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esponses o f fi m o t h y E Wi rth to Questions A sked by :
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Senato r Mu rkowski
Senator B rown
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T H E C ON V E N T I O N
O N B I OL O G I C AL
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Se ate O ffic e B uildi g H
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Pre s e t Se ato r s Pell Kerry d Sff d
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C H MAN T h C o mm ttee Fo rei g Relati o s will co me
t o o r 3er
I t i s a very real plea s ure to wel co me o ur wit e ss e s to the co m
m it t
f
to da s heari g
the Co ve ti o
B i o l ogi c al D iver
i t y We all 1 yfo rward t o their te s tim o y
d i parti c ular we
wi s h to wel come tw o c urre t co llea gue s Se ato r s B au c u s
d
C hafee d o ur fo rmer co lleague T im Wirth T ogether with o ur
publi c wit e ss e s we have a hi ghly qualifi ed s et f i dividual s to
di sc u ss the co ve ti o
I
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vi ew the eed f thi s co ve ti o i s very c lear T h
i t that we are
e x tra ordi ary rate f l oss f bi l c al di
ex
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Th
l oss f bi o diver s ity i s
t u s t ab o ut the lar ge c hari s mati c
m i li
a imal s with whi ch we are all
S c ie ti s t s e s timate that
there are betwee 1 0
d 1 00 milli o s pe c ie s f whi c h o ly r o ughly
milli o have bee ide tif ed M os t f the de s tru c ti o occ ur s
will k o w o thi g
t h s pe c ie s we have
t eve heard f
d
ago ut
While so me may argue that huma s have d o e well with o ut w o r
cauti o b
yi g ab o ut the l oss f the s e s pe c ie s I w o uld argue f
c au s e we d o t k o w what the value i s f th os e that we are l os i g
I w o ul d go i t o so me f the detail s f the u s e f bi o l ogi c al diver
i t y but havi g reviewed the te s tim o y f o ur wit e ss e s I thi k
they will s peak m o re el o que tly
thi s s ubj e c t
Th
co ve ti o before the co mmittee to day ha s three obj e c tive s
f bi o l ogi c al diver s ity it s s u s tai able u s e
the co s ervati o
d the
equitable s hari g f it s be e fi ts A t the time the co ve ti o wa s
o pe f s i ature the B u sh admi i s trati o de c li ed t o s i g c iti g
co c er s a out the co ve ti o s pro vi s i o s fi a ci g t ch ol ogy
f i telle c tual pr o perty ri ht s
tra s fer
d pr o te c ti o
I applaud the pre s e t admi i s trati o f
the e o rt s it ha s made
t o addre ss the s e co c er s i a ma er that addre ss e s b o th i du s
Th e
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try an d e n vi ro n men tal i n tere s t s With the s e un der s tan di n gs i n
pl a c e I thi n k th e Un ite d State s ca n m o ve ah ead t o ward rati fic ati o n
o f the treaty I t i s all the m o re imp o rtan t s i n c e the treaty e n tered
i n to fo rc e o n D e c ember 2 9 1 993
T h e fi r s t meeti n g o f the partie s will be held thi s com i n g N o vem
ber T hat meeti n g will take a n umber o f de c i s i on s that will h ave
a de c i s ive impa c t o n the con ve n ti o n s impleme n tati o n
I thi n k it w o uld beh oo ve th e Se n ate to e n s ure that o ur co u n try
can parti c ipate a s a party i n th os e de c i s i o n s an d n o t a s a s pe c tato r
I believe Se n ato r s B au c u s an d C hafee are h ere to te s tify an d I
w o uld a sk Se n ato r C hafee if he w o ul d o pe n up
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ST AT E ME N T OF H ON
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J OHN H C HA FE E , U S SE N AT OR
R H OD E I S AN D
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L
FR
.
OM
Se n ato r C HA FEE T h an k o u very mu ch M r C hairm an I have
l on ger s tateme n t I w o uld Iike to put i n the re co rd
T h e C HAI R MAN With o ut o bj e c ti o n
Se n ato r C HA FE E F ir s t M r C hairman I w o uld like to than k y o u
fo r h o ldi n g thi s heari n g to co n s ider the Co n ve n ti o n o n B i o l o g i c al
D iver s ity T hi s a s I k n o w i s an area y o u have bee n deep ] i n ter
e st e d i n fo r man y year s an d o f co ur s e y o u made the tri p
o w n to
R i o I gue ss it wa s n early 2 year s a go n o w I remember th at trip
very well I had the plea s ure o f go i n g with y o u
T hi s co n ve n ti o n i s a n imp o rta n t fi r s t s tep I t will help e n s ure
co n s ervati o n o f the wo rld s vital bi o l ogi cal re so urc e s fo r future g e n
e ra t i o n s a n d like y o u I s tr o n gly s upp o rt it s pr o mpt rati fic ati o n
T h e U n ited S tate s ha s bee n a leader i n the effo rt to co n s erve bi o
l og i c al div e rsi t whi ch i s o f co ur s e the v ari e t o f s pe c ie s their
habitat s an d t e e cosy s tem s I gue ss th e m o de le gi s lati o n i s o ur
E n da n gered Spe c ie s A ct o f 1 9 73 whi c h i n deed ha s bee n a m o del
fo r o ther s pe c ie s pr o te cti o n e ffo rt s ar o un d the w orld
Al so the US leader s hip wa s c riti c al to the ad o pti o n of the
C IT ES T reaty whi ch i s the C o n ve n ti o n o n In tern ati o n al T r ade i n
E n dan gered Spe c ie s o f Wild F l o ra a n d F aun a whi ch by it s title
a n d i n a c tually d o e s limit w o rld trade i n rare an d e n dan gered s pe
c re s
T h e l oss o f s pe c ie s i s o n e o f the w o rld s m os t s eri o u s e n vir o n
m e n tal pro blem s Spe c ie s that are i n tro uble can reb o u n d I gue ss
o n e o f the m os t ama z i n g thi n gs that I have di sco vered s i n c e I have
bee n i n v olved with the s e e n viro n men tal e ffo rt s parti c ular] s i n c e
bei n g i n Co n gre ss i s i f y o u give n ature half a c ha n c e it
come
ba ck but y o u have go t to give n ature that half a ch an c e S o e n d an
f
f
can
n
r
threate
n
ed
s
pe
c
ie
s
be
re
co
vered
with
e
o
rt
they
e
e
d
an
d
ca
;
g
be B ut o n c e the s pe c ie s i s l os t i t i s go n e fo rever
S o metime s it i s ea sy t o fo rget i n o ur hi gh te c h soc iety that we
s till depe n d up o n o ur bi o l ogi c al re so ur c e s F o r e x ample the c atch
o f fin fish an d s hell fi s h i s the w o rld s larg e s t s i n gl e so ur c e o f an imal
pr o tei n M o re tha n 2 5 per c e n t o f medi c al pre sc ripti o n s are fi lled by
dru gs derived fro m n atural plan t s
R o u ghly o n e hal f o f the gai n s i n U S a gri culture fro m 1 930 t o
1 98 0 a 50 year pe ri o d o n e hal f o f the th os e gai n s i n U S a gri
c ul ture were due to u s e o f gen eti c mate rial fro m o ur n atural e n v i
r o n m e n t fr o m bi o diver s ity i n o ther w o rd s
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the e x pan di n g bi o te ch n o l ogy i n du s try ha s made p oss ible
fa r greater u s e o f bi o diver s ity T here i s a r o wi n g deman d fo r th e
gen e s an d chemi c al s that remain u n t a ppe g withi n the w o rld s re
m ai n i n
wild la n d s
The
o n v e n t i o n o n B i o l ogi c al D iver s ity n e go tiated 2 year s a go at
the E arth Summit i n Ri o i s a m o de s t but it i s a c riti c al fi r s t s tep
i n re cogn i z i n g the imp o rta n c e o f bi o l ogi c al diver s ity F ra n kly it
s eem s to me it fail s to s et o ut a s s tro n g a man date to pro te c t
bi o diver s ity a s I w o ul d like t o s ee Ho wever it d o e s pr ovide a n
i n tern ati o n al framew o rk fo r the co n s ervati o n an d s u s tai n able u s e
o f bi o diver s ity
T h e co n ve n ti o n req ui re s partie s to take fo ur ba s i c s tep s whi c h
are fi r s t devel o p n ati o n al s trate e s fo r co n s ervati o n T w o e s tab
li s h a sy s tem o f pr o te c ted area s h re e be gi n to reh abilitate dam
a ed e cos y s tem s F o ur i n te grate the co n s iderati o n o f co n s ervi n g bi
o 0 c a] re so ur c e s i n to n ati o n al de ci si o n m aki n g
o w the U S ha s l aw s o n the b ook s whi ch addre ss each o f th e s e
re s p o n s ibiliti e s S o there fo re I a gree with what the admi n i s trati o n
i s s ayi n
that n o n e w n ati o n al le sla t i o n a n d n o c han ge s i n ex i s t
in
le s ati on are n eeded i n the
S to co mply with the treaty
n
i s prim er o n bi o l ogi c al diver s ity n am ely T h e D iver s ity o f
”
Li fe by D r E O Wil so n he advi s e s u s t o co n s erve fi r s t a n d a s k
que s ti o n s later An d thi s i s what that wi s e m an s ai d We s h o ul d
j ud ge every sc rap o f bi o diver s ity a s pri c ele ss while we learn to u s e
”
it a n d co me to un der s tan d what it mean s to human ity
S o I urge the co mmitte e to re co mme n d rati fic ati o n o f thi s co n
v e n t io n
be c au s e the treaty i s c learly i n the be s t i n tere s t s o f the
N ati o n an d o f the w o rld
I w a n t to than k y o u M r C hairman fo r thi s 0 po rt u n i t y
lo w szl
[T h e prepared s tateme n t o f Se n at o r C h afee fo l
I n fa
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PR E PAR ED ST AT EMEN T OF S EN AT OR JOH N H C H A FEE
I want to than k you Mr Chai rma n fo r hol din g this hearing t o conside r the Con
v e n t i o n o n Biological D iv e rs it
T h e Convention is an impo rtant fi r st ste p I t will
help to ensu re conse rvation 0 the world s vital biol o gic al re sou rces fo r fu tu re gen
e ra t i o n s I st ro ngly suppo rt its p rom t rat ifi cation
T h e Unite d States has been a lea e r in the e ffo rt t o conse rve biologi cal div e rs i t
the variety of species thei r habitats and the ecos stems o n which they depend
r
E ndange re d Spec ies Ac t o f 1 9 7 3 has been a mo d
el fo r othe r species p ro te ction e f
forts aro und the wo rld
Uni ted States leade rshi p was also critical to the ado tion of the C I T E S t re aty
(the Convention on I nte rnational T rade in E ndange red pe c ie s of Wild Flo ra and
Fau na ) wh ich limits wo rld trade i n ra re and endange red species
T h e loss of spe cies is one o f the wo rld s most se rious envi ronmental p roblems
Species that a re in trouble can rebound E ndange red and threatened species can be
recove red But once we have lost a species it is gone fo reve r
It is ea sy t o fo rget in o u r h i h tech society that we sti ll depend upon o u r biological
resou rces T h e catch o f fm fi s
an d shell fi s h is the wo rld s l argest sin le sou rce o f
ani mal p rote in Mo re than 2 5 percent o f me dic al presc riptions a re fil ed by drugs
derived from natu ral plants R o u h ly one half o f the ga i ns in U S ag ricultu re from
1 9 30 t o 1 9 8 0 we re due to u se 0 genetic mate rial from o u r natu r al envi ro nmen t
from bio dive rsity I n fact the exp and i ng biotechnolo gy i n du st 1 has made o s s i ble
far greate r use o f bio di ve rsity T he re I s a
wing demand fo r th e genes an che m i
cals that re main u ntap d withi n the wo rl 8 remai ni ng wildlands
T h e Convention o n Biological Dive rsity negotiated two yea rs ago at the E arth
Summ i t in R io de J aneir o is a modest but cr itical fi rst ste p in recogn i zing the impo r
tance o f biolo gical div e rs it Frankl it fail s to set out as st rong a mandate to pro
te ct biodive rsity as I w o n (I like
o w e v e r it does p rovide an inte rnational fr ame
wo rk fo r the conse rvation and sustainable use o f biodive rsity T h e Convention re
qui res parties to take fou r bas ic steps : (1 ) develop national strategies fo r conse rva
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tion ; (2 ) establish a system o f ro t e cte d a re as ; (3) begin to rehabilitate da maged
e c osystems ; and (4 ) inte ate t e consi de ration o f conservin g biologic al re sou rces
into national decision m n g
T h e Uni te d State s alre ady has laws on the books which a dd re ss each of these re
o n s ib ilit i e s T he re fore I agree with the adm i n ist ration s as sessment that no new
sp
nation al legislation and no changes in existing legislation are needed t o comply
with the treaty
In itially the Convention was criticized fo r failin g to a dequ ate ly protect in t e lle c
tual p ro pe rty rights an d was oppose d by the biote chn olo gy in dustry T h e critical
point is that the Convention is consiste nt with in te llectual pro pe rty ri ghts I n fact
it explicitly recogn i zes those ri ghts I t al so re co g n i zes the p ri nciple that developing
countri es should bene fi t fro m the use o f their biological re sou rces T h e Convention
howeve r requi re s that this sha rin g mu st be on mutually beneficial and voluntary
te rms
Despite the Convention s recognition o f intellectual p rope rty ri ghts the bio
technology industry remai ned conce rned about pote ntially tro ublesome inte rp reta
tions o f seve ral vag u e p ro visions o f the treaty Fo rtunately the A dmi nistration was
able to wo rk with leade rs o f the bio te chn ology in dustry t o formulate an in te rp retive
state ment add re ssing their concerns
T his inte rp retive statement in the fo rm o f the P ms i de n t s lette r of sub m ittal
makes cle ar that the Convention requi res a ll Pa rties to ensu re the adequate and
e ffective p ro tection o f intellectu al p ro pe rty rights I t state s that nothing in the Con
v e n t i o n reli eves an y Pa rty o f thei r duty t o fully p rotect these ri hts I'
h rrt h e r the
submittal lette r stre sses that the Convention p rovides that an y 8 ari ng o f benefi ts
deri ved from biological re sou rces shall be on mutually agree d u pon te rms T h e lette r
clari fies that this means at the di scre tion o f an d with the volunt ary consent o f the
owne r o f the technology
Fundin g is also a critical issue I t is clea r that developin g nations will nee d tech
n ic a l and fi nancial Suppo rt fo r thei r effo rts t o conse rve thei r mo re conside rable bio
logical resou rces so that everyone can benefit from thei r conse rvation and su stain
able use I t is u a lly clear that contri butions must be negotiated to the satis faction
of a ll pa rties
with the devel
e re was co nside r able debate about this issue R i o
oped nations suppo rt in g the Global E nvi ro nment al Fund (G EF ) as the fu n ding
mechanism the developing nations oppos in g the G EF except as a re inte ri m solution
I unde rs tand that n e o t i at i o n s t o restructu re the G EF to the satis faction o f all pa r
ties a re nea rly comp ete If pro blems with the G EF a re resolved can conti nue to
se rve as the fun di n g mechanism subst a ntially re solving the fu ndi ng issue
A s o f Decembe r 3 0 19 9 3 the Convention ente re d fo rce T h e best w a t o address
any remaini ng concern b becomi ng a Party t o the treaty so that the n i te d States
can pa rticipate in the Convention and ensu re that o u r inte rests are fully re p
re se nte d
I would conclu de with a re m i n de r about the seve re contin uing loss of biological
dive rsity Without a conce rte d e ffo rt to conse rve these critical re sou rces we will all
lose H o w many medici nes crops and ra w mate ri als are disappeari n along with
the biodi versity that would make thei r discove ry an d development possig1e ?
I n h i s pri me r on biological dive rsity T h e D i v ers i ty o f Life D r E O Wilso n advise s
u s t o conse rve fi rst and ask e st io n s late r He said : We should ju d e eve ry sc rap
le we lea rn t o use it and come t o n u e rstand what
o f bio dive rsity as p ri celess w
it means to humanity
I u rge the Commi ttee to recomm end r atification of the Convention on B iological
Diversity as clearly in the best inte rest o f this nation and the wo rld
T h e C HAI R MAN T h an k y o u very mu c h i n deed a n d am I co rre c t
i n s ayi n g that y o u s tr o n gly believe that n o further impleme n ti n g
le gi s lati o n i s n eeded i f thi s go e s thro u gh ?
Se n ato r C HA FE E T hat i s my belie f e s M r C hairman
y o u very mu c h i n deed an d
T h e C HA I R MAN Go o d Well I tha n
I th an k y o u fo r taki n g the time t o be here Y o ur full s tateme n t will
be i n s e rted i n the re co rd
Se n ato r C HA FEE F i n e T h an k y o u v e mu c h
Se n ato r B au c u s w i l be co mi n g i n a little bit
T h e C HAI R MA N
later so I w o uld a s k Se n ato r Wirth i f he w o uld co me fo rward I
w o uld s ay we h o pe t o addre ss y o u a s U n der Se c retary befo re too
m an y day s go by I n the mean time we will ju s t u s e Co u n s el o r
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5
L
W
O F H ON
T I M OT HY E
I R T H , C OUN SE O R , D E
ST A T E ;
B Y
OF
A C C O M PAN IE D
P AR T M EN T
R A FE
P O ME R AN C E , D E P UT Y ASSIST AN T SE C R ET AR Y F O R E N V I
R ON M EN T AN D D EV E O P M E N T
ST AT E M E N T
.
.
