Convention on Biodiversity: Switzerland presents good practise examples

Bern, 25.10.2010 - The Swiss delegation to the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan has presented to the media, on October 25, four contributions of Switzerland to the conservation of global biodiversity. "The Swiss experience shows that access benefit sharing can work. We hope that the ABS-protocol to be adopted here in Nagoya will provide a strong framework for these so far voluntary measures." as the head of the Swiss Delegation, Ambassador Franz Perrez, states.

The Swiss Confederation, the scientific community, NGOs and the private sector have all developed various kinds of good practises in recent years.

Mr. Marco D'Alessandro from the Federal Office for the Environment has presented instruments put in place by the Federal Administration to ensure that the use of genetic resources provided by other countries is in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity. They integrate principles of access to genetic resources and fair sharing of their benefits (so called ABS principles) which are at the core of a protocol to be finalised in Nagoya this week (see the press release of 22 October 2010). Such procedures have been developed for agriculture, industry, botanical gardens and the scientific community.

Mrs. Susette Biber-Klemm of the Swiss Academy of Sciences has presented strategies and instruments developed by the Academy to increase awareness of the ABS principles related to access to genetic resources and sharing of benefits within the academic community. She has introduced a model contract developed by the Academy which is aimed to facilitate negotiations between providers and the scientific community. This model contract is an example of innovative solutions which can be developed thanks to the good cooperation among governments, scientists and by integrating an international stakeholder network.

Mr. François Meienberg of the Berne Declaration has explained the contribution of his non-governmental organisation to raise public awareness about access and benefit sharing and the obligation of user countries to implement efficient measures. He has shown cases where rights of provider countries to receive a fair sharing of benefits out of the use of genetic resources were not respected. The organization was able to sensibilize the public opinion to speed up the political process.

Mr. Dominique Zygmont of Syngenta has presented the "Operation Pollinator" project which was launched in 2009 by the Swiss company in 14 countries all over Europe. The project's aim is to create an additional 10,000 hectares of dedicated habitat for pollinating insects over the coming years. In Switzerland, assessments have been done in cooperation with the Federal research station Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART), to identify the best conditions for the project.

Address for enquiries

Ambassador Franz Perrez, Head of the Swiss Delegation, Head of International Affairs Division, FOEN, cell phone +41 79 251 90 15
Elisabeth Maret, Press Officer, FOEN, cell phone +41 79 371 62 82