequent devolution of the Ministry of Environment and new roles and responsibilities of the relevant institutions. It was discussed that the relevant capacities of all the provinces must be built to deal with the ABS law, since they are given greater mandate after the devolution of subjects to the provincial institutions.
The members agreed that the users of all natural produce, particularly a number of pharmaceutical and tibi pharmaceutical industries, must be involved and consulted for preparation of the law as they have a key role to play in this regard. It was also discussed that research institutions like National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) and Centre for Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), University of the Punjab should also be involved during the consultation for the law. Organizations like Sarhad NGOs Ittehad, Sungi Development Foundation and Inter-Cooperation must also be consulted.
Mr. Saeed uz Zaman, Chief Conservator of Wildlife, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, said that for conservation of biodiversity, it is necessary that detailed and in-depth studies on existing use of representative species of each ecological zone are done to study current practices and trends. He also said that this will help devise laws for the promotion of their conservation and sustainable use.
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A detailed discussion was also held on the consequences of the 18th Constitutional Amendment, which has resulted in having many of the subjects devolved to provinces. The working group agreed that a thorough understanding has to be developed regarding the new roles of various institutions particularly those in the provinces to formulate and implement the ABS law. Therefore, the process has to be rigorously done so that various legal and constitutional modalities are considered right from the beginning of the process.
Some of the members also elaborated on the need of promoting awareness and education on biodiversity. They also stressed on the need of conducting a stocktaking exercise on the available knowledge and information related to biodiversity in Pakistan. Furthermore, Mr. Naeem Ashraf Raja informed that the Pakistan Museum of Natural History is being facilitated to compile and present all biodiversity and conservation-related information in Pakistan that will be developed to serve as Clearing-House Mechanism for Pakistan, as mandatory under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The PMNH will serve as central repository for all the relevant knowledge and information. He also urged all relevant institutions and agency to lend support in this regard.
Barrister Zafar Ullah Khan during his input to the construct of the ABS law elaborated on various legal modalities of drafting a law, particularly in reference to the devolution of various subjects to provinces.
It was also discussed that the composition and membership of the Biodiversity Working Group needs to be balanced with diverse representation by including experts from disciplines of agriculture, fisheries and livestock.
AGENDA ITEM-VII Vote of Thanks and Way Forward
Mr. Mahmood Akhtar Cheema thanked all the members for their presence and valuable contribution to the meeting and for their inputs for the formulation of the ABS law. He also informed that a National Workshop on ABS Law is scheduled to be held on 7-8 September, 2011 in Islamabad and invited all the members of BWG to participate in the event. It was decided that more frequent meetings would be held in the future.
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ANNEX- I L IST OF MEMBERS OF BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP
# Name, Designation and Address Phone/Fax Email
1. Syed Mahmood NasirInspector General of ForestsPlanning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2Islamabad
2. Dr. Shahzad JehangirDeputy Inspector General of Forests (I)Planning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2Islamabad
9245586Fax: 9245598
3. Mr. Abdul Munaf Qaimkhani, Deputy Inspector General of Forests (II)Planning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2Islamabad
9262270 0321-5259339Fax: 9245585
4. Mr. Naeem Ashraf RajaAssistant Deputy Inspector General of ForestsPlanning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2Islamabad
92455960333-5201089Fax: 9245598
5. Mr. Aurangzeb Ashraf AwanAssistant Deputy Inspector General of ForestsPlanning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2Islamabad
0345-5302294 [email protected]
6. Dr. Mamoona Wali MohammadTechnical Officer BiodiversityPlanning and Development Division ENERCON Building, Sector G-5/2Islamabad
0300-5934844 [email protected]
7. Syed Said Badshah Bukhari Director General Pakistan Forest InstituteKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, Peshawar
091-9216123 0333-5269211Fax: 9216203
8. Dr. Azhar Hassan Director GeneralPakistan Museum of Natural HistoryGarden Avenue, Shakarparian,
9252082 9252086 Fax: 9252087
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Islamabad
9. Dr Shahid Iqbal DirectorFederal Seed Certification & Registration Department Mauve Area Sector G-9/4 Islamabad
9260237Fax: 9260234
10. Mr. Hubdar Ali Jatoee Director Agriculture Farm and Major Crop DevelopmentSindh Agriculture Extension Department Government of Sindh Shahbaz building, Block-FHyderabad
229201266229200053Fax: 229200751
11. Mr. Abdul Wahab KhanDirector, Zoological Survey DepartmentMinistry of Science & TechnologyZoological Survey DepartmentSimly Dam Road, Kalma Chowk Bhara Kahu,Islamabad
0300-9076807 [email protected]
12. Dr. Saeed uz Zaman Chief Conservator of WildlifeKhyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department Forest Offices, Shami Road, Peshawar
9211479Fax: 9212090
13. Mr. Abdul Jabbar Kazi Chief Conservator of Forest Sindh Sindh Forest DepartmentShehbaz Building Block,Hyderabad Sindh
022-9200092, 0300-3130812Fax: 022-9200209
14. Prof. Dr. Abdus Salam Khan ChairmanDepartment of Plant Breeding & GeneticsUniversity of Agriculture Faisalabad
041-9200161/70-Ext,2921,292903457938379
15. Dr. Manzoor Hussain Associate Professor & ChairmanBotany Department Government Postgraduate College No.1 Abbottabad
0334-5583289 [email protected] [email protected]
16. Dr. Saifullah Khan 300-2375938 [email protected]
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Associate ProfessorHussain Ebrahim Jamal Institute Karachi University
17. Mr. Saeed Iqbal Seed Certification OfficerMauve Area Sector G-9/4 Islamabad
9260154Fax: 9260234
18. Dr. Ejaz Ahmed Deputy Director General World Wide Fund for Nature-Pakistan 60, Bazar Road G-6/4Islamabad
2602431-30332-2523982
19. Barrister Zafarullah Khan Islamabad State Life Building No. 7, Blue Area, Sector F-6, Islamabad
2878075-6 [email protected]
20. Mr. Mahmood Akhtar CheemaManager IUCN-Islamabad Programme OfficeNo: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3Islamabad
2271027-34 [email protected]
21. Mr. Saadullah AyazCoordinator Climate Change/Clean Air IUCN-Islamabad Programme OfficeNo: 21, Street 88, Sector G-6/3Islamabad
2271027-34 [email protected]
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ANNEX- II AGENDA OF THE MEETING ON BIODIVERSITY WORKING GROUP
Time Description Presenter
0930-0935 Introduction of Members
0935-0945 Welcome Remarks Syed Mahmood NasirInspector General of Forests
0945-1010 An Overview of Nagoya Protocol Dr. Mamoona Wali MohammadTechnical Officer Biodiversity
1010-1100 Briefing on Biodiversity Enabling Activities Naeem Ashraf RajaAssistant Inspector General of Forests
1100-1145 Briefing on ABS Law Mahmood Akhtar CheemaIUCN
1145-1300 Discussion and Way Forward/Any other agenda item
Members
1300-1310 Closing remarks Syed Mahmood NasirInspector General of Forests
1310 Lunch
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ANNEX- III PRESENTATIONS
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