L
M r WIR T H T h an k y o u very mu ch M r C h airm an I t i s a plea s
ure to be here an d to fo ll o w my goo d fri e n d Se n ato r J o h n C hafee
i n s upp o rti n g thi s treaty On behal f o f th e admi n i s trati o n I am
n ce
M
r
R
a
f
e
Po
mera
well
o i n e d at the wit n e ss table to day b
y
n o wn to thi s co mmittee fo r all o f h i s e ffo rt s o ver so man y year s
i n area s o f e co n o mi cs an d the e n vir o n me n t
I w o uld a s k un an im o u s co n s e n t M r C hairman i f I mi ght that
my full s tateme n t be i n c luded i n the re co rd al on g with a s et o f a n
n e x e s related to the u n der s tan di n gs o f the admi n i s trati o n relate d
to the treaty
T h e C HAIR MAN With o ut o bje c ti o n they will be i n s erte d i n the
re co rd
M r WIR T H T ha n k y o u
I w o ul d add here that whe n Se n at o r B au cu s
T h e C HAIR MAN
turn s up I w o uld h o pe that y o u w ould be willi n g t o s tep to o n e s ide
while h e mak e s hi s s tateme n t
M r WI R T H Ab so lute ly T h an k y o u M r Chai rm an
I am plea s ed to be here to day to ur ge y o ur s upp o rt fo r ra t ifica
ti o n of the C on ve n ti o n o n B i o diver s ity an d we were deli ghted to
s ee y o ur o pe n in g s ta te men t co n s i s te n t with y o ur l o n g hi s to ry o f
s upp o rti n g the s e imp o rtan t i n tern ati o n al agreeme n t s
By j oin i n g with o ther co un trie s i n impleme n ti n g the co n ve n ti on
the U n ited Sta te s can co n ti n ue t o play a leader s hip r o le i n e n su r
i n g that future g e n erati o n s c an e n j o y the e con o mi c health n utri
t i o n a l ae s theti c an d o ther be n efi t s derived fr o m o ur pl an et s ri c h
bi o l ogi c al i n heritan c e
T hi s treaty ha s bee n the s ubj e c t o f e x te n s ive review an d di sc u s
s i o n am o n g U S Go vern me n t Age n c ie s an d U S co mmerc ial an d
e n vir o n me n tal i n tere s t s a s well a s the U S Co n gre ss Co n c ern s
’
that have be e n rai s ed ab o ut so me of th e treaty s pr o vi s i on s were
e x ami n ed i n detail a n d have bee n addre ss ed
We believe s tr o n gly that U S i n tere s t s will be be s t s erved by
ratify i n g the co n ven ti o n an d w o rki n to impleme n t it s pr o vi s i o n s i n
a n e ffe c tive man n er a p os iti o n I be i e v e whi c h will be re fl e c ted by
later witn e ss e s thi s m o rn i n g
B efo re di sc u ss i n g h o w the co n ven ti o n addre ss e s the problem o f
bi o diver s ity l oss it i s imp o rta n t to u n der s ta n d what bi o diver s ity i s
a n d why we s h o uld be co n c ern ed with mai n tai n i n g it fo r thi s an d
future ge n erati o n s
M os t s imply s ta ted bi o div e r si t i s the s um to ta l o f all life fo rm s
that e x i s t o n E arth I t i s the wea t h o f s pe c ie s e cosy s tem s an d e co
l og i c al pr oc e ss e s that help m ake p oss ible o ur e co n o mi c a n d e n v i
r o mme n tal sy s tem s
E s timate s o f the n umber o f s pe c ie s a s y o u p o i n te d o ut i n y o ur
o pe n i n g s tateme n t ran ge fro m 1 0 to 1 00 milli o n yet o n ly so me
milli o n are c urre n tly k n o wn to sc ie n c e
We ca n M r C hairman mea s ure the di s tan c e to th e m oo n to a
matter o f c en timeter but we c an n o t eve n n arro w e s timate s o f the
n umber o f s pe c ie s here o n
Earth to bel o w a fa c to r of 1 0 Su ch
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6
kn
e i s imp o rtan t be c au s e bi o diver s ity i s vital t o the well
le d
of
ow
bei n g
u m a n ki n d
A t the m os t ba s i c level we depe n d o n the E arth s bi o diver s ity fo r
foo d fi ber medi c i n e s an d fo r it s co n tributi o n s to the health o f
e cos y s te m s A dditi o n ally bi o l ogi c al material s are fu n dam e n tal i n
o ur i n du s trial pr oc e ss e s an d e n able devel o pme n t o f n e w pro duc t s
fr o m the rapidly ex pan di n g fi eld o f bi o te c h n o l ogy
F o r e x ample plan t s pe c ie s pro vi de the a ctive i n gredie n ts a s Se n
ato r C hafee p o i n te d o ut fo r an e s timated 2 5 per c e n t o f the pre
scripti o n drugs so ld i n the Un ited State s an d c urre n tly the to p 1 0
s eller s in the pharma c euti c al i n du s try are deeply depe n de n t up on
the wealth o f bi o div e rsi t
Fo r U S a g ri culture fia se d largely o n foo d c ro p s that o ri gi n ate d
i n o ther part s o f the w o rld o ur i n du s try remai n s depe n de n t o n the
u s e o f p oo rly k n o wn an d ofte n p oo rly pro te c te d wild s trai n s fro m
o ut s ide th e Un ited S tate s
By u s i n g ge n eti c divers ity i n plan t breedin g program s t o impro ve
c ro p yield s a gri culture ha s i n crea s ed it s pro du ctivity dramati c ally
o ver the la s t 6 0 year s an d we co n ti n ue to impr o ve o ur co rn wheat
soybean s an d o ther cr o p s in an e xtremely depe n de n t an d imp o r
tan t fa s hi o n
We have barely be gun to un der s tan d the value o f the
milli o n
s pe cie s that have bee n c atal oged to date We can o n ly gue ss th e po
t e n t i a l value to human ki n d o f the milli o n s o f s pe c ie s th at are yet
t o be di sco vered i n the oc e an s an d o n lan d
T he s e re so ur c e s are like va s t librarie s o f kn o wled ge co mpletely
ob scure d fro m our co mpreh en s i o n T h e large s t o f the s e librarie s are
fo u n d o ut s ide o f the U n ite d Sta te s a n d co n s titute a c riti c al re so ur c e
that thi s an d future ge n erati o n s ca n u s e to so lve so me o f the
gl obe s m os t pre ss i n g con c ern s
Already there ha s bee n pr o mi s i n g re s ear ch o n n ewly di sco vered
s e cie s an d gen eti cally e n n e e re d pro duc ts that co uld pr o ve valu
a le fo r ex ample i n de a i n g with pr oblem s of AI D S o il s pill s
w o rld hu n ger a n d the re s t
T ra gi c ally de s pite the o v e rw h e lm i n
imp o rtan c e o f bi o diver s ity
it i s bei n g l os t at alarmi n g rate s I n t e pa s t de c ade a bro ad sc r
e n t i fic co n s e n s u s ha s emerged that bi o diver s ity i s bei n g l os t fa s ter
t o day th an at a n y time s i n c e th e di n os aur s be c ame e x ti n c t so me 6 5
milli o n year s a go
U n like previ o u s e x ti n c ti o n s whi c h were primarily a re s ult o f n a t
ural eve n t s thi s de s tru c ti o n o f o ur plan et s life fo rm s i s lar gely a
re s ult o f human a c ti o n i n parti c ular the de gradati o n o f bi o l ogi c ally
ri el e cosy s tem s like tr o pi c al rai n fo re s t s gra ss lan d s an d co ral
ree ! s
I f c urre n t tre n d s per s i s t so me 2 0 per c e n t o f the E arth s s pe c ie s
m ay be co me e x ti n c t by the year 2 02 0
T h e C HA I R MAN I f I co uld i n te rrupt y o u fo r a m o me n t w o uld it
be a greeable wi th y ou if Se n ato r B au c u s made hi s s ta temen t at
?
n
thi s p o i t
M r WI R T H Ab so lute ly
Se n ato r BA U C U S M r C hairma n th a n k y o u very mu ch but I
w o uld pre fer to defer t o th e Se c retary an d I will wait un til he i s
fi n i shed
T h e C HAI R MAN V e ry well the n c arry o n
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7
M r WIR T H I th an k Sen ato r B au c u s fo r hi s co urte s y but I am at
a perfe c t break p o i n t i f he wi s he s
Se n ato r BA U C U S N o go a head
M r WIR T H T h e B i o diver s ity Co n ve n ti o n i s an u n pre c ede n ted e f
fo rt by the n ati o n s o f the w o rl d to take a c ti o n n o w to deal with
bi o diver s ity l oss befo re it i s t oo late T h e co n ve n ti o n d o e s thi s a s
y o u p o i n te d o ut i n three way s— by c alli n g fo r d o me s ti c a c ti o n s t o
co n s erve bi o diver s ity an d s e co n d e n co uragi n g the s u s tai n able u s e
o f bi o diver s ity an d third pr o m o ti n g be n e fi t s hari n g
T h e con ve n ti o n s eek s to a chieve the s e o b e ct i v e s thro u gh a s e rie s
As an e ss e n tial fi r s t s te p o r n ati on al a c ti o n s the
o f pr o vi s i o n s
co n ven ti o n c all s o n all partie s to ad o pt so un d n ati on al co n s ervati o n
r gi me s s imilar to th os e that the U n ite d S tate s ha s l o n g h ad i n
p ace
T h e co n ve n ti o n al so re cogn i z e s that bi o diver s ity c a n be u s ed i n
perpetu ity to be n e fi t huma n ki n d T h e s e co n d maj o r obj e c tive o f the
co n ven ti o n i s thu s to pr ovi de the s u s tai n able u s e o f bi o diver s ity
by empha s i z i n g mea s ure s to reali z e the e co n o mi c an d o th er be n e
fi t s o f bi o diver s ity i n a s u s tai n able man n er T h e co n ve n ti on e n co u r
a ge s co un trie s to co n s erve their bi o diver s ity
T hird be c au s e so mu c h o f the pl a n et s bi o di ver s ity lie s i n th e
le ss devel o ped co un trie s the co n ve n ti o n pla c e s great empha s i s o n
the pr o m oti o n o f ben e fi t s hari n g thro ugh i n tern ati o n al coo perati on
T h e U S s upp o rt s thi s co n c ept by whi ch be n e fi t s s te mmi n g fr o m
the pr o du c tive u s e o f the gen eti c flo w o f re so urc e s fl o w ba c k t o
th os e n ati o n s that a c t to co n s erve bi o l ogi c al diver s ity a n d pro v ide
a cc e ss to their ge n eti c re so ur c e s
T h e be n e fi t s h ari n g pro vi s i o n s pr ovide an imp o rta n t mark et
ba s ed i n c e n tive fo r co u n tri e s to pro te c t their re so urc e s U n der o n e
s uch arran geme n t fo r e xample the N ati o n al C an c er I n s titute i s
s tudyin g a v i n e in C amer oo n that co n tain s a p o ten tially pr o mi s i n g
a n ti H I V age n t Sh o uld thi s parti c ular s ub s tan c e ful fi ll it s i n itial
pr o mi s e C ameroo n w o uld reali z e s i gn i fic an t be n e fi t s fro m devel o p
me n t o f the s e re so urc e s
A s n o te d ab ove a s y o u p o i n ted o ut i n y o ur s tateme n t an d Se n
ato r C hafee re fle c te d i n hi s n o impleme n ti n g le gi s lati o n wi ll be re
quired T h e e xi s ti n g a ss emblage o f F ederal State a n d private s e c
t o r bi o diver s ity pr ogram s co mpri s i n g n umer o u s State a n d F ederal
l aw s a n d program s an e x te n s ive sy s tem o f F ederal a n d State wild
life ma n ag eme n t area s mari n e s an c tuari e s park s a n d fo re s t s a n d
re s ear ch a n d edu c ati o n pr ogram s i s co n s idered s uffi c ien t i n meet
i n g o ur re s p o n s ibilitie s
T h e admi n i s trati o n d o e s n o t i n te n d t o di s rupt the e xi s ti n g bal
a n c e o f S tate a n d Federal auth o ritie s thro u gh thi s co n ve n ti on a n d
i n deed i s co mmitted to e x pa n di n g a n d s tre n gthe n i n g the s e pro du c
tive partn er s hip s
U S fu n di n g fo r co n ve n ti o n relate d a c tivitie s will be han dled
thr ou gh peri o di c co n tributi o n s to gl obal e n viro n me n tal fa c ilitie s
T h e U n i te d State s i s co mmitte d to pr ovide $ 4 3 0 milli o n o ver the
n e x t 4 year s t o ward reple n i s hme n t o f the re c e n tly re s tru c tured
G EF T o tal pled ge s by all co u n trie s co me to s li ghtly m o re tha n $ 2
billi o n A n d it i s thro u gh thi s fa cility that we plan to a ss i s t i n gl o b
a l c limate chan g e
bi o diver s ity oc ea n s man a geme n t a n d i n o n e
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8
o ther
area i n very mi n o r fa s hi o n the co n ve n ti o n relate d to ozo n e
depleti n g s ub s ta n c e s
As y o u k n o w M r C hai rm an i n du s try ha s e x pre ss ed co n c ern s
ab o ut the way so me o f the l an guage i n the co n ve n ti on i s draft ed
parti c ularly o n the i ss ue s o f i n te lle c tual pr o perty ri ght s ro t e ct i o n
term s o f tran s fer o f te c h n o l ogy an d parti c ipati o n i n U S?re s earc h
pr oje c t s
We s hare the s e co n c ern s but feel we can be s t pro te c t U S i n ter
e s t s by fi r s t s e n di n g c lear me ss age s t o the re s t of the w o rld a s to
h o w the U S e x pe c t s the s e pr o v i s i on s to be implemen ted by all par
tie s An d s e co n d parti c ipati n g a c tively i n the co n ve n ti o n t o pr o te c t
U S i n telle c tual pr o perty ri ght s An d third dep os iti n g with o ur i n
s trume n t o f ratific ati o n s tateme n t s o f un der s tan di n g o n s pe ci fic i s
s ue s rai s ed in the arti c le s o f the co n ven ti o n
Spe c i fic ally we pr o p os e to dep os it with o ur i n s trume n t o f ra t ifi
c ati o n s tateme n t s o f U S u n der s tan din g that make c lear o ur p os i
ti o n s o n the i ss ue s o f te ch n o l ogy tra n s fer an d i n telle c tual pr o perty
ri ght s o n re s earc h o n fun di n g o n so verei gn immun ity an d o n the
arti c le 3 p ri n c iple
T h e co n te n t o f the s e u n der s tan di n gs i s pr o vided i n detail i n the
a n n ex to my te s tim o n y
On the c riti c al i ss ue s o f te ch n o l ogy tra n s fer o ur un der s tan di n gs
mak e c lear that a n y a cc e ss to an d tran s fer o f te c h n o l ogy that o c
c ur s un der the co n ve n ti o n mu s t re cogn i z e a n d be con s i s te n t with
the adequate an d effe c tive pro te c ti o n o f i n telle c tual pro perty ri ght s
T h e U S u n der s ta n di n gs al so make c lear that the te rm fair an d
m os t favo rable te rm s fo r te c h n o l ogy tran s fer co n tai n ed i n arti c l e
of the co n ve n ti o n mean s te rm s that are v o lun tarily a greed to
by all partie s to the tra n s a c ti o n
T hi s lay s d o w n the c lear marker to all o ther co un trie s that the
co n ven ti o n c an n o t be u s ed by a n y party to u n ilaterally imp os e
te rm s o f obli gati o n s o n a n y o ther party re gardi n g te c h n o l ogy tran s
fe r A s uppleme n tal s tateme n t o n t h rs fr o m the U S P aten t a n d
T rademark Offi c e i s al so atta c hed to my s tateme n t
With re s pe c t to pr o vi s i o n s addre ss i n g the co n du c t an d l oc ati o n o f
re s ear ch ba s ed o n ge n eti c re so ur c e s o ur un der s tan di n gs empha s i z e
that th e co n ve n ti o n c a n n o t s erve a s a ba s i s fo r a n y party u n i la te r
ally to c han ge the term s o f e xi s ti n g a greeme n t s i n v o l v i n g publi c o r
private U S en titie s We further c larify whi ch pr o vi s i o n s o f the
co n ven ti o n apply to re s earch co n duc te d by the U S G overn me n t
a n d whi c h apply to re s ear ch by p ri vate e n titie s
I n du s try repre s e n tative s have al so i n quired a s t o U S i n te n ti o n s
re gardi n g the n e go tiati o n o f a bi o safe t pro toco l We s tated at the
time that we s ign ed the co n ve n ti o n t at the n eed fo r a pr o toco l
mu s t be dem o n s trated befo re further s tep s are co n s idere d
A t the fi r s t i n ter go vern me n tal meeti n g relate d to the co n ve n ti o n
we re s tate d thi s o si t i o n addi n g th at ba s ed o n o ur e x perie n c e we
d o n o t feel that a i o safe t y pr o toco l to thi s co n ve n ti on i s warran ted
Ho wever sh o uld n e o t i at i o n s o n a pro toco l eve n tually proc eed we
will be i n a mu ch S
etter p os iti o n to pro te c t U S i n tere s t s i f we
h ave a s eat at the table
Fi n a ll ma n y have a s ked what me chan i s m s are avail able to the
U n ite d tate s to e n s ure that a n y de c i s i o n s o f the co n fere n c e o f the
partie s a cco rd with U S i n tere s t s F ir s t we will e n s ure that the
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9
co
c e f the partie s rule s f pr ocedure whi ch will be ad o pte d
by co s e s u s are f lly a cc eptable to the U it d St te s
Se co d we have s upp o rted a pr o pos al to require that all de c i
s i o s co c er i g the fi a c ial me cha i s m are al so made by
s us
M os t imp o rt tly h o wever the co fere c e f the partie s co uld
f the
t le gally bi d the U ited S tate s to a le gal i terpretati o
co ve ti o that the U S did t a ccept T h U i ted State s will
have
o pp o rtu ity to fo rmally accept o r rej e c t y ame dme t o r
pr o toco l to the co ve ti o
We believe the appro a c h o utli ed ab o ve whi c h ha s br o ad s upp o rt
am o g b o th U S commer ci al
d e vir o me tal gro up s adequately
addre ss e s co c er s rai s ed by co ve n ti o pr ovi s i o s
I t i s w o rth o ti g that th e debate o ver c ertai co ve ti o pr o vi
s i o s o pe ed the d oo r to u pre cede te d di s play f cooperati o
am o g U S i du s try
d e ir o me tal o r ga i z ati o s to fo rge a
co mm o u ders ta d g the co ve ti o
f the co ve ti o
We h o pe M r C hairma that the rati fic ati o
will be a further s te i thi s coo perati o
d that we will m ove
eve m o re d m t i ly to take adva tage f thi s i the 2 l t
tury whi c h s urely will be the c e tury f bi o l ogy
T here i s e o rm o u s pr o mi s e i
thi s area a s y o u p o i ted o ut i
y o ur o pe i g remark s M r C hairma We believe rati fic ati o
f the
co ve ti o i s i the be s t i tere s ts f the U ited Stat s overall i s
i
the i tere s t f o ur leadi g i du s t ie s i thi s area
d will be
a maj o r s tep to ward pro te c ti
bi o diver s ity ar o u d the w o rld
We tha k
very mu c h o r y o ur pr o mpt heari g
thi s s ub
e that rati fic ati o
occur by A s t 3 1 whi ch
d we
j t
i t d N ati o s
i s the deadli e y whi ch we have t o s ubmit to the
o ur i s t ume t s f ratific ati o so that we
be a party at the
e x t co fere c e f the artie s meeti g early thi s fall
T ha k y o u very mu ch M
Chai ma
prepared s tateme t f M r Wirth
d additi o al material
[T h
fo ll o w ]
P P DS
T
YE W
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:
T AT E M E N T OF
R E AR E
I M OT H
IR T H
.
