Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh and the Norwegian Environment Minister Erik Solheim signed an agreement for establishing a Centre for Biodiversity Policy and Law (CEBPOL) in the National Biodiversity Authority in Chennai, the capital city of Tamil Nadu, India. The two countries will work together to develop professional expertise when dealing with legal issues in relation to protection and biodiversity.
Jairam Ramesh is reported to have said, "Biodiversity is a subject of great significance to us and working with the like minded people, we will be in a stronger position t preserve and protect our biodiversity."
Mr Eric Solheim from Norway said that the agreement was a crucial project as it ensured the "sharing of genetic resources" achieved in Nagoya. At the heart of the agreements is the work to be undertaken for research and to develop new medicines on the basis of genetic recourses that will "have fair distribution of revenues in the world" said Solheim.
The Norwegian Government has offered to provide the technical and institutional collaboration for the CEBPOL. India and Norway can learn from each others' experiences their historical and traditional knowledge.
The main objective of CEBPOL is to develop the professional expertise in the complete policy and legal issues that relate to biodiversity. This includes access and benefit sharing, research, development and training. Thus the centre is expected to contribute to the strengthening and implementation of the Biological Diversity Act.
The Convention on Biological Diversity in Nagoya, Japan has adopted a "Nagoya Protocol" on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). The centre's initiative is accurate and responsive to the conclusions of the Conference in Japan.
India has suffered from bio-piracy despite is immense diverse country and has thus played a very important role in all ABS talks.