Nagoya Protocol on genetic resources achieves 60 signatures

Montreal, 26 September 2011 – On the margins of the sixty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly, six more countries—Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Grenada, Madagascar, Niger and Serbia—have become the latest signatories to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from Their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

This brings the total number of signatories to 60. The Protocol was opened for signature in February 2011.

These six signatories join 54 others that have previously given their commitment to take steps towards ratifying the Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol will enter into force 90 days after deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification. The pace established by today’s signatures points to a clear momentum towards the early entry into force of the Protocol by the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, scheduled for October 2012.

Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary to the Convention on Biological Diversity said: “In less than one week, 18 Parties have joined the growing number of signatories of this unique legal instrument at the service of the sustainable development agenda, thus demonstrating the commitment of the international community as whole for its early entry into force.”

The entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol will provide greater legal certainty and transparency for both providers and users of genetic resources, creating a framework that promotes the use of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge while strengthening the opportunities for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use. Hence, the Protocol will create new incentives to conserve biodiversity, sustainably use its components, and further enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and human well-being.

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) has provided financial support for the early entry into force and effective implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol Implementation Fund was established by GEF with an initial financial contribution of US$ 12.5 million from Japan. In addition, a medium-sized project of US$ 1 million is providing support to the ratification and early entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol through a series of awareness-raising and capacity-building activities. The project is executed by the Secretariat of the Convention and is now fully operational.