Good mo rn ing Mr Cha irman M embers of the Comm i ttee I am please d t o be he re
to da t o u rge you r suppo rt fo r ratification of the Convention o n R iolo cal Diversity
which was si ed by the United States on June 4 19 9 3 T his compre e n siv e agree
ment si e dfi 1 70 nations and ratified by more than 50 marks an unpre cedented
and
w o rldw i e commitment t o ste m the loss of the ear th s species thei r habitats
eco systems By joi n in g with other countri es i n implementin g the Convention the
Uni te d State s can continue to lay a leade rs hip ro le in ensu rin g that futu re e n e ra
tions can enjoy the economic s alth nutri tional aesthetic and othe r bene rt s de
ri ved fro m o u r planet s rich biologi c al inhe r itance
T h is t re aty has been the subject o f exte nsive re view and di scussion among U S
and U S comme rcial and envi ro n mental inte re sts and the
o v e m m e n t agen c ies
8 Congress as well Conce rns that have been r aise d about some o f the tre aty s
p ro visions were exami ned in detail and have been addr esse d We believe strongly
that U S inte re s ts will be best se rved by rati fying the Convention and wo rk ing t o
im plement its ro v i sio n s in an effective manne r
Indeed the n i te d States has fo r some tim e been i o n e e ri n g e ffo rts t o p re se rve
biodi versity u nde r exis ting U S laws that meet the o n v e n t i o n s require ments fo r
domestic action T he re fore no implementing le slat i o n o r C han es in U S reg u la
tions o r exi sting state fede ral relationships will e needed to fu l 1 1] the domesti c re
qu i re m e n t s of a convention Pa rty
T h e Confe rence o f the Pa rties will design ate an i nstitutional structu re to ope rate
the fin ancial mechani sm u nde r the Convention A ssuming that the Global E nvi ro n
m e n t F acility (G EF ) is ch o se n as th e pe rm an e n t i n stitu tio n al stru ctu re t h e U n ite d
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10
States will implement its fu ndi ng obligatio n s th ro ugh its pe ri odi c contributions to
the OEF T h e OEF is a u n i que coope rative a rran e m e n t betw e en the World Ba n k
U n i te d N ations Development Pro gr amm ed an d t e Un i te d N ations E nviro nm ent
Prog ra mme I t has been restructu re d in o rd er in pa rt t o suppo rt the Bio dive rsity
Convention
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Th
e
B io d i v e rs i ty I ss u e
Before di scussin g how the Convention addr esses the p ro blem o f biodive rsity loss
it is impo rt ant t o u nde rs ta n d what bio dive rsity is an d why we should be conce rn ed
with m ai n t a in i n it fo r this an d futu re gene rations M ost simply state d bio div e rsity
is the su m tot of all li fe fo rms that exist on E a rth ; it is the we alth of s cies
eco syste m s an d e co lo cal processes that help make possible o u r economic an e n v i
ro n m e n t al syste m s
st i m a te s o f the numbe r of s p
ecies that m ake u p the earth s
biodi versity ra n ge fro m 1 0 to 1 00 m illi on yet o n ly some
mil lion are curre ntly
known t o science We can measu re the di stance to the moon t o a matte r of centr
mete rs but we can t even n arro w esti mat e s o f the numbe r of species he re on earth
to below a facto r o f ten
Such knowle dge is i m rt an t because biodi versity is vital to the well bein of h u
mankin d A t the most asic level we depend on the ear th s b io di v e rsi t o r food
fiber medi cines and fo r its contribution to the health of ecosyste ms A dit i o n ally
biolog ic al mate ri als a re fu ndamental in o u r in dustri al ro ce s se s and enable develop
ment o f new p ro ducts from the rapi dly exp a n di n fie lg o f biotechn ology F o r exam
ple plant species provide the active ingre dient go r an esti mated 2 5 pe rcent of the
re s cri tion drugs sold in the Un ite d State s with an annu al market value well ove r
£ 1 0 bi ion A numbe r of i mpo rtant medi cal compou nds have bee n developed from
mari ne o rga n i sms F o r exam le spon g es a re the sou rce o f anti vir al drugs with a n
nual sales of $ 50 to $ 1 00 m il o u
E ven beyond the p romise fo r new drugs uses of biodive rsity have revolutio n i zed
medi cal techn olo ies A bact e ri a discove red in Yellowsto ne s hot sp ri ngs has allowe d
u s to dr amaticalgy reduce the time re u ire d t o analyze medi cal te sts so te sts that
took days can n o w be done in hou rs
e cumulative e ffect of these savin gs o n the
health an d p ro ductivity of o u r wo rkforce cannot be unde resti mate d
Fo r U S agricultu re whi ch is base d la r ely on foo d c rops that o rigin ate d in othe r
p arts o f the world o u r in dustry remains e pe n de n t on the use o f po o rly known and
o ft e n poo rly p ro tecte d wil d stra ins from outside the Unite d State s U S wheat farm
varieties develope d fro m wild strai ns in the N ear E ast
e rs fo r example are usin
that a re re sista nt to a ph i and othe r sts Using genetic di versity in plan t b ree d
ing p rogr ams t o i m ro ve crop yields
agri c ultu re has increa se d its ro du ct iv i ty
dramatically ove r t e ast 6 0 years Expe rts esti mate that this use of frio di v e rs it y
has added a value of a out
billion to o u r $ 1 1 b i l lion ann u al ro du ct io n o f so y
be ans and abo ut $ 7 bi llion in added value to o u r $ 18 billion ann u ap
corn crop
We have barely begun t o unde rstan d the value of the
milli on species that have
been catalogu ed to date We can only guess the potenti al value t o human kind o f the
millions o f species that are not yet di scove red in the ocean s and o n lan d T hese re
sou rces are like vast lib rar ies of knowledge com le te ly obscu red fro m o u r co m
p re hension T h e la rgest o f these lib rari es are foun g outside the Un i te d State s an d
constitute a critical re sou rce that thi s an d fu tu re gene rations can use t o so lve some
of the globe s most pre s si n co nce rns A lready the re has been much p ro mis i n g re
se arch o u newly di sco v e re species an d genetica lly-e ng i nee red p roducts that coup
ro ve valuable in be use d i n dealing with problems from ADDS t o o il spills to wo rld
gunge r
T ragi cally despite the ove rwhelmi n g impo rtance of bio di ve rsity it is now be i n g
lost at ala rming rate s I n the past decade a broad scienti fic consensus has emer e cl
that biodi versity is bein lost faste r to da than at any time sin ce the dinosau rs
came extin ct some 6 5 lion years ago ulike p revious extinctions which we re pri
mari ly a result of natu ral events this destruction o f o u r lan e t s life forms is la rge ]
a re sult o f hum a n action in pa rticular the de a ation of biologically ric
ecosystems like tro pical ra in forests g r asslands an co ral re efs If cu rrent trends
persist some 2 0 pe rcent of the ea rth s species m y become ext in ct b the year 2 02 0
o r o u r child re n an
and we will have fa iled in o u r task as stewar ds a
gr a ndchil dren
Con v e n t io n o n B i o log i ca l D i v e rs i ty
T h e Biodive rsity Convention is an u n re ce de n te d effort by the nations of the
wo rld to take action now to deal with bio versity loss be fo re it is too late T h e Con
v e n t i o n doe s this by : (1 ) cal ling fo r domestic actions to conse rve bio dive rsity ; (2 ) e n
c o u ra g i n g the sustainable u se of biodive rsity ; and (3 ) p romotin g benefit sha rin
g
T h e Convention seeks t o achi eve these object ives th ro ugh a se ries of pro v rs i o n s
A s an essential fi rst step fo r natio n al actions the co nvention call s o n all Part ies to
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12
in the Convention to pro tec t U S in tellectu al prope rty ri hts inte rests ; and (3) de
ositi
n g with o u r i nst rument of rati fication state ments 0 u nde rs tandi n g on specific
p
i ssues r aised in a rticles of the convention
S ci fica lly we g po s to de sit with o u r ins trument o f ratification state ments
of S unde rs tanS g tfi
at m e clear o u r positions on the issues of te chn ology
transfer and intellectual pro e rt y rights research fundin sove rei g n immu n ity
and the Article 3 Pri nciple lfre conte nt of these u n de rsta n gs is provided i n de
tail i n the An n ex to this t e st i m o n
On the cri tical issue o f te chn o 0
tr ansfe r o u r understandi ngs make clea r that
any acc ess t o and trans fer of techn o ogy that occu rs unde r the convention must re c
o g n i ze and be consiste nt with the adequate and e ffective p rotection o f inte llectual
rt y n
R
e U S unde rstand i ngs also make clea r that the te rm
p
hts
IP
T
h
a
f
ir
(
)
g
an most ia v o ra ble te rms fo r tech n ology transfer conta i ned in Article
of the
Convention means te rms that a re voluntari ly agr eed to by all Pa rties to the tra ns
action T his lays down the clear ma rke r t o all other countri es that the Conventio n
cann ot be used by an y Part t o u n il ate ral ly impose te rms o r obligations on any
othe r Pa rt rega rdi ng techno 0 trans fe r A Supplemental State ment on thi s from
the Un i te States Pate nt and ra de m a rk Of fice is attached
With re spect t o p rovisions ad dressing the conduct and loca tion o f resear ch based
on genetic re sou rces o u r u nde rstandi n gs emphasize that the Convention ca nnot
se rve as a basis fo r any Party uni late ra lly t o chan e the te rms o f existin g agre e
ments involving publi c o r p ri vate U S entities We u rt h e r cl ari fy which p ro visions
of the Convention appl to research conducte d by the U S Gove rnment an d which
a p ly to re se ar ch by pu li e o r p rivate entities
fu du st ry repre se ntatives have al so inquired as t o U S inte ntions re ardi ng the
negotiation of a biosa fety p ro to col under the Convention We stated at t e time we
si g n ed the Convention that the nee d fo r a p rotocol mu st be demonstrate d be fo re fu r
ther ste ps are conside re d At the first in te rgove rnm ental meeting relatin g t o the
Convention we restate d thi s position adding that based on o u r ex ri e n ce we di d
n o t feel that a biosafety
ro to co l t o thi s Convention is wa rr ante d
o w e v e r should
negotiations o n a pro t o co eventually p roceed we will be in a bette r position t o pro
teet U S i nte rests if we have a se at a t the table An d the Unite d States in c oope ra
tion with U S in dustry and othe r inte re sted gro up s would wo rk t o ensu re that any
p ro tocol is scientifically base d and analytically sound
Finally many have asked what mech a nisms are available to the Uni te d State s
to ensu re that an y decisions o f the Confe rence o f the Parties (C OP ) a cco r d with U S
inte rests Fi rst we will ensu re that the C o P s rules of procedu re whi ch will be
adopted by consensus a re fully acceptable to the Un i te d State s Second we have
supporte d a pro po sal to require that all decisions conce rning the financial mecha
nism are also made by consensu s M ost impo rt a ntly howeve r the Co n fe rence o f the
Parties could not legally bin d the Un ited States to a legal inte re tation of the Con
v e n t i o n that the U S
did n o t accept T h e Un ite d State s will ave an oppo rtunity
to fo rma lly acc ept o r reject any a mendment o r ro to c o l t o the Convention
We believe the ap roach outl i ned above w ich has b ro ad support among both
atel ad dresses conce rns ra ise d
U S comme rcial an envi ronmental groups ade
by Convention p ro visions I t is worth noting that t e de ate ove r ce rtain convention
ned
the
doo
r to an unp recedente d display of coo pe ration among U S
ro visions 0
p
I ndustry an environmental o rganizations to forge a co m mon unde rstandi ng on the
Convention F o r example one gathe rin g of in dustry and enviro n mental rep resenta
t i v e s the so -calle d G ro up o f Six i ndependently analyzed the Convention in pains
tak in g detail and helped U S in te rest grou s unde rs tand the Convention s implica
tions With an ope n e ar to the conce rns of a U S in te rests the a dmi n istration was
able t o establish a basis upon which it could sign the Convention an d pro ceed with
the rati fication p rocess
C on clu s i o n
M r Ch a i rman in clo s ing let me reite rate that U S a dh e rence t o the Convention
on Biologic al Dive rsity is o f the utmo s t importance I n the R enaiss a nce ph i lo so
phe rs S R e o f a chain o f being o f whi ch humanity was but one of an infi n ite se
n k s N o w we re a lize that natu re is both too complicate d and t o o fr agi le t o
ries o f
be thought of as a chain ; rathe r it is a de licate web wh ich we can tea r to pie ces
i f we a re not c are firl Ou r comm itment t o the co nse rvation o f bio dive rsity is no mo re
than o u r re alization at this late hou r that the web must remai n unbroken
R ecently T ime magazine ra n a cove r sto ry on the pre
Ou r task wi ll not be eas
ca rious state of the tiger
e article desc ri bed the e ffo rts o f many de dicated men
and wo men a rou nd the wo rld to re se rve the se magn ificent creatu res We will not
know fo r sever al yea rs whethe r t ose e ffo rts will be success ful in e n su rin that t i
ge rs exist outside a few zoos and circuses But while we pon de r the fate 0 this one
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13
familia r s cies conside r this : in the short pe ri od sin ce that issue o f T ime hit the
some scientists estimate that as many as one thousand species
n e w s st a n
u n l ament ed unstu die d their pro rt ie s and potential vagu e unknown— may have
vanished forever from the face of e E a rth
I believe that we owe it to this and fu tu re gene rations t o pa rticipate as willing
and c onstructive partne rs in what is an unprecedented lob al e ffo rt t o save the
wo rld s bio diversity Membe rshi p in the Convention on Bio o g ic al Diversity pro vi des
a forum fo r u s to sha the wo rld s approach to biodive rsity so that it is e ffective
p ragmatic sci e n t ific al y based and successfu l I u rge you r su ppo rt fo r ratification o f
this i m rt an t treaty and l o ok fo rward to wo rking with you in thi s e ffo rt to conse rve
an d u t ize the pl a net s biological wealth
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AN N EX I
D
T H E S T AT EM EN T S OF U N
ER S T AN
D G
IN
P G
L
AN D T H E R E AT ION SH I
'' ‘
T H E G AI I T RI S A
P
OF T H E C O N
V EN T I O N
TO
R E E M EN T
nex provides a fu rthe r explanation o f the state ments o f unde rst a n din g to
be included in the U S i ns trument o f ratificatio n and a di scussion o f the re lat ro n
ship o f the Biodi vers ity Convention to the GAT T Agreement on T rade R elated A s
pe c t s of I ntellectu al P ro pe rty (GAT T T R IP S )
T hi s An
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.
-
.
T H E ST AT E M EN T S OF U N
D
ER S T A N D IN
G
a dm i nistration developed the statements o f understandi ng with a n O pen e ar
t o all con ce rns T h e statements of u n de rstandi n g will not only guide o u r participa
tion in the Convention but also se rve as notice to othe r Convention Pa rties as to
how the U n ite d States in te rp rets the Convention
However the statements o f unde rstanding are only one pa rt o f the overall ap
p ro ach with respect to the Convention T hus they c a nnot be read in isolatio n from
the statements o f A dm inistration poli cies and other statements o f i n te retation se t
forth in the testimony the President s Lette r o f T ransmi ttal and the po rt -o f the
Secreta ry of State
T ec h n o log y T ra n sfe r — T h e following understandi n gs should be i n cluded in the
Unite d State s instrument o f ratification :
I t is the unde rstandin g o f the Go ve rnm ent of the U n i ted States o f A me ri ca
with respect to provisions address i ng access to and tr ans fe r o f te ch n o lo that :
a fair and most favo rable te rms in Article
means te rms t at are
voluntarily agreed to by all Parties to the tr ansaction ;
b with respect to tech n ology subject to patents and othe r intellectu al
property rights Parties mu st ensu re that any access to o r trans fe r of tech
n o lo g y that occu rs re co
zes and is consistent with the adequate and e ffe c
tive ro t e ct io n of in te ] c o t u s l pro pe rty ri ghts and that Article
does
not t e r this ob ligation
I t is the unde rstandin g o f the Go ve rnment of the United States of A me ri ca
with respect to p ro visions address i ng the conduct and location o f rese arch base d
on genetic resou rces that :
a Article
a lies o n ly t o scientific rese arch conducted by a Part
p
while Article
ap
dresse s measu res taken by Parties re ga r ding scientific
resea rch conducted by eithe r public o r p rivate entities
b Article
c a nnot serve as a basis fo r any Party to un ilate rally
change the te rms o f existing agreements involvi ng public o r p ri vate U S
entities
T e rm s o f T e c h n o log y T ra n sfe r — Ar ticle
state s that access to and transfe r o f
techn ology shall be p ro vided and/o r facilitated under fa ir and most favo rable
te rms in c lu di n on concessional and prefe re ntial te rms where mutually a e ed
Fair and most favo rable te rms are n o t defined i n the Conventio n and we gdnot
pu rpo rt t o de fine them i n thi s statement o f unde rstanding Howeve r we wish t o
m ake ve ry clea r that whateve r thei r defin ition no provision o f the Convention re
r din g acce s s to o r t r ans fe r o f t e ch n o lo
a
can
be
u
sed
by
any
Pa
rty to u nilate r ally
g
rm
se te rms o r obligations on any othe r arty rega r din g t e ch n o lo y trans fe r
8 issue should be cla ri fied in the U n i ted States inst rument o f r atification by
a state ment that with respect to provisions addressing access to and tr ans fe r o f
tech n ology that fai r and most favo rable te rms in Arti cle
means te rms that
a re volunta rily agreed t o b
all Pa rties to the transaction
P r o te c t io n o f I n te llec t u
P ro pe r ty R ig h ts — T h e extension o f adequ ate and e ffe c
tive protection fo r in t ellectual p ro pe rty ri ghts is an essential pre re quisite t o achi eve
T his
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14
ment o f the Convention s objectives on conse rvation of bi o lo cal div e rs it y su stain
able u se o f biological re so u rce s and benefit sh aring T h e gio di v e rsity t o n v e n t io n
contain s pe rhaps the most strin gent obligation to pro te ct inte llectu al ro pe rt y rights
in an envi ronm ental agre ement to date Article
state s that tec ology tra ns
fers involving technology subject to in tellectual pro rt y rights must be han dled in
a way that is consistent with the adequate an d e e ct iv e p ro te ction of the in te lle c
tu al p ro perty rights i n the tec hnology
However Article
re vides that the Pa rt ies
re co gn izing that
s t ents and
othe r ro t t y ri ghts ma h ave an i n fluence on the im le m e n t at i o n of t s C o n v e n
tion 8 a1 cooper ate i n t s regar d subj e ct to national e g i sla t io n and in te rnation al
law in o rder to ensu re that such ri ghts are su ppo rtive of and do not ru n count er
t o its objectives
We recogn i ze that othe r countries m a y have a pe rs tive o n inte llectu al ro pe rt y
rights inconsistent with that o f the Unite d State s {
i rt from the clear 0 ligation
fl
in Article
we do not an ticipate that the Biodi versity Convention alone wi ll
chan g e that pe rspe ctive Howeve r we do wish to make clear that the Convention
d oe s not provide a basis u n which othe r Parties can deny adequate an d effective
p ro tection to te ch n o lo su ect to intellectu al p ro pe rty rights T o p reempt an such
mi sapplication of Artic e 1 6 25) by any Party it is esse ntial to include in the n it e d
States instrument of ratification a statement re affir ming the ob ligation of Parties
to ensu re that access t o o r t r ansfe r of technology unde r the Conve n tion is consiste nt
with the ade ate and e ffective re tection o f intellectu al p ro pe rty ri ghts and that
o e s not alte r this o i
tion
A rt icle
P a rt ic ipa t io n i n B i o te c h n o log ic a l e se a rc h — Fin ally the statement o f un de rstand
ing addresse s those provisions of the Convention that ro v i de fo r a rt ic ipa t io n by
developing countri es in resea rc h deri ved from the deve o pm e n t o f th eir genetic t e
sou rces
Fi rst the statement o f u n de rst a n di n cla ri fies which p rovisions of the Convention
apply t o re se arch conducted by the U Gove rn ment and which p ro visions a p ly t o
re sea rc h conducte d by eithe r public o r p rivate entities T h e subject matte rs 0
Arti
cles
an d
are
vi rtu ally identical although the legal obli gations o f each
va ry sli ghtly Article
provides that each Party shall endeavor to de v e lo and
ca rry out sci e n t ific re se arch bas ed on e n e t ic re sou rces by othe r Pa rties wit the
full pa rtici ation o f and whe re po ssible in the te rri tory o f such Pa rties Article
p ro vi es fo r the e ffective p articipation in biotechnology resear ch activities by
those Pa rties that p rovided the genetic re sou rces fo r such resea rch whe re feas ible
in the te rri to ry o f such Pa rties
applies only to scienti fic re se a rch conducted
T h e unde rs tandin g that Ar ticle
by a Party while Article
add re sse s measu res t aken by Parties re g a rdin sci
u blic o r p rivate e n tities should be i n c lu ed in
e n t i fic re se arch conducted by eithe r
the Un i te d States in strume n t of rati rc a t i o n
T o implement
Second the u n de rs t a n di n cla ri fies the scope of the Article
the Pa rties 3 oul d take measu res that ro m o t e the negotiation of
A rticle
agreements rega rdin g re se arch o n genetic re sou rc es
t i m ate ly howeve r it i s u
t o the entity conduct i ng the resea rc h to dete rmine the ci rc u mstan c es unde r whi o
it is a pro pri a te t o p rovide fo r the p articipation of developing cou ntries an d whethe r
it is e a sib le fo r su ch re se arc h t o be pe rformed in the te rri to ry of the developin g
c ount ry
T hese obligations apply p ros ct iv e ly Ac c o rdin ly the Un ited States wishes to
make clea r in its in strument 0 ratification that t e Convention ca nn ot be use d by
any developin g country t o ch ange the te rms of existing agreements fo r development
of genetic resou rces by U S entities
FUN D I N G
T h e Convention conta i ns two a rticles on fu nding Article 2 0 sets fo rt h the unde r
tak i ngs o f all Pa rties with respect to fin ancial contri butions ; Article 2 1 establishes
a financial mech anism T hese pro visions are largely model led on those o f the C li
mate Change Convention to which the Senate gave advice and co nsent in 1 99 2
T h e following statement o f unde rstandi ng should be in cluded in the Un i ted States
instrument o f r atification :
I t is the unde rstand i ng o f the Gove r nment of the Uni te d State s o f A me ri ca
that with re spec t to Article
the fin a ncial resou rc es provided by develo d
e11
country Pa rties are to enable develo pin g country Parties to meet the a
dp
incremental costs t o them of i m le m e n t i n g measu res that fulfill the o ligations
of the Convention an d t o bene I t fro m its provisions and that are agreed bo
tween a develo p i ng country Party an d the in stitutional structu re re fe rre d t o rn
Article 2 1
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15
is the understa nd in g of the Gove r nment o f the Uni ted States o f A me rica
”
that with re sp e ct to Art icle
the authori ty o f the Co n fe rence of the P ar
ties with respect to the financial mecha n ism re lates to dete rmi n i n g fo r the pu r
po se s of the Convention the poli cy strategy program prio rities an d eligibility
crite ria relating to the access t o and utili zation o f such re sou rc e s
T h e Gove r nment o f the U n ited State s o f A me ri ca u nde rstands that the deci
sion to be taken by the Co n fe rence o f the Parties unde r Article 2 1 Paragraph
1 conce rns the amount o f resou r ces needed b the financial mechanism an d
that nothi ng in Article 2 0 o r 2 1 autho ri zes the &n fe m n ce of the Parties to t ake
decisions conce rning the am ount natu re frequency o r size o f the contributions
of the Pa rties t o the in stitutional structu re
Ag re e m e n t o n C o s ts a n d M ea su res — Am ong othe r thi ngs Article 2 0 requi re s de
v e lo p
e d count ry Parties to p rovide new and additional financial resou rces to enable
developing country Pa rties to meet the a
d fu ll i n cre mental co sts to them o f i m
ple m e n t i n g measu re s whi ch fulfill the ob g at i o n s of the Convention an d to benefit
fro m its p ro visions and whi ch costs are a
d between a developing country Pa rty
and the in stitutional stru ctu re O pe rating t e fin a ncial mechanism
alify fo r fundi n g the U n i te d State s inte
re ts the Convention to re qui re that
To
both iff
e cost of a roj e ct and the p ro co t itselffi
e agree d between the institutional
structu re and the e v e lo pin g cou ntry 0 re e m pt an arg ument albeit unlike ] that
a developing coun ry is entitled to fu nd
ing once the cost o f the project a one is
agree d the Unite d State s should state its unde rstandi n g that the financial re
sou rc es p rovided under Article 2 0 a re to enable developin g country P arties t o meet
th e a g re ed full in cremental costs o f measu res that a re agreed between a developing
country Party and the in stitutional structu re refe rred to in Article 2 1
T h e A u th o ri ty o f th e Co n fe re n c e o f P a rt ie s — Article 2 1 o f the Convention estab
lishes a fin an cial mech anism and ro v i de s fo r an institutional st ructu re to whi ch
the ope ration o f the mech anism w i be entru ste d I t al so desc ri be s the re lationshi p
betwee n the Conference o f the Parties and the financial mechanism
Article
p rovides that the mechanism shall fu nction u nde r the autho rity and
guidance o f and be accountable t o the Confe rence o f the Pa rties I n addition it
states that the Conference of the Parties shall dete rmin e the poli cy strategy pro
ram p rio ri ties and eligibili ty c ri te ri a re lating to the ac cess t o and utili zation o f the
gm a n c i al resou rces
”
In thi s context the United States unde rstan ds that the autho ri ty o f the Con
fe rence o f the P a rties relates t o dete rmi ni ng policy st r ategy p ro gram p ri o ri ties and
eligibility cri te ri a I n other wo rds the Convention does not give the Con fe rence o f
the Parties the autho ri ty t o govern the G EF o r make its pro e c t fun din g decisions
A statement to this e ffect shoul d be i n clu de d in the Un ite States in strument of
r atification
A m o u n t o f R eso u rces N e e de d — Article
fu rthe r p rovi des that contributions to
the fin ancial mechanism shall be such as t o ta k e into accou nt the need fo r p re dict
ability ade u a cy and timely flow of funds in acco rdance with the amou nt of re
sou rces nee ed to be decided periodi cally by the Co n ference o f the Pa rties At the
time o f the adoption o f the ag reed te xt of the Convention ni neteen countries (i n c lu d
ing the U n ited States) decla red their understandin g that the decision to be taken
by the Confe rence o f the Parties unde r Pa ragraph 1 refe rs to the amou nt o f re
sou rc es needed by the fin a ncial mechanism not to the extent o r natu re and fo rm
o f the cont ributions o f the Pa rties
T h e A dm i nist ration the re fo re intends to reite rate this u nde rstan din g in its i n st ru
ment o f ratification
It
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OT H ER
P P D
R O O SE
S T AT E M E N T S OF U N
D
ER S T A N
D G
IN
admi n i st ration in tends to make statements o f unde rstanding placin g on the
A rticle 3 p ri nciple and on sove re ign immunity :
T h e Ar t ic le 3 P ri n c iple
T h e Convention states ve rbatim Pri nciple 2 1 of the
Stockholm Decla ration from the 1 9 7 2 Unite d N ations Con fere nce o n the Human E n
v i ro n m e n t
T hi s p rinciple re co gn izes the so ve reign ri ht of State s t o exploit their
own re sou rces pu rsuant to thei r o w n envi ronmental po cies and the concomi tant re
sponsib ility t o ensu re that activities with in their ju risdiction o r control do not cause
damage to the environment of othe r States o r of areas beyond the limi ts o f national
ju risdiction
T h e admin ist ration unde rstands that it re fe rences a rin ci le that the Pa rties wi ll
bear in mi nd in thei r actio n s unde r the Convention
e o llo w in g unde rs tanding
should be included in the Uni te d State s i n strument o f ratification :
Th
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16
Gove r nment o f the Un i te d States of A me rica understa nds that Article 3
re fe rence s a pri nciple to be taken in to account i n the impleme ntation o f the
Convention
S o v e re ig n I m m u n i ty — Article
obli gate s the Pa rties to implement the Con
v e n t i o n with respect to the m arine envi ro nment consiste ntly with the rights and o h
ligations o f States u nde r the law of the sea Du ri ng the nego tiations the Un i te d
Stat es p ro po se d in ad dition to Ar ticle
the inclusion of a sovereign immunity
clau se i s that the Convention does not apply to mi litary vessels o r airc raft but
that e ach Par ty has an obli gation t o ensu re by the adoption o f appro ri ate me as
u res not i m pai ri n ope rations o r ope rational capabilities of such vesse o r ai rc ra ft
owned o r ope rate by it that such vessels o r airc raft ac t in a manne r consistent
so far as is reaso nable and practicable with the Convention
I n view o f the re fere nce in Par agraph
to the law o f the se a and the re co g n i
tion by m a ny delegations du rin g the negotiations that the Un ited States ro sal
was a p ri n ci le of customary in te rnation al law an d therefo re su pe rfluous t e n i t
ed State s wit drew its ro posal T o re a ffirm this unde rstandi ng the followin g state
ment should be in clude p
in the United States in strument of ratification :
T h e Go ve rnment of the Unite d States o f A me rica unde rstan ds that although
the ro v i si o n s o f thi s Convention do not apply t o an y w arship naval au xiliary
o r o t e r vessels o r airc r aft owned o r ope r ate d by a State and used fo r the time
being only o n o v e rn m e n t non -comme rci al se rvi ce e ach State shall ensu re by
the adoption 0 a pro pri ate measu res not impairi n g o rations o r ope r ation al
capab ilities o f such vessels o r ai rc ra ft owned o r O pe rate by it that such vessels
o r a irc ra ft act in a mann e r consiste nt so fa r as is re asonable and p r acticable
with this Convention
R E LAT ION SH I P OF T H E B IOD I VER SIT Y C O N VEN T IO N T O GAT T T R I P S
T h e T R I PS a
e m e n t de fines su bsta ntive
min i mum i ntellectual ro pe rt y ri ghts
standards all AT T member countri es will have t o provide T h e
s agre ement
explicitly permits GAT T members to ro v i de mo re expansive pro tection than is out
lin ed in the agreement A s such the T R I PS agre ement will firn c t i o n as a floo r fo r
substantive p ro te ction fo r intellectu al p rope rty ri ghts by GAT T T R I PS Pa rties unde r
the B io div e rs i t Convention
It will S ign rca n t ly i m rove global st an d ar ds fo r prote ctin g inte llectual p ro pe rty
ove r cu rrent standards o r example the T R I PS agreement requi re s a rties to mak e
p ro duct s tent pro tection ava ilable fo r in ventions in essenti ally a] fields of tech
his me a ns that patents will be available fo r m a ny i mpo rtan t biotechnology
n o lo g y
p ro ducts includin g new phar maceuticals genetic ally eng inee red m i cro -o rg anisms
p ro te i ns and genetic constructs
T R IP S w i ll also restri ct the ability o f countri es t o license pate nt ri ghts without
the consent of the patent owne r An d although T R IP S pe rmi ts pa rties t o exclu de
pate nt p rotection fo r new and usefu l plant and an i mal invention GAT T membe rs
will have to p ro vide p rotection fo r new plant va ri eties I n this rega rd we will stress
the be nefits t o o u r t ra di n pa rtners of adoptin g standa r ds co nsiste nt with the 1 9 9 1
o n v e n t i o n fo r the Protection of N e w V ari eties o f Plants
revision o f I nte rnation a l
(the UP OV Convention ) Fin ally T R I PS provides a goo d basic model fo r ensu ri n g
p ro tection o f confidential bu siness i n formation and trade secrets
T h e Biodive rs ity C o nvention and the T R I P S agr eement are fully compatible in
thei r goals pri nci les and in thei r obligations I ndee d the co nclu sion o f the T R I PS
will se rve t o fu rt e r stre ngthen the obligations in the B io di v e rs it Convention to
p ro vide adequ ate and e ffe ctive p rotection o f intellectual p roperty ri g ts
Th
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SU PP LE M EN T AL ST AT E M EN T OF T H E U N IT ED ST AT ES PAT EN T AN D T R AD EMAR K OFFIC E
O N T H E C ON V EN T ION ON B IO LOG IC AL D IV E R S I T Y
ro pe rt
will
T h e a dministr ation believes i mp roved ) ro t e ct i o n of intellec tu al
) ive r
stren hen the econo mic incentives outline di n the Convention on B io o g i ca l y
trong intellectual p rope rty systems facilitate resea rc h development an d co m
s it y
m e rci a liza t io n of new technologies Global consiste ncy in such syste ms will facilitate
inte rnational cooperation and tech n ology trans fe r We will wo rk with the Secreta ri at
of the Convention and with the Con fe re nce o f Pa rties t o pro mote the po sitive ro le
of in tellectual p ro pe rty systems in development and trans fer o f new technolo g ies
base d on genetic resou rc es
T h e Convention on Biologica l Dive rs ity w ill not re qui re the Um te d States t o alte r
its domestic i ntellectual p rope rty systems Ou r stro ng intellectual rope rty systems
have p ro ven e ffective not only in stimulating inn ovations base pon g e n e t rc re
sou rces but also in e n cou ragin g the investme n ts n ecessary to develop an d co m m e r
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17
p ro ducts based on such inn ovations I ndeed o u r statu s as wo rld leade r i n the
biot echnolo gy in dustry is in pa rt due t o o u r e ffective domestic inte llec tual pro pe rt y
systems
We encou rage othe r countries t o re ly on the Convention as an autho ri ty and as
a impetu s fo r improving their domestic in tellectual pro pe rt syste ms In doin g so
we note that the Convention specifica lly re quire s that tr ans e rs o f ro prie t a ry tech
n o lo g y a re t o be on te r ms that re cognize and a re consistent with t h e adequate and
e ffective p rote c tion o f intellect u al pro pe rty ri ghts N o othe r pro vision in the C o n v e n
ti o n specifically addre s ses the ch ar acte ri stics o f intellectu al pro pe rty pro te c tio n
I n deed it would be cou nte rp ro du ctive t o the aims o f this Conventio n i f countries
attempte d to lim it intellect u al pro rty pro te ction pa rticularly fo r te c h n o lo e s
base d on bio diversity R athe r by fu y I mplementing thei r obligations under bi a t
e ra l and multilate ra l tre aties rega rding intellectual pro pe rty countri es will estab
lish ma rket conditions that will encou r age sou nd an d su sta i nable comme rcial devel
o ment o f bio di ve rsity I n this re gar d we believe the Convention is consistent with
t e obligations o f the re cently co ncluded Agreement on T rade re lated A s cts o f I n
a y R ound as well as othe r t re aties in v o vi ng inte l
te lle ct u a l Pro pe rty o f the Uru
lectu al property to whi ch the n i te d State s is a p arty
s si b i li t y that some count ri es may attempt t o inte r
Of cou rse the re remains the
p re t the Convention in a way t at is in consiste nt with basic concepts of intellectual
p ro pe rty p ro tection pa rticula rly the right o f exclusivity Exclusiv ity rm it s an i n
te lle c t u al p ro pe rty owne r du rin g the pe riod o f p rotect i on to decide
and o n what
te rms t o license o r se ll the p ro tected technolo gy M easu res t a ken by such countri es
that w o uld alte r the full enjoyment o f this right will invari ably di lute the value and
hence the beneficial incentives o f inte llectual pro pe rty p ro tection Such measu res
whethe r implemente d in law o r through practices related to the g rant o f ac cess t o
e n e t i c re sou rces will in tu rn sap the economi c incentives fo r p rese rvi n g biological
iv e rs it y that the Convention stri ves to c reate
I n su m ma ry we do not believe cou nt ri es can legitimately re ly on the Convention
a s autho rity t o
deny o r re stri ct i ntellectual p ro pe rty protection fo r techn o logies
based on genetic resou rc es N o r do we believe that countries can legiti mately re ly
on the Convention s pro visions to avoid obligations t o improve thei r intellectual
p ro pe rty 3 stems im po se d by othe r treaties including the recently concluded A gree
ment on rade R elate d A spects of I ntellectu al Prope rty o f the Uru a R ound We
will conti nue t o treat inadequ ate in tellectual p ro pe rty pro te ction fo r
tech nology
includi ng techn ology based on genetic resou rc es as an one ro us and egre o u S bu r
den o n trade An d we will contin ue t o rely on all avail able means to ad 8 3 de fi
c i e n c i e s in fo reign inte llectual p ro pe rty systems that have negative economi c e ffects
fo r U S in dustry A s such the Patent and T radema rk Offi ce suppo rts the ra t i fic a
tion o f the Convention on Biologi cal Dive rsity
T h e C HA IR M AN T ha n k y o u very mu ch i n deed I will turn n o w to
Se n ato r B au c u s a n d hi s s tateme n t a n d the n we will co me to co m
me n t s fro m my co llea gue s a n d que s ti o n s
c i alize
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ST A T E ME N T OF H ON
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MAX BA U C U S , U S SE N A T O R F R O M
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Se n ato r BA U C U S T han k y o u very mu c h M r C hairman I ap o l o
gi z e fo r n o t bei n g here o n time
M r C hairman a n d member s o f the co mmittee I wan t t o th an k
y o u fo r givi n g me th e o pp o rtun ity to appear be fo re y o u thi s m o rn
i n g A s c h ai rma n o f the E n vi r o n me n t a n d Publi c W o rk s Co mmittee
whi c h ha s th e ju ri s di c ti o n o ver th e maj o r s tatute s de s i gn ed to s erve
bi o diver s ity I wan t t o o ffer my very s tr o n g s upp o rt fo r the Sen ate
vi n g it s advi c e a n d con s e n t to U n i ted State s rati fic ati o n o f the
o n v e n t i o n o n B i o l ogi c al D i v e r si t
iv e rsi t i s o n e o f the m os t criti c al
T h e co n s ervati o n o f bi o l ogi c al d
challe n ge s fa c i n g the pe o pl e o f the wo r (1 to day A cco rdi n g to H ar
vard P ro f E dward O Wil so n i n hi s w o n der b ook T h e D iver s ity o f
Life fr o m the 1 94 0 s to the 1 98 0 s po pulati o n de n s itie s o f mi gra
t o ry so n gbird s i n the mid A tla n ti c U n ited State s dro ped 50 per
c e n t due largely to defore s tati o n i n the We s t I n ie s M e xi co
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18
Ce
tral an d S o uth Am e ri c a Abo ut 2 0 per c e n t o f the w o rld s fie sh
water fis h s pe c ie s are either e x ti n c t i n a s tate o f dan gero u s de c li n e
T h e C e n ter fo r P lan t Co n s ervati o n ha s ide n ti fi ed m o re tha n 2 00
pl an t s pe c ie s that are k n o w n to have be co me e x ti n c t i n the Un ite d
S tate s a n d an o ther 6 8 0 s pe c ie s an d s ub s pe c ie s are i n dan ger o f e x
ti n c ti o n by the ear 2 000
Profe sso r Wi so n co n s ervatively e s timate s that a n a s to un din g
s pe cie s a year 74 a day 3 an h o ur are l os t due to the de
s tru cti o n o f the rai n fore s ts
What d o we l os e whe n we l os e bi o l ogi c al diver s ity ? We l os e th e
o t e n t i al fo r mira c ul o u s medi c i n e s like T axo l
derived fio m the
ark the P a c ific yew tree whi ch ha s pro ve n to be th e m os t e ffe c tive
treatme n t fo r o vari an c an c er
We l os t the ability to pro te c t o ur foo d c r o p s fro m i n s e c t s a n d
bli ght J u s t a co uple o f year s a go sc ie n ti s t s here c r oss bred d o me s ti c
wheat with a n atural variety fo un d i n B razil to co mbat deva s tatin g
leaf ru s t
A n d we l os e j o b s I n the P a c i fic N o rthwe s t co mm er c ial a n d re c
r e a t i o n a l s alm o n fis hi n g pr o vided
an d $ 1 billi o n i n per so n al
i n co me T o day h o wever ma n y o f the s alm o n s to ck s i n the re g i o n
a n d the j o b s th at depe n d up o n them are o n the bri n k o f co llap s e
An d we l os e the o pp o rtu n ity to pa ss o n to o ur childre n a n irre
pla c eable le ga cy a w o rld ri ch i n wildlife pl an t s a n d the value s
they h o l d fo r u s I t i s little w o n der that P ro fe sso r Wil so n te s tifi ed
befo re o ur co mmitte e m o re tha n a de c ade a go s ayi n g that th e l oss
T h e fo lly o ur de sc e n dan t s are lea s t likely
o f bi o l ogi c al diver s ity i s
”
t o fo rgi ve u s
F o r the s e rea son s I believe it i s c ri ti c al t o the Un ited State s to
j o i n wi th o ther n ati o n s i n the w o rld i n effo rt s to con s erve bi o l og i c al
diver s ity Ra ti fic ati o n o f the co n ve n ti o n by the Un i t e d State s i s i m
p o rtan t s ymb o li c ally I t i s al so impo rtan t s ub s ta n tively
Rati fic ati o n o f th e C on ve n ti o n o n B i o l ogi c al D iver s ity i s imp o r
tan t s ymb o li c ally be c au s e the U n ited State s ha s l o n g bee n the lead
er i n gl o bal e ffort s to co n s erve bi o l ogi c al div e rsi t T h e Co n ve n ti o n
n o w n ar o u n d the
o n T rade i n En dan gered S e ci e s C I T E S i s al so
w o rld a s the Wa s hi n gto n o n v e n t i o n be c au s e it wa s s i gn ed here i n
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1 9 73
,
early a c e n tury a go the U n ite d State s s i g n ed a mi a t o ry bird
treaty with Great B ritai n a n d C a n ada a n d srn ce then a s e n tered
i n to s imilar a greeme n t s with M ex i co J apa n an d Ru ss ia
T h e U n ite d State s F i s h a n d Wildli fe Servi c e i s s ee n a s a leader
aro un d the w o rld fo r it s wildlife co n s ervati o n pr ogram s A n d
th o ugh it ma so u n d so mewhat j i n go i s ti c the fa c t i s that n o e ffo rt
t o co n s erve g obal bi o lo c al diver s ity can be truly effe c tive with o ut
the parti c ipati o n o f th e n i t e d State s
Ra ti fic ati o n o f the co n ve n ti o n by the Un ite d State s i s al so imp o r
tan t fo r s ub s tan tive rea so n s T h e co n ve n ti on ha s already bee n rati
fie d a s o f M ar c h 2 3 b 53 n ati o n s P artie s to the co n ve n ti o n are
prepari n g to meet to e v e lo p the rule s go vern i n g the impleme n t a
ti o n o f the con ve n ti o n T h e U n ited State s ca n on ly have a s eat at
the table an d a s ay i n the devel o pme n t o f th os e rule s by rati fyi n g
the co n ve n ti on
M os t imp o rtan t] the U n ite d State s s h o uld ratify the co n ven ti o n
be c au s e it take s t e ri ght appr o a ch I t i s a co mprehe n s ive a gree
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20
We lose the abi lity to p rote ct o u r foo d cro s fro m i n sects and blight J ust
a couple o f year s a g o scientists he re cross b re do me stic wheat with a natu r al
v a ri e t
found i n B raz il to combat a devast ating le af ru st
e lose jobs I n the Pacific N o rthwest c omme rcial and re creational sa lmon
fishi n g have ro v i de d
jobs and $ 1 bil lion i n pe rsonal income ann u ally
t o the re gion
o day ho weve r many o f the salmo n stocks i n the region and the
jobs that depend o n them are on the b ri n k of w lla se
We lo se the Oppo rtu n ity to pas s o n to o u r ch i l
li re n an i rre placeable le aL
a wo rld ri ch in wi ldl ife and plants and the values they hold fo r u s all E
it tl
e
wonde r that Profes so r Wilso n te stified be fo re the E nvi ro nment and Pu blic
Wo rks Comm i tt ee mo re than a decade a o that the loss of biological dive rsity
is the folly o u r de scendants are least li ke y to fo rgive us
F o r these re asons I believe it is absolutely cri tical fo r the Uni te d State s to join
the othe r nations of the wo rld in e ffo rts to co nse rve biological dive rsity R atification
of the Convention on Biolo gical Dive rs ity by the Unite d States is i mpo rtant sym
b o li ca ll and subst a ntively t o those e ffo rts
R ati rc a t io n o f the Convention on Biolo g ica l D i v e rs it is im
rt an t symbo li c ally
beca u s e the United States long has been the leade r in g obal e f orts to c ons erve bio
lo c al di ve rsity T h e Convention o n I nte rnational T r ade in E ndangere d S pecies
(G ll ES ) is kn own a rou nd the wo rld as the Washington Convention because it was
Si
e d he re in 1 9 7 3
early a centu ry a g o the Uni te d States sign ed a Migr ato B ird T reaty with
G reat B ri tain and Canada and since then h as entered in to S imi a r a g re e ments with
M exico J apan and R ussia T h e U S Fis h and Wildli fe Se rv ice is seen as a leader
a ro und the wo rld fo r its wildli fe co nservation progr ams T hough it m a y sound so me
what j ingoistic the fact i s that no e ffo rt t o conse rve global biologi c al dive rs ity can
be t ru ] e ffective without the part ici ation o f the Un i te d States
R at rc a t io n of the Convention on i o lo g ic a l D i v e rs it by the U n i te d States is al so
impo rtant substantively T h e Co nvention already has en ratified by 53 nations as
o f M a rch 2 3
1 99 4 T h e a rties to the Convention are p re pa ring to mee t to develop
the rules governi ng i m e m e n t a t io n o f the Convention T h e Unite d States can only
have a se at at the tab e an d a say in the development of tho se rules by rati fying
the Convention
Most i mpo rtantly the United States should ratify the Convention o n Biological
Diversity b e cau se it takes the right appro ac h :
I t is a comp rehensive agreement design ed to conse rve biological dive rs ity
p romote the su sta in able use of the compo nents of biological di ve rsity and e n
su re the fai r and equ itable sh ari n g o f benefits a ri sing out o f the u se o f genetic
re sou rces
I t p rovides eco nomic i n centives fo r cons e rving biologi cal dive rsity Unde r
the Conventio n the benefits stemm ing fro m the use o f genetic res o u rces will ao
cru e to those nations that co nserve biological dive rsity and p rovide a ccess to g e
netic re sou rces M o re over intellectu al rc pe rt y ri ghts o f bus i nesses investing in
the explo ration of genetic re sou rces w ifl be p ro te cted unde r the Convention and
by virtue of the I nte rp re t ative Statement accompanyi ng the P resident s trans
mi ttal of the Convention to the Senate
I note that the balanced a p ro ach taken by the Convention has led D r R o y
C o the wo rld s la r st
V agelos Ch ai rman and Chie f xe c u t iv e Of fi ce r of M e rck
er
re se a rc h inte nsive pha rma ceutical company to w rite me an d I p resume t o o tge
Senato rs su po rtin g speedy ratification of the Convention
fe n t has stated in h is le tte r o f T ransmi ttal date d N ovember 1 9 19 93
T h e P re si c
that no additional le g islation is necessa ry t o implement the Convention As Chair
man o f the E nvi ronment and Public Wo rks Committe e I agree with the President
T h e Uni ted States a l ready h a s numero us fede r al state and loc al laws and pro
including abun dant publi c and p rivate partnerships t o conse rve biologic al
am s
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iv e rs it y
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addition the United State s h as a n exte nsive netwo rk o f public and private
lands de dicate d in whole o r i n pa rt to the co ns e rvation of biolo g ical di v e rs rty By
ratifying the Convention the Unite d State s will e n hance its e xisting e ffo rts to co n
se rve biological dive rs ity
I n co nclu sion M r C hai rman I fir mly su po rt the Se na t e s gi v ing its advice and
co n s ent to the Un ited State s ratificati o n o the Convention on Bio logica l Dive rsity
T h e co nse quences o f failing to join in global e ffo rts to con se rve biological di ve rsity
A anda o r a
a re simply too great As P ro fes s o r Wilson has so eloquently put it
sequoia re re sents a magni tu de of evolution that comes along only ra re It takes
a stroke 0 luck and a long pe ri od o f p robing expe ri mentati on and fa u re Such
In
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2 1
a cre ation is part of dee p his to ry
the time to see it re peate d
”
an
,
the planet does not have the means
d
n or
we
.
C HAIR MAN T ha k y ou very mu ch Am I co rre c t i ha i g
heard y o u s ay that y o u b lieve
impleme ti g le gi s lati o w o ld
be e c e ss ary
Se ato r B U U T hat i s co rre c t M r C h irm
We have l o ts f
s tatute s already th e book s
Th
C HAI R MAN Goo d T h a k yo u very much i deed N
yo u
are e xc u s ed
d I w o ul d ju s t like t o t
to Co u s el o r Wirth
d
a sk him what he thi k s are the key s tep s that s h o uld be take t
make th i s treaty i t o a s tro g i s trume t A we k o w ma y trea
tie s get pa ss ed m o re i fo rm tha i s ub s ta c e D y o u have
y
th o ught s ith re gard to thi s treaty
M r WIR T H I thi k there are a umber f s tep s that we are
p o i s ed to tak e
th i Fir s t we have to targ et the C o ve ti o
B i o l ogi c al D iver s ity mak e that ab so lutely the fi r s t pri o rity We will
be w o rki g i what V i c e P re s ide t G re ha s s p oke so el o que tly
s et f
part er s hip s betwee the devel
d m o vi ly ab o ut
o ped d e devel o pi g wo rld u s i g a re s tru c tured gl obal e viro
me tal fa c ility t o build
team s build
c apa city build
aware e ss ithi the devel o pi g w o rld abo ut the imp o rta c e f
bi o diver s ity
d the c apa c ity t o s ave it T hi s team buil di g be co m e s
very ve ry imp o rta t
f where the i c h
Related to that f co ur s e i s the ide tific ati o
e s t area s are go i g t o be I thi k it i s probably fair t s ay that we
will be s etti g pri o ritie s thro u gh the bi o diver s ity treaty
T hird it i s ex tremely imp o rta t f
u s to embark up o
g
i
publi c edu c ati o c ampai g to get pe o ple to
der s ta d the
g
e o m o u s imp o rt f thi s Se at o r B au c u s s p o ke ab o ut pr os pe c ti g
f
bi o diver s ity it i s a u s eful metaph o r
T hi k ab out o ur a c e s to r s pr os pe c ti g s ay i
the A meri c a
We s t o r el s ewhere fo r o il o r mi eral s o r whatever N
we are
go i g to be pros pe c ti g fo r the e xtrao rdi ary wealth f bi o diver s ity
A d that i s
f havi g o ur publi cs b o th i
the U it d
d aro u d t e w o rld u der s ta d the imp o r a c e f thi s
State s
d there fo re the imp o rta c e f co s ervi g their patrim o y
s ervi g that whi ch they have i herited
Fifth I thi k that we will have already be gu
d wi ll be able
AI D i te rm s
t o a cc elerate
i c rea s ed part ers hip with o ur
f foc u s i g re so ur c e s withi
AI D at a hi gher pri o rity
bi o diver s ity T here are a umber f very s i g i fic a t o pp o rtu itie s
that we
c apture ri ght away
A d fi ally I w o uld like to c l os e with the hug e p o te tial that we
have f e co o mi c coo perati o whi c h i s be gi i g to be reali z ed i
f thi s treaty I have had i my
j u s t the lead p to the rati fic ati o
off c e
umero u s occ a s i o s repre s e tative s f i du s try f
i
m
the
t l gr o up s
d f go ver me t all together w o rki g
e o rm o u s pr o mi s e f thi s
A d I thi k the rati fic ati o
will I h o pe b a jump ff p o i t to
a very s tr o g
d aggre ss ive
part er s hip that will e able the
U it d State s with the m os t aggre ss ive pro mi s i g
d c apabl e i
d t y i the w o rld t o t ke eve f rther adv ta ge f thi s b o th f
the well bei g f Ame i c a c iti z e s Ameri c a e co o mi c i tere s t s
Th
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22
c a co c er s but al so t put that effo rt behi d th e
s ervati o of bi o diver s ity
S o we are p o i s ed M r C hai rma to t k e a umber of s tep s to
foc u s the treaty to re s tru c ture the G EF t o devel o p
part er
s hip s t wo rk our publi cs d o me s ti cally d i fo reig p oli cy to
h
i c rea s e the effo rt s f AI D
thi s
part er s hip
d to s tre
with the private s e c to r S o we are rea y to go
d we h o pe th at
will be lau ched ri ht awa with the rati fic ati o
f thi s treaty
Th
C H MAN
yo u
o w there are differe t fo rm s f co di
f rati fic ati o
ti o s that
be i c luded i a re soluti o
I thi k
that re s e rvati o s are pr o hibite d u der th e treaty but I believe
there are u der s ta di gs that the admi i s trati o ha s reque s te d
D
y o u feel that u der s ta di gs i s the co rre c t phra s e to u s e
here Ho w did we arrive at that parti c ular w o rd f art
M r W T H Well
der s ta di g a s y o u k o w M r C h airma
s eek s to i terpret a co ve ti o a s o ppos ed to a re s ervati o whi c h
s eek s to m o dify its le gal effe ct T hi s co ve ti o d o e s t permit
re s ervati o s a s o u p o i te d o ut i y o ur que s ti o
We have u s edy u il ateral
der s ta di gs to pr o te c t o r adva c e
e c ti o with o ther treatie s the Ge oc i de C
U S p os iti o s i co
ti
th e C o ve a t
C i i l d Po liti c al Ri ghts d so
We
believe that at a mi imum
u der s ta di g i di c ate s
i
th
s tateme t f the U S i terpretati o of a pro vi s i o put s
t ti
o ther partie s
o ti c e f the U S p os iti o
d it s to p s them fr o m
l ater c laimi g that the U S i terpretati o i s bei g put fo rward i
bad faith
f the
S o we thi k that i s a s ummary f o ur i terpretati o
f them
wei ght f o ur pr o p os ed u der s ta di gs We have s eve
late d to thi s treaty M r C hairma A d th os e will be s ubmitte d we
h o pe if a greed to by the S e ate th os e will be s ubmitte d with o ur
o ti c e f ratific ati o
Ih
C HA I R MAN T ha k yo u We will tur
t o Se ato r J f
fo ré
Se ato r J FF DS T ha k y o u very mu c h M r C hairm a I w a t
t o tha k all f o ur wit e ss e s f the very e xc elle t s tateme t s
I w o uld like to e x pre ss my s upp o rt f
ratific ati o
d a ti c ipate
that it will go fo rward T h U ited State s ha s l o g bee a lea der
i pr o te c ti g it s
bi o diver s ity T hi s treaty g ive s u s th e pp
i t y to w o rk with o ther
ati o s
d tra s fer o ur k o wledge
t
ab o ut s pe c ie s pre s ervati o whether it i s thro u gh le gi s lati o te c h
l g y o r s u s tai able market devel o pme t
I t ha s bee pr o ve o ver
d over a gai that bi o l ogi c al material s
are ital t o th e devel o pme t f bi o te ch i c al pro du c t s s u ch a s medi
c i e s d all o w s u s to s tudy d pro t c t o ur foo d c ro p s
L t u s s e d a me ss a ge to the re s t f the w o rld that the U ite d
State s i s s eri o u s ab o ut bi o diver s ity pre s ervati o
M r Wirth
I wa t to co mme d th e
d M r Po mera c e
admi i s trati o ] al so t o day f tak i g the re c e t effo rt s a s f ye s
d
i th
t d y I believe wi th re s pe c t to the C IT E S T reaty
s pe ct to T aiwa I thi k the Pre s ide t took a bo ld s tep ye s t rday
i de c lari g that wildli fe trade s a c ti o s be tak e a gai s t T aiwa
d pr o d
it s co ti ued u s e
ti ger part s
f
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23
i s a c lear s i gn al that the U n ited State s an d the admi n i s trati o n
are s eri o u s ab o ut co mmitme n t t o i n tern ati o n al law s that pr o te c t
e n dan gered s pe c ie s I h o pe the admi n i s trati o n will co n ti n ue to c are
fully m o n ito r the s ituati o n re gardi n g ille gal trade i n rhi n os a n d ti
ger s an d keep Co n gre ss i n fo rmed
I am plea s ed al so t o s ee that T aiwan at lea s t h a s tak e n i n itial
a c ti o n to try an d e n fo r c e the law s agai n s t the utili z ati on o f rh i n o c
er os a n d ti ger part s an d al so h o pe that they will v o lun ta ri ] co me
fo rward with attempt s to try an d pre s erve the s pe c ie s by o un da
ti o n s o r fu n d s to a ss i s t i n that re ard
n umber o f the co u n trie s h ave
N o w let me turn to Afri c a
s i n ed the Co n ve n ti on i n B i o diver s ity but all o f the s e co un tri e s I
begi e v e are— o r m os t o f them a n way are s eri o u s ly p oo r a n d I
w o n der whether o r n o t they have t e fi n an c ial re so ur c e s t o d o an y
thi n g un der the treaty to pro te c t en dan gered s pe c ie s
I w o n dered i f y o u w o uld co mme n t o n that either M r Po mera n c e
?
o r Co un s el o r Wirth a s to what we can d o I kn o w that y ou m e n
t i o n e d thi s so mewhat i n y o ur s tateme n t but I wi s h y o u w o uld give
m e a little better o f an idea o f what we ca n d o t o help th os e co un
trie s to be able to m ove a n d pro vi de the pr ote c ti o n n e c e ss ary u n der
the B i o diver s ity T reaty
M r WI R T H T han k y o u very mu ch Se n ato r J eff o rd s an d th an k
y o u fo r y o ur ki n d co mme n t s ab o ut o ur a c ti o n s relate d to e n dan
g e re d s pe c ie s T hat i s a be gi n n i n g a s y o u kn o w
T o go ba c k to the que s ti o n o f ti ger s fo r a mi n ute we are deeply
w o rried ab o ut ti ger s an d the co n tin ued trade in ti er part s a n d i n
rhi n o h o rn s an d wi ll be m o n ito ri n g n o t o n ly the e o rt s bei n g made
i n T a iwan but a n umber o f o ther co un tri e s a s well where we are
al so co n c ern ed ab o ut the p o te n tial o f a s preadi n g trade
I w o uld s ay that we l oo k fo rward to w o rki n g with the Go vern
men t o f I n dia where we have had a l o t o f pr oblem s i n the pa s t a s
y o u k n o w o n i ss ue s o f i n telle c tual pro perty ri ght s o n vari o u s i s
s ue s o f n ati o n al so verei gn ty an d we l ook fo rward to bui l di n g with
the Go ver n me n t o f I n dia a n e w s et o f part n er s hip s a n d thi s w o uld
be o n e o f th os e T here i s gr eat co n c ern there ab o ut the pre s ervati on
o f ti ger s i n I n dia
We al so h o pe that we will be able to s tre n h e n a s part o f o ur
emer gi n g relati o n s hip s with Ru ss i a to aid an he ] wi th th e Sibe
ri an ti ger I t i s a very to u gh i ss ue a n d we may u ek o ut a n d be
able to s ave the ti ger i n the wild a n d it i s go i n g to deman d so me
i n c rea s ed a n d agg re ss ive a c tiv ity o n o ur part
G o i n to y o ur que s ti o n ab o ut fun di n g a s y o u k n o w co mi n g o ut
o f the
e li b e ra t i o n s i n Ri o wa s a n a greeme n t that th e Gl o bal E n v i
T h at wa s e s tabli s hed i n itially
r o n m e n t a l F a c ility be e s tabli s hed
a n d we are n o w i n the pr oc e ss o f refo rmi n g that T here wa s a very
goo d s e ss i o n i n B eiji n g a fe w m o n th s ago i n whi ch there wa s s i g
ab out h o w the Gl obal E n vir o n me n ta l F a c ility
n i fica n t di sc u ss i o n
c a n be s tre n gthe n ed a n d be better coo rdi n ate d
We a n ti c ipate that the G E P will be the fa c ility that fu n d s the a s
s i st a n c e to the devel o pi n g w o rld the co u n trie s i n Afri c a that y o u
are talki n g ab o ut We have ju s t go n e thr o u gh a reple n i s hme n t o f
the G EF a n d we thi n k that that i s alm os t co mplete d a n d the r e
fo rm s are alm os t co mpleted T hat will t o tal so methi n g i n the n ei gh
b o rh o o d o f $ 2 billi o n plu s over the n ex t 4 year s
It
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24
o
c
o
c
go g
o o s
go c
c g o ss s
o g
co
s
o s o
g s
s
g
s s
so
g
o oo
o
c
go g o o
s
so
x
s
We will relat very c l os ely the B i o diver s ity Co ve ti o to the
G EF T h
refo rm s i the G EP s h o uld all o w u s to e s tabli s h pri o r
itie s that are co s i s te t betwee the pre s ervati o
f s pe c ie s u der
the B i o diver s ity Co ve ti o A d the go al s
d t r geti g u der the
G EF the go ve r i g b o ard f the G EF will be s etti g pri o ritie s
d
we will of co ur s e play a maj o r r ole i G E F A d a ss umi g that
the Se ate ratifi e s the treaty we will al so be playi g a maj o r r o le
i e s tabli s hi g pri o ritie s here a s well
T here are so me 1 35 AI D pr oj e c t s a s well th at are foc u s ed
as
i t
i the area f bi o diver s ity
d that relate s to
f the
pri o ritie s that I me ti o ed i re s p o s e to Se ato r P ell s earlier
f what are we p o i s ed to d o We are p o i s ed to really i
que s ti o
c rea s e the effo rt thr ou gh AI D a s wel l
Th
pro mi s e f thi s I c a o t u dere s timate
d u der s tate the
pr o mi s e f thi s f the U ite d State s
the w o rld T hi s i s a
d f
c la ss i c ex ample f where we
d o well by d o i g th e i ght thi g
A d thi s i s very goo d f
o ur i du s try it i s goo d f the future f
U S i telle c tual c apa c ity
d U S i du s trie s but al so ha s e o r
m o u s pro mi s e f the re s t f the w o rl d
Se ato r J FF DS T ha k y o u f
y o ur e xc elle t s tateme t
T h a k y o u M r C h airma
Th
C H MAN T ha k y o u very much i deed We tur
to
Se ato r Kerry wh o ha s bee
ader i thi s fi el d f the e viro
me t
T ha k
Se ato r KE
C hairm a I ap o l ogi z e f bei g
late
o t s tay f que s ti o i g be c au s e f a
d al so be c au s e I c a
co fl i c t
B ut I di d wa t t o s tay fi rs t f all to wel co me C ou s el o r Wirth
d al so to tha k him f hi s leader s hip
d the admi i s trati o f
their leader s hip
thi s imp o rta t e vir o me tal i ss ue
Co u s el o r Wirth will well remember the di s app oi tme t d
fru s trati o that we felt i R i o whe we atte ded a s member s f th e
Se ate dele gati o at the u willi g e ss f the the B u s h dm i i
to w o rk o ut
bi o diver s ity Whil e
d s i g the a greeme t
t
ti
we felt there were so me le gitimate que s ti o s
te c h ol ogy tra s
the G EP
f
d
d fu di g me cha i s m s we al so felt th os e
co uld have bee re so lved d c ertai ly the preparato ry proc e ss
co uld have d o e that
ati o s that have l
T here are
1 70 s i g at o rie s so me 50
f
ready rati fi ed thi s bi o diver s ity treaty be fo re
co s iderati o
f th os e i iti ati g th e c all
We were the N ati o that really wa s
thi s co ve ti o
fi d o ur s elve s s l o wly co mi g to th e
f
d
table
Se ato r B au c u s very el o que tly arti c ul ated what i s at s take
here B ut I thi k that we really eed t o empha s i z e that the Se ate
eed s to rati fy thi s a s rapi dly a s p oss ible be c au s e c riti c al de c i s i o s
parti c ularly arti c le 1 6
d the full mea i g f the i telle c tual pr o p
d al so o ther imp o rta t i ss ue s f the G E P
t y ri ght s appli c ati o
Of that am u n t we a n ti ipate that 4 0 t 50 per e n t will be
in
t e ff rt i n the area o f l bal limate ha n e , t a i t devel pi n
i n their e ff rt t meet the tar et th ey are etti n
un tri e
fo r
them elve , an d that
methi n i n the n ei g hb rh d o f 30 t 4 0
per e n t will be i n t bi diver ity T h at i ver th e n e t 4 year
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25
li s t an d what co un trie s are go i n g to be de s i gn ate d an d so fo rth all
remai n to be de cided at the con fere n c e
I f we are n o t at the table we n o t o n ly d o n o t have the o ppo r
t u n i ty to pr o vide leader s hip but thi n gs may happe n o r n o t happe n
a s the c a s e may be that are a gai n s t o ur i n tere s t o r a gai n s t a lar g
er i n tere s t that thi s co n ven ti o n repre s e n t s
So I d o have so me que s ti o n s that I thi n k are imp o rta n t fo r th e
re co rd M r C hairman I d o thi n k it i s imp o rtan t fo r the re co rd to
c larify so me o f the arti c le 3— why we are defi n i n g a s we are an d
what it mea n s in term s of the ri ght s o f n ati o n s to ex pl o it re so ur c e s
but bal an c i n g it with the i n tere s t s that we are tryi n g to a chieve i n
thi s treaty an d al so so me que s ti o n s ab o ut the G EF a n d i n tell e c tual
pr o perty I w ould like the re co rd to refl e c t them An d i f we co uld
s imply s ubmit them i n writi n g I wo uld like to d o that
I w o uld like to co n gratulate y o u co u n s el o r fo r y o ur atte n ti o n t o
thi s a n d the admi n i s trati o n s atte n ti on to it T h e P re s ide n t made
thi s hi s fi r s t pled ge o n E arth D ay la s t year that we w o uld s i gn th e
bi o diver s ity treaty a n d m o ve fo rward o n it A n d I thi n k y o u have
pr o ve n that b w o rki n g with the e n viro n me n tal co mmun ity th e
the bi o te c h n o l ogy co mmu n ity a n d o th
ph a rm a ce u t i ca co m m u n i t
er s y o u ca n really bri n g t e i n tere s ted partie s together
T hi s i s a very c ri ti c al i ss ue I j u s t c ame fr o m a meeti n g thi s
m o r n i n g with a s i gn ific a n t n umber o f o ur e n trepre n eu ri al bu s i n e ss
pe o ple at the A meri c a n B u s i n e ss Co n fere n c e whi ch i s here i n
Wa s hi n gt o n n o w M an y member s o f the admi n i s trati o n will be
talki n g to them Se n ato r D o le wa s s peaki n g to them am o n g o ther s
T hey s ee the future fo r bu s i n e ss a s the devel o pme n t o f le ss devel
o ped coun trie s an d their ability to pe n etrate the s e n e w market s
abro ad with pro du c t s wheth er it i s i n software health c are d c liv
ery s ervi c e s i n fra s tru c ture devel o pme n t tele co mmu n i c ati o n s a n d
so fo rth Ho w we d o that devel o pme n t i s ju s t c riti c al beyo n d m os t
pe o ple s mea s ure
Y o u I kn o w un der s ta n d it Y o u h ave bee n a n e x tra o rdi n arily ar
t i cu la t e s p oke s per so n fo r the s e i ss ue s B ut what i s happe n i n g i n
N e w E n gla n d to day where the Co mmer c e D epartme n t ha s h ad t o
s hut d o wn the fis he rie s a n d our fish e rme n are di s l oc ated i s n o t u m
related to what i s happe n i n g i n the fo rmer S o viet U n i on o r i n
C hi n a o r Lati n Ameri c a o r a n y o ther co u n try where devel o pme n tal
p o li c ie s are ju s t c la s hi n g with the e cos y s tem s o f ea ch o f th os e
pla c e s a n d o f all o f o ur plan et
S o I thi n k thi s i s a treaty far m o re imp o rtan t fran kly tha n to
v e n it may s u g
day s heari n g ma s ugge s t o r that the atte n ti o n
ge s t B ut the rea mea s ure o f its imp o rta n c e w i llT e dete rmi n ed i n
the co n fere n c e o f partie s a n d i n the future de fi n iti on s We mu s t be
there a n d we mu s t be the leader
S o I wa n t to fi rmly s ta te my s upp o rt fo r m o vi n g fo rward o n thi s
a n d co n
a t u la t e y o u i n y o ur e ffo rt s i n helpi n g that t o h appe n
M r Ch a
irman I ap o l og i z e fo r n o t bei n g able t o s tay
M r WI R T H Se n ato r K erry I bri n g per so n al than k s to y o u a n d
Se n ato r J e ffo rd s fro m the Se cretary fo r wh o m thi s i s a very hi gh
pri o rity an d he k n o w s h o w s tro n gly th e tw o o f y o u have been s up
po rt i v e o f thi s very very imp o rta n t e ffo rt
T hi s i s a n ab so lutely biparti s a n e ffo rt a n d it i s a n ab so lute ly
j o i n t effo rt by bu s i n e ss go vern me n t a n d th e e n v iro n me n tal gro up s
,
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26
fs o
co o s
o
o c
s
ss
c o
o s
s
o
s
s
s
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s o s
g
o
s so g
g
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c
so
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gs
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c
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ss
c s
c o s
o
o
g s
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o
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s
c o
s c
o
c
s
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c o o
ss s
fi c g
c
o
o s s s g o Ho o
o
so
g
S o we have s eve u der s ta di gs that will be th o ro u ghly ex
] wh at the l
pl ai ed i the a e x e s to my te s tim o y
t
guage f the u der s ta di g i s but h o w we arrivedy at it why it i s
f the s e ha s bee d o e i
there A d every
c l os e coo pera
m pe i
ti o wi th th e affe c te d partie s We h ave f
so verei g
immu ity s tateme t s fr o m the D efe s e D epartme t i s upp o rt f
the way we are appro a c hi g thi s
T here are s tr o
s tateme ts th at have bee s ubmitted that the
chairma put i t e re co rd fr o m i du s try s upp o rti g thi s part er
s hip d o ur i te rpretati o s f i telle ctual pr o perty ri ght s d the
parti c ipati o i re s earc h
do e
d we thi k that thi s ha s bee
ri ght
d we are ready to go
Ag ai
goi g back t th e chai rma s fi r s t que s ti o a s soo a s
thi s i s ratifi ed thi s i s a maj o r so rt f j umpi g ff p o i t M r C hai r
m
d there i s so mu ch to be d o e A d thi s i s I thi k a s i t r
e s ti g
are a a s we have i the U ited S tate s
d a s pr o mi s i g
f
thi s magi c coo perati o betwee o ur e co o mi c
d o ur e vir o
me tal s ide I t i s
o pp o rtu ity that we are t go i g to s ee agai
perhap s i the time th at we all deal with thi s
d
d m o ve it al o g
We wa t to grab it
d urture it
y o ur s upp o rt
d help i s c ert i ly i s trume tal i all f that We
tha k y o u very mu ch
Se ato r K
Well I am deli ghte d that y o u are s hepher di g
it T ha k y o u
We l oo k fo rward t o addre ss i g y o u a s U der Se c
T h C HA IR M
title
t y be fo re too l o g th o u gh Co u s el o r i s a fi
D y o u have
y m o re que s ti o s
t a
Se ato r J FF DS I ju s t have
m o re A c tually it i s
que s ti o M r C hairma I wa t to bri g to y o ur att ti o to the
the c re
d I are w o rki g
fa c t th at J o h Po rter i the Ho u s e
ati o
t o ver s ee but rather to keep
f a co mmi ss i o to o ver s ee
d to m o i to r
tra ck f wh at go e s
u s ai d i the va i o u s treatie s
what the U ited State s i s d o i g a s well a s the i ter ati o al co m
mu ity i o rder t o e s ure that we are aware f the pr ogre ss o r th e
I w o uld
la ck there o f i the s e
d we will be i tro du c i g that soo
d h o pefully fav o rably s up
h o pe th at y o u w o ul d take a l ook at it
p o rt i t B ut I ju s t wa te d t o make y o u aware f that to day
i n quite a remarkable a hi n T h e
aliti n that have bee n meet
i n g ar u n d the table i n In
ffi e an d el ewhere have bee n very i m
pre ive a n d re fl e tive
the pr mi e o f thi that everyb dy feel
a n d un der ta n d
I thi n k we w rked ut the que ti n
Y o u are quite ri ht , Se n at r
K erry , that there wa
me reat le itima cy in the que ti n that
were rai ed 2 year ab ut thi An d the draft i n wa d n e at the
me ambi uitie
e n d, ve ry qui k ]
an d it le ft
We have , a
whi h
po i n t e d ut earlier , eve n u n der tan di n
will be i n luded with my te tim n y , o n e o f th e o n th e i ue o f the
re a m b le an d pri n iple , whi h y u a ked ab ut , an d o n e o n i n tel
e c t u a l pr perty ri ht , very imp rta n t i n th e i n terpretati n o f e
ti n
a n d it relati n hip to
T here i o n e o n parti ipati n i n re ear h— wh parti ipate an d
h w d e that parti ipati n w rk T here are three o n the i ue o f
n an i n
whi h Se n at r J e ff rd wa a ki n ab ut
w d we d
,
that? An d o n e o n
verei n immu n ity
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28
o pulati o pre ss ure s threate it i s to create e co omi c i c e tive s
p
o r it
D evel o pi g co u t i e s mu s t obtai
fi a cial i ve s tme t s d
k o w h o w fro m th e i du s triali z ed w o rld B ut with out adequate i
l pro perty pro t c ti o
t ll t
thi s will pro ve to be very di ffi c ult if
t
alm os t imp oss ible ta sk
d if that happe s that
threat
the very s u cc e ss f th e treaty
I telle c tual p o perty pr o t c ti o
is f
i du s try m o re f
t lly imp o rta t f
i ovative re s ear ch tha f the pharma
d m
t i l i du s try F o r e x ample o ut f eve ry
pure s y theti c
co mp o d s o ly 1 wi ll pro ve s afe f effe ctive huma u s e A c hild
e t i g fi r s t grade w o uld graduate fro m hi gh sc h oo l i the time
it take s to co mplete all the re s earc h to e s ure be e fi t f the p
tie t O ly 3 o ut f every 1 0 pr o du c t s that rea ch the market a c tu
ally re co up their R & D cos t s T here i s treme d o u s ri sk i v o lved i
thi s w o rk
Th
ri s k i s eve multiplied whe
s earche s f atural pr o d
i m
t medi c i e s i
e x tra c t s of pla t s
d mi
a s we are
d o i g i o ur w o rk O ly e xtremely rare atura pro du c t s s u c h a s
pe i c illi o r I verme c ti whi ch I me ti o ed are ready to u s e o r l
m os t ready to u s e medi c i e s T h va s t maj o ity f co mp o d s th at
we di sco ver mu s t be impro ved by m o difyi g their c hemi c al t
ture s Y
have to i c rea s e p o te cy Y
have to elimi ate s ide f
f t
t c etera
t c etera
O ur fi ve s ucc e ss e s o ver the la s t 30 year s pr o ved t be f the very
i fi d be c au s e i i
rare type H u dred s f o ther co mp o u d s are
t i lly they l oo k i tere s ti g e o u gh
d have t eir s tru c ture s deter
mi ed M a y are give every cha c e u s i g th e full ar s e al f
pharma c euti c al k o w h o w
i c ludi g co m
d te ch o l ogi e s eve
d s till
p t i d m o le c ular m o deli g f pro tei target s tru c ture s
i the
d they d o
t make the grade
T here fo re a g ai
with o ut adequate
d e ffe c tive pate t pr o te
ti o there i s
way
w o ul d s t rt d o
the l o g
d ri s ky r o ad
fi
o vati o
b o th the U S Go ver me t
d par
A y o u k o w M r C hairma
l ly the pha ma c euti c al
d bi o te c h o l ogie s were co c er ed
ti
that i te rpretati o s f c ertai k ey s e c ti o s f the treaty w o uld
lly weake the pr o te c ti o
f i telle c tual pro perty ri ght s whi c h
t
the co ve ti o pr o mi s e s
T
addre ss the s e co c er s M er ck h a s a ss embled a s mall gr o up
of s i x o rga i z ati o s tw o f whi ch are here to day With the
f the V i c e P re s ide t s s taff thi s gr o up ha s devel o ped
t
g m
s tateme t s that wo uld s erve a s the ba s i s fo r the U S i terpretati o
f key pr o vi s i o s f th e co ve ti o
d al so had dr ft e d a p o li cy
s tateme t t o a cco mpa y the i t rpretive la gua ge
A t the s ame time the Pharma c euti c al M a ufa c turer s A soc iati o
a chieved i du s try wide co s e s u s
ratific ati o with ap r o riate
co mmitme ts fr o m the admi i s trati o that i t will vi go ro u sp
y f d
i telle c tual pr o perty ri ght s withi the te rm s f the co ve ti o
Bo th o ur wo rki g o up d the P M A are rea ss ured by the l
guage f the Pre s i e t s me ss a e f tra s mittal t yo u
What i s M erc k l ooki g f
s ta dard i te rm s f the type f
d p t e ct i
i ve s tme t a c tivity the co ve ti o s h o uld e co urag e
o ur agreeme t with C os ta Ri c a s I s titute for B i o diver s ity IN B
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IO
.
29
hi s agreeme n t predate s the co n fere n c e at Ri o by alm os t a year
a n d an ti c ipate s key feature s o f the co n ve n ti o n
B riefly I N B io i s a n on profi t scie n tific o rgan iz ati o n created o n th e
re co mme n dati o n of the C os ta Ri c an Go vern me n t wh os e mi ss i o n i s
t o m ai n tai n that co un try s bi o di ver s ity
I ju s t wan t to me n ti o n the three m os t imp o rtan t feature s o f thi s
a greeme n t I beli eve that y o u have it i n a han d o ut an d it i s up here
o n the b o ard
Fir s t : we s ign ed a $ 1 milli o n 2 year co n tra ct with I N B i o fo r the
ri ght t o sc ree n a s pe c ific n umber o f s ample s fr o m the Cos ta Ri c an
co n s ervati o n area s $ 1 milli o n go to IN B i o ; i n return s ample s co me
t o u s fo r sc reen i n g a n d h o pe fully fi n di n g a pr o du c t 1 0 per c e n t o f
thi s o ri g i n al s um go e s to the co u n try s M i n i s try o f N atural R e
so urc e s an d i s i n ve s ted dire ctly i n co n s ervati o n
I f M er ck devel o p s a m arketable pr o du c t fr o m o n e o f th e s ample s
50 per c e n t o f the royaltie s will al so go the mi n i s try T h e o ther 50
per c e n t i s rei n ve s te d i n the n o n pr ofi t w o rk o f th e i n s titute
Se co n d : the pr oje c t empha s i z e s empl oyme n t an d edu c ati on o f
l oc al pe o ple i n the purp os e s an d te ch n ique s o f con s ervati o n Un der
o ther c ir cum s tan ce s the s e pe o ple wh o live aro un d th e co n s erva
ti o n area s w o uld ex ert pre ss ure o n the e n vir o n me n t by l oo ki n g fo r
n e w a gri c ultural l an d s
An d third : te c h n o l ogy tr an s fer Several I N B i o re s ear ch er s h ave
traveled t o N e w J er s ey t o w o rk al o n gs i de o ur sc ie n ti s t s i n o ur lab
o rato rie s M erck ha s pr ovi ded an additi o n al
w o rth o f lab
o rato ry equipme n t to m o dern i z e the I N B i o fa c ility an d o ur sci
e n ti s t s have s pe n t e x te n s ive peri o d s o f time at I N B i o h elpi n g to i n
s tall the equipmen t g ivin g in s tru c ti o n s o n h ow to u s e it an d so o n
I believe the l o n g te rm be n e fi t s o f thi s j o i n t pr oje c t to Cos ta Ri c a
e n co urage s the pre s ervati o n o f e col og ie s that mi ght o therwi s e be
de s troyed fo r e co n omi c rea son s
T o s ummari z e M r C h a irman bi o diver s ity i s fun dame n tal to fu
ture gr o wth a n d devel o pme n t o f the w o rld co mmun ity We s tro n gly
s upp o rt ratificati o n o f the co n ve n ti on o n the s e pri n c iple s We w o ul d
urge the Se n ate to s eek co n c rete a ss ura n c e fr o m the admi n i s trati o n
hat b Pre s iden t s me ss age o f tran s mittal t o thi s b o dy will be e n
o r c e (ti e
On e la s t p o i n t Fi n al a ss uran c e o f i n telle c tual pr o perty ri ght s
pr o te c ti on probably c an n o t be guaran teed i n a gl o bal treaty T h at
requi re s the patie n t buildi n g o f mutual tru s t We h ave learn ed th at
i n o ur n e go tiati o n s with IN B i o B ut we believe the B i o diver s ity
Con ve n ti o n with pro per pro te cti o n s fo r i n n o vati o n will e n able that
di al og to ward tru s t to go fo rward
T ha n k y o u very mu ch Ag ai n it wa s a great o pp o rtun ity to be
here I am l ooki n g fo rward to y o ur que s ti o n s
[T h e prepared s tateme n t o f D r Alber s S c h o n ber g fo ll o w s : ]
T
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PR E PAR ED ST AT E M EN T OF D R G EO R G ALB ER s -SC ON B ER G
Go od mo rning M r Ch airman and membe rs o f the Co mm ittee My name is Ge o rg
Co
A lbe rs Sc honbe rg I am pleas ed to be he re this mo rning on behalf o f M e rc k
I n c the wo rld s la rgest re sea rc h inte nsive pharmaceutica l p ro ducts company and
the Pharmaceutical M anu factu re rs A ssociation to suppo rt the Se nate s ratification
of the Co n ventio n o n Biologica l Dive rsity
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30
B IO D I VER SIT Y AN D N AT UR A L PR O DUC T R ESEAR C H
Mr C hair man I have spent my entire care e r i n science at M e rck devoted to a
se arch fo r new me di cines in N atu re T h e Biodi ve rsity Convention clea rly u nde r
scores the ri ch pote ntial t o fu rther human health an d well being thro u h such re
searc h An abb reviated hi sto ry of natu re s yields t o phar maceuticals m i g t be valu
able backgro und to the Committee at thi s int i n you r delibe rations
Pri o r to Wo rld War II almost all o f e wo rld s me dicines c a me fro m lants
Plants yielded treatments fo r anti i n fl am m at o
analg esic a ntitumo r centr ne rv
ou s system o r car diovascul ar conditions
agai nst malari a digitalis
u in i n e
glycosides fo r the control o f hea rt failu re and re se rpin e fo r the treatment of sch izo
ph re n i a are examples M any o f these me dicines evolved fro m folklo re which T adu
ally changed into science A spiri n i s a ch emical improveme nt of the bi o lo g i c aF ro p
e rt ie s of a folk medicin e a component of the bark o f the wi llow t ree that had
en
a traditional anti i n fla m m a to ry remedy
Microo rga n i sms also have p roven a ri ch re sou rce fo r scie n ce in the sea rc h fo r di s
e a se treatments a rticularly fo r anti in fective drugs Aro und 1 94 0 peni cillin and
stre t o m yci n the rrst natu r al antibiotics brou ht under control two gre at scou rg es
of t e ages : s hi li s and tube rc ulosis Ot fi
antibiotics followed in clu di n g
er
tetracycli ne s c ryt mycin the cephalospo ri n s and thienamycin
M ER C K S SUC C ESSES F R O M N AT UR E
Me rc k has a lon st a ndin g active an d successful in te rest in so -calle d natu ral
ro du ct s because 0
this te n t i al fo r the di sco v e o f e xce t i o n al new medicines
ri n g my tenu re
five 0 o u r di scove ri es have lo to m ar ete d p ro ducts T w o o f
these were good solid medi cines ; th ree have bee n bre akthrough drugs rep re senting
a really si fic a n t medical advance
n e was an antibiotic with highe r pote ncy against a b ro ade r r ange o f bac
te ria than a n y known antibiotic It o ft en is the remedy o f last reso rt and saves
countless lives
I ve r mectin is a vete ri n a ry anti par asitic dru that al so is an in cre di bl e f
fe c t iv e and sa fe anti ara sit i c preventive of the uman t ro ical disease
ive r
Blindn ess T hi s d rug as b e en called the most impo rtant c e m o t h e ra pe u t ic of
the centu ry fo r tro pical me di cine
I would emphasiz e the S ign i ficance of potential natu ral p roduct advances again st
tro pica l dise ases M r Chai rman becau se about 2 0 pe rc ent o f the human spe cie s
ove r one b illi on people—are affected with tropical aras it ic dise ases About 30 pe r
cent of the 8 0 m i llion in dividu als at ri sk o f R ive r lin dn e ss are i n fecte d T he re are
2 50 million people with elephantiasis ; 1 6 0 mi llion inca acitate d with mala ria ; 1 00
p
million aching and u nable to work because of const a nt di a rrhea What a tremendous
loss o f hum a n ro du ct iv it y and the abili ty t o d evelop a mode rn e conomy !
Fina
among o u r natu ral p ro ducts is Mevaco r the first of the high ly e f
fe ct iv e an safe mode rn choleste rol lowe ri ng drugs
E ach of these dru gs we re developed from o rgani sms in the tempe rate zones of the
d evelope d wo rld T hey clearly demonstrate the ro le o f biodi ve rsity fo r me dicin e and
p re sage the potential fo r bre akth ro ughs in biolo g ically mo re dive rse undevelope d o r
ext reme e n v rro n m e n t s
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R ISKS , R E
WAR
D
S AN D
P
R OT EC T I O N S
R i o Con vention is about conse rvation o f biologi cal dive rsity and its sustain
able use It is equally about acqu i ri n the resou rc es and te ch n o lo e s that a re need
ed t o succeed in the mode rn wo rld
p ri n cipal way t o support t e conservation of
biological dive rsity, p artic ularly in c ountri es whe re economic and o pu la t io n p res
Th
e
'
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su res th re ate n such conse rvation is t o create economic incentives o r prese rvation
T h e Me rck IN B i o agreement which I w i ll describe i n some detail in a moment
is a ri sky investment and scientific collabo ration by M erck su
rt i n g a
oung Costa
R ican o rga nization that is dedi cate d t o establi sh i ng su st a i n ag e use o f t e count ry s
genetic re sou rces De v e lo in g countri es must un ders tan d that the in dustri al ize d na
tions can help p recisely cau se they have patents because they have intell ectu a l
p ro pe rty rights because they have instituti ons that protect the se rights Absent
these protections the in centives fo r ri sk a re removed
M r Chair m a n fo r no industry is in tellect u al p ro pe rty ro te c t io n mo re fu n da m e n
tal to in novative rese arc h than the pharmaceutica l in u st ry Ph armaceutical re
se arch and development is expensive and di f fi cult u nde r any circ umstances and re
qui res a comm i tment to su sta i ned long te rm ri sk
to
Fi rs t the odds of etting a compound to ma rket are tre mendou s : about
su bstances ex ami n ed by pri vate pharma ceutical
1 T his means that o r eve ry
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31
fir ms only one will pro ve safe and e ffective enough to be marketed fo r human use
T h e di scovery of a natu r al p ro duct dru re quire s the testi n g o f hundre ds o f thou
san ds o f pl ants and mi cro -o rgani sms an even thi s may yield nothin
Seco nd is the time facto r A chi ld ente ring firs t grade could g ra dira te fro m high
school in the ave r age time— 1 0 to 1 2 years — it takes to c omplete all the necessary
ca refu l and co stly re se arch re qu i re d to ensu re that the pro duct will be nefit patients
T hi rd ma rket su ccess is concentr ated in a small numbe r o f pre scription p ro ducts
Only 3 out o f eve ry 1 0 ro du c t s actu ally re co up their re sea rch and development
costs Highly su ccess ful breakt hro ugh pro duct s must earn a re tu rn that rm i t s
them to carry more than their own wei h t z they m ust re con thei r own R & costs ;
cove r the costs o f those that don t ; an fill the financial ho e le ft by all the R & D
fa ilu res Obv ious ] these odds leave no ro o m fo r indecision i n in vestment — w e must
constantly stri ve o r w i nne rs
Fou rth a re se arc h lf once spann ed m a y have to be travers ed again and again
A ntibiotics a re a
exam le o f this poin t Continuing R & D i n the are a o f anti
biotics is absolute y essential S in ce the c a pac i t o f bacte ri a t o mutate and develop
resistance is outst rippin g the ability o f re se a rc
to invent new the rapies T h e best
and most fri ghte n i n g example : to day s str ain of tuberc ulosis
Finally fo r a ll of o u r sophi s ticated equi me n t and education we o ft en mu st con
duct o u r studies somewhat in the dark Th is is becau se the u rgency to find a pre
v e n t i o n o r treatment fo r c e rtain di seases demands that w e begin rese a rc h be fo re we
have a full understanding o f the disease itsel f Ou r u n de rst a n di n o f Alzheim er s
fo r example is still ve ry I ncomplete and the vi rus that is be lieve to be the cause
o f AI DS has evaded u s ag a in and again th rough its abili ty to mutate r apidly
Workin g with natu ral samples multiplies all of these risks fo r seve ral re asons
M r Ch ai rman Only ext remely r a re natu r al p ro ducts— such as Penicil lin o r
I ve rmectin— are vir tu ally ready to u se medi ci nes T h e vast majo ri ty of compou nds
that a biological screen detects in plants o r microo rganisms must be improved : po
t e n cy may have to be increase d a hundred o r a thousand fold side e ffects may have
to be elimi nate d etc M e rc k s five success fu l discoveri es ove r the last 30 years
p ro ved t o be o f the ra re type Hundreds o f othe rs we re pu rified ten o r twenty thou
sand fold had their structu res dete rmi n ed and we re gi ven every chance u sing the
fu ll arsenal o f pharmaceutical k now how and techn ologies— X ray crystallographic
ro tein structu re s compute ri zed molecula r modelin g synthetic che m ist ry— an d still
p
i dn t make the gr ade
I ntense industrial competition— an eve ryday fact o f life in the developed wo rld
is magn i fied to extre mes in the pha rmaceuti cal indu stry b re asons o f risk Ade
quate and effective int ellectual p rope rty ri hts part icular y pate nts are critical
stim ulan ts fo r cre ativity and inventiveness
e y give the in vento r rights to his in
v e n tio n
while challengin g competito rs by a llowi ng imp ro vements outside the scope
of the patent befo re its expiration
I N T ELLEC T UAL P R O P ER T Y AN D T H E B IO D IVE R S IT Y C ON VEN T ION
M r Chair m a n the Biodi ve rsity Convention be fo re yo u as with an y inte rnational
agreement leaves key provisions open to alte rnative inte rpretations Both the U S
gove rnment and U S indu stry— pa rticularly the pha rmaceutical and biotechnology
indu stries— we re concerned that inte rpre tations would we ak en the Convention s pro
t e ct io n o f intellectual p ro pe rty rights T his w as the chief conce rn as you well know
that prevented this nation s Sign atu re in R io
T o address these conce rns Me rck wo rked t o construct a small gro up o f six 0 ani
T w o members 0 thi s
za t i o n s
b ringi ng to gethe r co rpo rate and N G O p r
up are repre sented here o n this p a nel— Wo rl de Rspectives
esou rces I nstitute and Shaman
h a rm ace u t i c al s T h e othe r membe rs we re the Wo rld Wildli fe Fund Ge nentech I n c
and the E nvir o n m ental and E ne rgy Stud I nstitute
With the encou r agement o f then V ice
si de n t -elect Go re s staff we ex a mi ned i n
detail p ri ma rily the issues pe rtai n i ng t o intellectual ro pe rt y ri ghts and technology
transfer which we felt were the majo r U S conce rns e de alt with other key issu es
as well but in less depth and did not attempt t o cover every possible in te rp reta tive
issue that the U S mi g ht have with the treaty Specific ally we di d not assess pro b
lems i f any under Arti cle 2 2 on the Convention s relations hi p t o othe r in te rnat i onal
agreements n o r Article 2 7 o n dispute resolution We concluded fro m o u r re vi ew that
the U S could S ig n the Convention while pro tecting intellectual p ro pe rty right s
with appro ri ate rnte re t a t iv e language
Ou r w o r n g gro up e v e lo pe d a statement that could se rve as the basis fo r a U S
inte rp retation o f key pro vi sions o f the Convention and a dr a ft policy statement t o
accompany the state ment that fu rther details licy on key issues espec ially the
p ro te ction o f in tellectual pro pe rty righ ts and tec ology transfe r
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Pharmaceutical M anufactu re rs As sociatio n was workin simultaneo usly— an d
succe ssfully— to achieve industry consens us on ratification wit app ro priate comm it
ments from the A dmi nistration that it will vigo rou sly defend in tellectual p roperty
ri ghts within the te rms o f the Conventio n
Should the Senate ratio the Convention the Un ite d States will have seve r al 0
po rt u n it i e s to emphasize the l i n k between in tellectual pro pe rt ri ts an d the g o a
of biodi ve rsity conse rvation and susta i n able development
e o n v e n t io n estab
lishes nume rou s comm itte es wo rkin g
u s task fo rces and Con fe re nce o f the P a r
tie s — all o f whi ch o ffe r 0 ) po rt u n i t ie s £ 313 e U S t o make cle ar it s position on the
necessity o f adequate a n de ffective pro te ction o f intell e ctu al p ro pe rty Without ques
tion we benefit more fro m be in g a player in this p ro cess than rema in in g
S idelin es
A C A SE EXA M P LE ; T H E M ER C K/I N B IO A G R EE M EN T
M r Chair m a n I know that you have some pe rso nal knowle dge o f M e rc k s agre e
ment with Costa R ica s In stitute fo r B i o di v e rs it (IN B io ) — you we re with us in R i o
at the reception whe re the wo rld toppled on en I wante d to b rie fly outlin e
Comm i ttee the te rms of this agr eement since it is represented as the inte rnation al
case model fo r re sou rces conse rvation and te chn ology transfer
IN B io is a non pro fit scienti fic o rg a n i zatio n create d in 1 98 9 on the re co m m e n da
tion of the Costa R ic a n v e rn m e n t I N B io s mission is t o mainta i n Costa R ica s
biodiversity estimated t o
5 pe rc ent o f the wo rld s tot al by demonstrating the ao
c i o e co n o m i c benefits of
rese rvation
In Septe mbe r 1 99 1
e rc k signe d a $ 1 mi lli on two ye ar contract with IN B io fo r
the ri ht t o scre e n a specified numbe r of plant insect an d enviro nm ental samples
from t e Costa R ican conse rvation are as an d t o evalu ate the se samples fo r pharma
ce u t i c al vete ri na ry and agri cultu ral applications fo r a defined pe ri od of time T h e
numbe r o f s a les that we would receive is a ve ry small fraction o f Costa R ica s
biodiversity an p
the time allowed fo r evalu ation i s ve ry limite d before all ri ghts to
the samples reve rt to Costa R ica T here is nothi n that p revents the I nstitute from
ente ri n g in to othe r collabo rations s i mult a neously o r diffe rent samples
e m e n t helps IN B i o accomplish its goals i n seve r al ways F i rst 1 0
T h e M e rck
percent o f the 1 million paid IN B io under o u r contract g o es t o the country s Mi n
i st ry of N atu ral R esou rc es I f aft e r 1 0 o r 1 5 yea rs of scree n i n g and development
M e rc k eme rges with a ma rketable ro du ct 50 percent of the royalties we have
a
d to pay IN B io also will g o to t e Mini stry T hese dollar s ju sti fy re se rvation
0
r ain fo re sts an d othe r conse rvation a reas that might other wise be di st ro ye d fo r
e c onomic ga ins th ro ugh agricultu re fo r example
T he re a re othe r key aspects o f the IN B io in tegrate d app ro ach t o sustainable de
v e lo pm e n t that are wo rth mentio n i ng he re
F o r i n stance the pro ject in cludes em
ployment an d e du cation of l o cal people who u n de r othe r ci rc u mstance s woul d exert
p re ssu re on the envi ro nm ent b loo k in g fo r new a cultu ral land IN B io in volves
them in tak in g an invento ry 0 the spe cies in the c re st an d co llecting samples fo r
its customers in cludin g Me rc k T echnology tra nsfe r which in itself ro m o te s long
te rm development oppo rtunities and economic self su f fici e n cy is anot e r component
of the agreement Several IN B io re se arc he rs traveled t o N e w J e rs e t o wo rk along
side o u r scientists as we u nde rtook the scree n ing p ro cess an d Me rc p rovide d more
th a n
o f labo r ato ry e
i pm e n t t o help mode rni ze the IN B i o facility I t i s
my u nde rst a n ding that a num e r o f othe r P MA membe r compa n i es have s i mila r
type s of agreements with entities i n de v e lo ing countri es
A pharmaceutical re se a rc h bu dget mu st e allocate d t o fixed co sts enormously ex
pensive clinica l tri als basic re sea rch i nto the natu re o f di se as es and the de v e lo
ment o f al re ady advance d ro du ct can didate s O nly a small pro po rtion is av a ilab e
y progr ams that a re essenti al fo r i n novation N atu r al
fo r the speculative and ri
p roduct sc reeni ng as re presented i n o u r co llabor ation with IN B IO is but one o f
these high risk pro am But whi le we alone cannot save the wo rld s biodi versity
th ro ugh contr actu s agreements — even with the pro spect fo r royalties in the
futu re— the re is no question that the i n dustry c an be pa rt o f the solution
C ON C LU SIO N
M r Ch ai rman bio di ve rsity is fundamental to futu re gro wth and development of
the wo rld community as demonstrated in the real and pote ntial v alue o f the Me rck/
e m e n t to the people of Costa R ica We su ppo rt ratifica tion o f the C o n v e n
IN B i o a
tion on t ese ri n c iple s
But we wou d also u e that the Senate seek concre te assu rance s from the A dmin
i st ra t io n that the Presi ent s message of t rans m itt al to this body be e n fo rc e d Spe
ci fica lly President Clinton w rote that :
Th
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33
istration wi ll
stro ngly re sist an y actions t aken by Pa rties
to the Conventi on that lead t o in adequ ate levels of prote ction o f i ntellectual
pro pe rty rights and wi ll continue t o pu rsue a vigo ro us po licy with re s pect to
the ade ate and e ffective ro te c t i o n o f i nte llectual pro pe rt y rights in n e g o t i a
tions on ila te ral and multi a te ra l trade agre ements
Pe rhaps final as su rance of inte llectu al pro pe rty
protection cannot be a r
o f mutual tru st as
anteed in a global treaty It re quire s the pat re n t b
erc k
learned in reaching consensu s on a contrac t with
io But we believe the
B io di v e rsi t Convention enables the dialogue toward t rust t o ro c e e d
Again I ave welcomed the oppo rtunity to appe ar befo re t e Commi ttee and look
forwa rd to any questions that you might have
“
Th
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A dmin
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S a m p'
es
$ 1 Millio n
Equ ipm e n t
Sc ree n in g
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S C le n US IS
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36
me c han i s m fo r preven ti n g thi s an d co n se rv i n the s e s pe c ie s
co n s ervin g thi s kn o wledge i s thr ou h li n kin g t eir pre s erva
ti o n to e co n o m i c i n c en tive s an d Shaman g a s d o n e that i n the ph ar
m a ce u t i ca l i n du s try We have n o w c reated an o ver $ 1 milli on plan t
s upply i n du s try whi ch s upp o rt s o ur di sco v e l an d devel o pme n t e f
fo rt s An d whe n o ur pr o du c t s are appr o ved th i s will be co me a mul
t i m i lli o n d o llar s upply i n du s try o wn ed by i n di g e n o u s pe o ple o wn ed
b fo re s t dwelli n
e o ple that pro vide s an e co n o mi c alte rn ative to
ty
e de s tru c ti o n 0 gt e rai n fo re s t ar o un d t h e m re st ar o un d them
Sham an all oc at e s a p o rti o n o f it s re s earc h fun d s fo r re s ear c h i n to
h o w be s t to s u s tai n ably harve s t thi s lan t mate ri al a n d we m o n
i t o r the co lle c ti o n so that they are a] d o n e i n a s u s tai n able m an
On
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al p o i n t I w o uld like to talk ab o ut i s re c iproc ity We are
n
Shaman ba n k We are n o t eve n a reve n ue pr o du c i n g co m
pa n y o n o n e han d An d o n the o ther h an d it ca n be 1 0 year s o r
m o re befo re y o u reap the reward s o f a dru g di scovery pr oc e ss
Shaman ha s co me up with what we feel i s a very u n ique three
pr o n g appr o a ch whi ch can pr o vi de immediate be n e fi t s n e c e ss ary to
the ge n e ri ch co u n trie s al so re cogn i z e their ri ght to value fro m
their o w n ge n eti c re so urc e s yet w o rk withi n the con s trai n t s of a
s mall co mpan y
Shaman i s n o t i n the p os iti o n a s M erc k wh ere we co uld d o n ate
$ 1 milli on up fr o n t to a parti c ular o rg an i z ati o n o r a parti c ular co m
pa n y with the n umber o f area s that we w o rk i n
I n the s h o rt term what we d o i s all oc ate a p o rt i o n o r o ur re
s earch budget all ocate a p o rti on o f o ur ex pediti o n bu dget fo r imme
diate be n e fi t s An d i n thi s c a s e we w o rk with the c ulture s an d
co mmun itie s an d we fin d o ut what i s imp o rtan t to them S o me
time s i t i s te ch n o l ogy tra n sfer a n d we prov ide that but oft e n time s
it i s n o t S o we ju s t li s te n to what i s imp o rta n t to them
I n the medium term we d o e s tabli s h su ply i n du s tri e s that are
o w n ed by fo re s t dwelli n g pe o ple an d I a ready talk ed ab out th e
e co n o mi c i n c en tive s a ssoc iated wi th that An d i n the l o n g term we
have co mmitte d to put a p o rti o n o f o ur pr ofi t s i n to the H eali n g F o r
e s t C o n s ervan c y o ur n o n pr ofi t an d the n thr o ugh that ba c k to all
the co u n trie s all the co mmu n itie s all the c ulture s with whi c h we
w o rk re gardle ss o f where the pr odu c t fr o m whi c h that pr o du c t
c ame fro m derived
What that d o e s i s it all o w s area s that i n v o lved i n bi o l ogi c al
that bu s i n e ss an d
r o spe ct i n g to diver s ity their ri s k o f bei n g i n
ave a mu ch greater pr o bability o f re c ei v i n g so me be n e fi t fr o m that
a c tivity
I n co n c lu s i o n s pe ak i n g fo r my s el f a s C E O o f Shaman I thi n k
that o n e o f the m os t valuable attribute s o f the co n ve n ti o n o f th e
treaty i s it s fl e xibility I mpleme n tati o n ultimately co me s d o wn to
a co n s e n ti n g ba s i s betwee n t w o
n e go tiati o n s an d a greeme n t s o n
partie s u s ually repre s e n ti n g the n o rth an d the so uth
T h e Co n ve n ti o n i n B i o l ogi c al D iver s ity ha s a great deal o f m o
m en tum I t ha s s upp o rt fr o m all differe n t co m er s o f the E art h I t
h a s great coo perati o n n o w betwee n the n o rth an d the sou th T h e
U S ca n have the g reate s t i n fl ue n c e by rati fyi n g th e treaty an d
a rt i ci pa t i n g i n th e co n fere n c e o f partie s an d parti c ipati n g I n th e
Se v e lOpm e n t of rule s an d pr oc edure s
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fi
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37
cc e ss f th e fo ur b t i I me ti o ed i ve to ry co s erva
ti o
s u s tai abilit
re c iproc ity are c ru c ial
t o ly t o th e
i y f Sham a Pharma c euti c l s but
l o g term
y
y co mp
o r i du s try whi ch depe d s up o bi o l ogi c al re so urc e s
the o pp o rtu ity to te s tify to day
T ha k y o u very mu c h f
d
I am happy to a s wer
y que s ti o s
prepared s tateme t f M s Co t
d additi o al mate rial
[T h
'
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P DS
L
CO N T E
Go od Mo rn i ng Mr Chairman and members o f the Comm itt ee My n ame is Lisa
Conte and I thank ou fo r the oppo rtunity to te sti fy to day on behalf o f the Bio
te ch n o lo
I n du st
Organi zation and Shaman Pharmaceuticals In c o f which I am
the fou n e r Presi c u t and Ch ief Executive Of fi ce r Shaman is a $ 1 00 milli o n natu
r a l p ro ducts pharmaceutical com any l o cate d in South San F rancisc o C A that h as
p
gene rated ove r 1 00 high skill hi gh wage jobs from bench scientists to lab t ec h n i
c i an s s i n ce its inco rpo r ation in 1 98 9
T oda ' I te stify in stro n g su po rt o f the U S ratification o f the Convention on Bio
logical l) iv e rsi t y just as I ple ged my suppo rt publi cly in 1 99 2 despite the U S posi
tion t o not S ign the Convention Please let me tell you why
Shaman is a natu ral pro duct s pha rmaceutic al company and de nds on chemical s
found in tro pical pl a nts as the ra w mate ri al fo r drug di scove ry
fact twenty fiv e
perc ent o f the p re sc ription dru gs i n the U S are derived fro m natu ral pro ducts ex
tracted fro m pl a nts and many o f today s most valu able pha rmaceutic a ls have pl ant
o rigins F o r example qui n ine which rs u se d to fight mal ari a ; vi n bl asti n e used to
treat ce rt ain cance rs ; and piloca rpine fo r glauco ma we re de v e lo d fro m tropical
plant extracts In addition well known drugs such as aspiri n e p e dri n e di gital i s
and tax ol o ri ginated from plants
T h e company s resea rch e ffo rts ta rget S pecific plants fou nd i n s pecie s ri c h tro pic al
forests that hou se ove r ha lf o f o u r planet s e s ti mated
plant specie s By i nte
grati n g the sciences o f ethn obotany (the study o f how i ndi genous o r native peoples
use plants ) medicine and pl ant natu ral pro ducts chemist ry Sha man has been able
to achieve time and cost savin gs in active compound identification an d p re clini cal
development of o u r i n itial pro ducts We focus o u r scre e n in p ro cess on spe c ific
plants fo r specific i n dications T hi s enables the company to e e c t iv e ly disc ove r ao
tive compounds without incu rri n g the S ign ificant costs as sociated with mas s scre en
i n p ro ces se s typically uti lized by majo r pha rmaceutic al companies
goday howeve r the accelerating rate o f the destruction of the tro pical fore sts
where most biological species have evolved thr eatens the wealth and health of the
biological diversity o f o u r planet If c urrent rate s of the lo ss of t ro ical forest habi
tats contin ue p resent a n d futu re gene rations will lo se 2 0 % of all vin g spe cies by
the yea r 2 02 0 a cco rdi n the Harv a rd Professo r E O Wilson Si nce the genetic dive r
discove ry the e ro sion o f biologica l
s it y with i n S pecies is t e r a w mate r ial fo r dru
o
u ct s pha rmaceutical companies like
e rs i t y is a se ri ous p roblem fo r natu r al pr
giyaman
F o r seve ral re ason I am convinced that the only ro ce ss t o pre se rve the bi o logical
wealth fro m tro pical countri es that Shaman u ses o r drug discovery is thro ugh the
Convention on Biological Dive rsity
1 Of the 1 6 5 countri es that have sign ed the Convention Shaman has
wo rking pa rt n e rsh i S i n 30 countries Article 1 5 regardi n g access to genetic
will faci tate futu re access o f companies like Shaman t o e co
re sou rc es
n o m i c a lly valuable genetic resou rc es in sign ato ry countr ies unde r i n t e r
national law
con se rvation in the species rich
2 Article 6 will st re n then bi o div e rs it
developin g world t h ro u g g the creation 0 national plans and progr ams fo r
the conse rvation and su sta in able use of bio dive rsity in sign ato ry nations
3 I nvento ry and monito ri n g o f bi o di v e rs it th rough A rticle 7 o ffe rs mo re
complete in fo rmation on components of bio ve rs ity and enhances su w e ss
ful management decisions fo r its conse rvation By monito ri n g the status o f
va ri ous spec ies that are th re atened a rapid decline in a populati o n can be
dete cted at an ea rly sta e and lower cost actions can be taken befo re a spe
cies becomes e n da n g e re g
4 Speedy ratification of the Convention by the Senate wi ll allow U S
articipation in the u p comin g initial inte rnational discussions on
p
io di v e rs i t y whe re the inte rests of companies like Shaman can be r aise d
PR E
T AT EM E N T OF
AR E
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38
The Conve nti on is cri tic al to Shaman s o perations an d ph i loso phy be c au se it de
fine s no t only bio dive rs ity conse rvati on but al so the s u sta i n able u se of bio di vers ity
a nd of the equitable shari ng of be ne fit s that ari se out of that u se As the name of
m y co mpany im lie s Shama n Pharmaceuti cal s i nte g rate s the a nc ie n t kn o w le d e of
i ndige nou s pe Opp
e s u se of m edi c in al p la nts with the modern te ch n o lo of the 151 8 !
m a o e u t i c al in du s try to create a mo re timely a n d le ss c ostly metho d o r dru g di s co v
e ry Thi s u ni que meth o d focu se s on the i so lati on of a ctive co mp ou n ds fro m t ro pi c al
pla nts that have a hi sto ry of m e di ci nal u se in in di ge nou s societie s a n d has e n joyed
an u nprecede nted su cce ss rate Si nce we be gan ope rati ons i n May 19 90 Sha m a n
has scree ned 4 7 1 pla nts 2 9 0 of which sho wed e nou gh activity to warra nt fu rther
s tudy Tw o ro du ct s we re mo ved i n to c lin ic al trial s in re co rd time The firs t Pro vir
i s i n Pha se I trial s Provi r i s a the rapeuti c fo r vi ral re spi rato ry infe cti ons di seas e s
which affli ct 2 0 to 40 pe rce nt of the po u lat io n each year worldwide Ou r se con d
re du ct V i re n d i s al so i n Pha se II st u tfi
e s a n d i s be i ng devel o ped a s a t reatme n t
or
c urr
he
rpe s i nfe c ti ons a di sea se a ffli cti ng mo re tha n on e -ei ghth of the p o p
r
11 la t ie
on e n t
Since it s i ncorporation Sham an s phil oso phy an d procedu re s have bee n to equi
tably co mpe ns ate i ndi genou s societie s fo r their in telle ctual contributi ons to the ide n
t i fica t io n of u s e fu l p ro du ct s i n the dru g di sco ve ry ro ce ss Cons eque ntly Shaman
fou n ded the H ea li ng Fo re s t Cons ervancy a non pro fi
t o rg a n iz ation to fu nnel a pe r
ce nta e of the pro fit s fro m co mme rcialized pro du ct s to cou ntrie s a n d co mmu n itie s
that ave participate d i n Sh aman s dru g di sco v e l l proce ss Sham an ha s provided
s pe cific u p front co mpe ns ati on proje ct s that re spo n dto immediate needs of o u r cou n
t ry a n d co mmu n ity co u n te rpart s as well
No w fo r the fir s t tim e i n in te rn ation al law Artic le 8 of the Conve nti on make ex
eac h party i s requi red su bje ct to it s n ation al 1e alation to take
pli ci t that
measure s relatin g to the k no wledge inn ovations a n d pra ctice s 0 in dige nou s an d
l oca l commu ni tie s emb odyi ng tradi ti on al l ife styles relevant fo r the conse rvati on a nd
s u s t ai n able u se of b io di v e rsi t a n d to pro m ote thei r wide r appli c ati on with the a p
p roval a nd i nvolvement of t e ho lders of su ch kno wledge innovati ons a nd prac
ti ce s
Article 8 pro vide s a means fo r ge ne rich but c as h poo r cou ntrie s a n d i n di ge nou s
co mm u ni tie s to g ai n econo mi c be n e fi t s fro m their biot i c re sou rce s a n d the re fo re su
p lie s pra gmatic i nce ntive s fo r them to conse rve thei r bi otic wealth Since the frag i e
e nvi ron me nts where most i ndi genou s co mmu n itie s li ve are al so habitats whe re most
of the re m ai ni ng u ni que fl o ra a n d fau n a of o u r bi os phe re are l oc ated e cono mi c be n
e fit s fro m the wealth of bi o ti c s pe c ie s a n d i n di ge no u s k no wledge of medi ci n al u s e
will accrue to the cou ntrie s a nd co m m u nities of ori gi n
Article 8 al so ha s i nitiated new fo rm s of part n e rsh i s betwee n i n du strializ ed a n d
develo pi ng cou ntries Fo r ex ample Sh ama n ha s j o i n e a n I nte rn ati on al Coo e rat iv e
B io di ve rs ity G ro u p (I C EC ) with the U S N ation al I ns titute s of H ealth the at i o n al
I ns titute of M e n tal H ealth the N ation al Sc ie nce F ou n dation an d the U S Ag e n c
fo r I nte rn ati on al D evel o p m e nt in re cogn iti on of the need to addre ss the i n te rde pe n
e nt i ssue s of bi o diversity conse rvati on a n d dru g di scovery to imp ro ve human health
i n t m pic al cou ntrie s Shaman a n d the IC EC will work with the g overnm e nts a n d
re sea rc h i ns titute s of N i ge ria an d C ame roon to i nve s ti g ate plan t ba sed the rapeuti cs
fo r Thir d W orld di seas e s su ch as m ala ria sc hi s tosomi a si s a n d le i s ch m a n i as i s
M r Chair man I a m al so te s t
n g to day on behal f of B IO the i n te rn ati on al t r ade
o rg an iz ation which repre se n t s t e eme rgi ng b io te ch n o lo in du s try i n the U nited
State s a nd arou n d the gl obe A s the leadi ng voi ce fo r t e bi ote chnol ogy i n du stry
B IO rep re s e nt s ove r 500 compa ni e s of all s ize s e nga ged i n the develo pme nt of p ro d
diagnostic foo d e nergy
u c t s an d s e rvi c e s i n the area s of ag r i cultu re bi o medi c i n e
a nd envi ron m e ntal applications
I n A p ril 1 9 9 3 the I n du s t rial B i ote c hno l ogy A ssociati on (IB A ) an d the A ssoc iati on
of B io te chn o logy Compa nie s (AB C ) [ whi ch late r m e r ed to be c o m e the B io t e c h n o lo
I n du stry Org a ni z ati on (B IO)) wro te to Pre side nt gli n ton u rg in g h i m to si gn t e
Con ve n ti on on B i ol ogi cal D ive rs ity In do ing so we noted o u r conce rns abo ut the
n eed fo r s trong an d e ffec tive p ro te ctio n of i nte llec tual p ro pe rty We al so c alled fo r
a de claration of u n derstan di ng that nothing i n the Treaty should be take n to re
s u m e the ne ce ssity of a ro t o co l on the ro c e du re s fo r the s a fe tra nsfe r han n g
a n d u se of li vin g m o difie organi sm s re su ting fro m bio te ch n o lo y
In a Septembe r 8 1 99 3 lette r to V i ce Pre s ide nt G o re we reite rated o u r conce rn
about the se issue s an d c alled fo r an i nte rp retive statement to acco mpa ny rat irfimc a
ti on i n order to ) ro te ct the i nte re sts of the Uni te d State s bi ote chnol ogy pha a
ce u t i c a l seed an do the r i n du st rie s
We were very pleas ed that i n hi s November 19 1 99 3 letter of tra ns mittal tro ther
Se n ate the Pre side nt state d forthri htly that the adm in i stration will the e fo e
s trongly re s i st a ny a ction take n by ga rtie s to the Conve nti on that leads to i n ad
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39
equate level s of p ction of in telle ctual p pe ty i h d will continue to
a vigo u s poli cy with spe ct to the adequa e a nd e
p cti on of i lf l
ights i n negotiations on bilate al and ultilate al t ade ag e e nts The
p
P s ide nt l so put on the e co d that the epo t of the Depa t e nt of State hi ch
id
a ccompani ed hi s lette
a detailed stateme nt of the A d i i st ati on s p osi
ti on on the p vi sions the Convention which late to i nt lle ctual p pe ty ights
Tu n ing to the State D epa tme nt s No vembe 1 1
of Submittal to the
Lett
P s ide nt (he i n aft
fe d to a s the epo ) the que s tion of co pul so li
i ng of int llec al p pe ty i s e ffectively add ssed by thi s stateme nt V
il
e nt d i nto cont actual a
ents on the u se of neti c sou e s will p o vide the
ost e ffe ctive vehi cle f t i s flo w of be n e fit s I nte
l p o pe ty include s p p i
te ch ol og an d in du st y wa s seeki ng a su ance that t a nsfe of su ch p i
t
c
h
no
l
og
y
on
ly
p
c
eed
with
the
v
o
lu
n
ta
pa
ti
c
ipati
on
of
it
s
o
w
n
e
e
Ad
y
ha s made clea that it ag e s a n d will so in te p et the Conve nti on
i
i
Fu the mo A ti cle of the Conve ntion deals s pe ci fic lly with acce ss to d
t a nsfe of t ch ol ogy Un de thi s a ti cle P a ties to the T aty obligated to f
a ccess an d t nsfe of technol ogie s to othe Pa ie s which eleva nt to the
i li
Conse ation of B io l ogi c l D ive sity a n d to do so u n de fai a n d ost favo able
t s He e the Stat D epa t e nt de cla e s that the U nited State s will in te p t
fa i a n d ost favo able to mea n t m s that
volu nta ily ag eed by all P a tie s
the t ansaction We a plaud thi s defini tion
The lan g ua e of A tic e
of the Conve nti on was pa ti cula ] t ouble so e to
u s be cau se w ile it cog ni z es that pate nt s a n d othe i ll
ights
p
have a n in fluence on the i ple e ntati on of the Conven tion it c al s u n con
t acti ng Pa tie s oope ate e nsu e that su ch ights
sup
i
o a n d do
no t
cou nte
the objective s of the Conve nti on A dd ssi ng t po i nt di c ly
the Stat Depa t e nt po t sets fo th the u n de sta n di ng of the United St te s that
no th i ng i A ti cle
alte s the obli gations of the Pa tie s to e ns that any
ce ss
t a nsfe of te ch ology that occu s u nde the ag eeme nt eco ni ze s an d
i s consi ste nt with the adequate an d e ffective p o tecti on of i ll g p o pe y
be conside ed adequate an d e ffe ctive a
i ht s It state s fu the that
e i
te le ctu l p o pe y system mu st m ke p te ction available f all fi eld of te ch nology
a n d p ovide effe ctive p ocedu s f e fo cing i ght s We believe that thi s is a
s t ai ght fo wa d u nequivoc al stat e n t of the U S position whi ch sh ould no t be
s ubjec t mi su n de sta n di ng We take assu a nce f m it
O n the que sti on of bios ‘
ety the State Depa tment epo t says the Uni t d Stat s
d e s not believe that a p tocol on bi f u n de this Conve ntion is wa a nt d
It s et s fo th that should conside ati on of su c a p toco l p ceed the U S will wo k
i n close coo pe ation with the U S bi ote ch ol ogy i du st to e nsu e that a ny
bi os afety egi e whi h i s p du ced u nde the Conve nti on i s scie nti fic ally ba sed a n d
a na ti c al ] sou n d A ain we comme n d the a dmi ni st ation f add ssi n thi s po in t
healyon e take f tg comfo t f m the fact that u n de A i cle 2 of
i
y p toco l ado p ted mu s t be ati fi ed by ea ch P ty be fo e it be co e s b i n di n g u p on
tl em
of the Con ve n tion c all s up on ea ch con t ac ti ng P a ty to take ea su e s
A tic le
to p o vide f pa ticipati on i bio tech nology e sea ch activitie s by the develo ping
co u n t ie s wh i ch p vi de the neti c e so u c e s The State D epa t e nt epo t s ay s
with e s pe ct to e sea ch con d by the U S publi c p ivate e ntitie s the U S
u n de sta nds they have the auth o ity to dete mi ne whethe it i s fea sible to have de
d i n the
l p
i g cou nt y pa ti c ipati on a n d whethe su c h e sea ch c an be
f
of the d l pi co u nt y We feel that ag ee e nt s ga
g e sea ch a n d
ge neti c e sou ce s should
ne gotiated by the Pa tie s a n d be vo lu nta ily acceptable
both to the cou nt y p vidi g the ge neti c e sou ce d to the e ntity con du cting the
sea ch activitie s
We note fu the i nt p tation by the Stat D epa t ent of the la nguage of a ticle
which stat s ca e go i c lly the u n de s tan ding of the U S G ve nmen t that thi s
a ticle ca nnot se ve a s a ba i s by any Pa ty to u nilate ally cha nge the te ms of
e xi st ng ag eme nts i nvolvi ng public p ivat U S e ntitie s F u s thi s ea ns
that any et a ctive a pli cation of the te s of the B di i T eaty would not
be acceptable to the i d State s an d thi s i s a positi on whi the biotech nology
i n du st y st ongly p o t s
In conclu s ion I be i
that the Conve ntion on B i ological D i
ets to the
ve y hea of what Sha an Pha maceutic al s i s ll about d I s pe ct u y u ge the
Co ittee
advi se f ati fication of the Conven tion i a s speedy a ma n e as
i bl Bo th the bi o te ch ol ogy in du st y a n d my co mpan y st n ly believe that the
I
u st be ati fi ed quickly si nce the longe we wait tge mo
cie s we
C
i
may lose The t ime f ame i s u rg e nt be cau se the g netic ma e ial i n
s pe cie s
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40
i n u nique a n d to lo e j st one s pecie s i s to de ny p sent a nd fut e
the oppo tu nity to it s ge netic mate ial imp ve the quality of life
s
,
LE PT ER ro
'
Hon
re
.
SENAT
O
to
r
u se
r
The
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.
R PELL FRO M C A RL B F E LD B AU M PR ES I D ENT
I ND U STRY O RG A NIZ ATIO N
.
CLAI B O RN E PE LL
Un i te d S ta te s S e n a te
Was h i n g to n DC 2 051 5
ge ne rati ons
,
B I O I EC H N
’
,
'
M a rc h 9
O ID G Y
,
,
,
.
,
Con ve n tion on B i ol og i c al D ive rs ity
D EAR S ENATO R PE LL : In h i s lette r of No vembe r 19 1 99 3 transmitti ng the Con
Pre side nt C li n ton s pe ci fi ca lly noted
v e n t i o n on B i o l ogi cal D ive rs ity to the Se n ate
that adequate a n d e ffective pro te c ti on of i ntellectual pro rt y rights i s a n import a nt
e cono mi c incentive whi ch not only e n co u ra e s the deve o pm e n t of i n novative te ch
n o lo g ie s but whi c h imp ro ve s all pa rtie s a b iIi t y to conse rve a n d s u s tai n ably u s e bi o
log ic al re sou rce s To thi s we add that the conse rvation an d pre se rvati on of biologi cal
m ate rial s i s an i mpo rt a nt societ al go al The s e re sou rce s are ne ce ss a ry to su s tai n o u r
bi os here an d offer tre m e n dou s o po rt u n it ie s fo r the develo pmen t of new pro du cts
to a dre ss human a n d an imal he t h nutriti on a n d o the r soc ietal n eed s fo r u s a n d
futu re e n e ra t io n s
The i o t e c h n o lo g y i n du stry believe s that the ke eleme n t of a fair a n d b alan ced
B io di versity Conve ntion i s a re cognition of the v u e of the ro du ct s of n atu re as
well as the contributions m ade by persons an d i nstitutions w o mo di fy th ose pro d
u c t s i n t o u s e fu l a rti c le s of co mm e rc e The value of bi o l o g i c al m ate rial s is e nh a nc ed
when i nte lle ctual pro rt rights a re cre ated pro tected a nd e n forced by all n ations
Without adequate an dee e ct iv e inte lle ctu al pro perty pro te cti on there will be le ss in
ce n t i v e to make con t ributi ons to devel o pi ng n ati ons wh os e te rrito ry e nco m pa ss e s
mu ch of the world s bi ol ogi c al mate rial
The B i o di ver s ity Conve n tion a s w ritte n i s an admirable s et of po li cy o als whi ch
have at their core the conservation of biolog i ca l dive rsity the su st a in ab e u se of its
co mpon e n t s an d the fair an d equitable shari ng of be ne fi t s ari si ng o ut of the utili z a
ti on of ge netic re sou rce s Unfortu n ately we feel thes e e numerated go al s m ay be di f
ficu lt to re a ch be cau s e the te chn ol ogy t r an sfe r ro v i sio n s of the t reaty are va gue
a n d subje ct to u n de sirable inte rpretati ons We befi
ie v e that the su b m i s sro n of an i n
te rpre t i v e s tate m e nt by the U n i ted State s with the i nstrume nt s of rat i fic ati on i s an
importa nt step to wards e nsu rin g that the Treat i s i m le m e n te d in a ma nn er that
fu rthe rs the m utu al i n te re s t of all n ati ons w h i c have co me s i gn ato ry The addi
t i o n a l s ubmi ss ion by the A dm i n i s tration of it s view s on the Treaty to the Se n ate
fu rthe r clari fie s h o w the U nite d State s will impleme nt the Tre aty
Fro m the po i nt of vi ew of the bio tech no logy in du stry there are two importa nt
e st i o n s wh i ch remai n to be a ns we red by the Se n ate du ri ng the hearin g p roc e ss
we submit that fo r the U nite d State s inte rp retive statem e nt to have real wo rld s ig
n ific a nce it m u s t be accom pa ni ed by a n e xp re ssed willingne ss to withdraw fro m the
conve nti on i n the eve nt the contr ac ti ng partie s reach in te rp retati ons on the i ssue s
of i n te llec tual pro pe rt y o r govern a nce whi ch a re cou n te r to the n ation al i n te re st s of
the Uni ted State s Whi le we recog ni ze that the Conve ntion already sets fort h in its
te xt the withdraw o ption what i s mi ssing fro m the Admi ni stration s submi ss ionrti s
a set of con ditions u n der whi ch that ri ght would be exerci sed I ntelle ctu al e ros pe in y
i s the very life bl oo d of biote ch nol ogy an d like other i ntelle ctual pro pe rt y r i nt
du st ri e s w e n e ed to be a ssu red that the U n i te d State s w ill withdraw fro m the co n
R
e:
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ven
t io n
lf
I t i s i n te rpreted in a ma nn e r fu n dame ntally inconsi ste nt with the mi n i
mum level o f i ntellectual ro e rty pro te cti on contain ed in the re cent GrATT
a nd not the transition rule s attached the eto) ;
ro u n d (thi s m ea ns the s ta n ga
o
I t i s u sed to dep rive a ny Un ited State s pe r sons of a re cogn iz ed le gal right
to p ro pe rty
We u rge the Se n ate to obtain a se con d a ssu r ance i e that the Un ited State sr will
no t seek an d will in fa ct o pp os e the devel o p m e nt of a bi os afety p ro toco l u n de the
conve nti on We believe that cre ati on of a ny su ch e n tity w ould no t re s ult i n sc ie n tific
o ve rsight to fu rthe r e nsu re hu m a n s afety but rathe r i n pro moti on of a po liti c al
age nda se rvin g a u rpo se other tha n scie nce Fu rthermo re we believe the Adm i n i s
i cly co mmit to :
t ra t i o n s h o uld pubp
The i nclu si on of bro adly repre se ntative i n du stry parti cipat i on i n a ny an d
all in ternation al negotiati ons ;
or
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41
I ns i ste nce on a fac tual sc ie nce ba sed a p ro ac h to re g ulati on a s the e sse nce
of a ny n ati on al re gulato sche m e fo r b io te c o logy pro ce ss e s a n d pro du ct s ; an d
A clear s tateme nt t at n ational law s re lati ng bio te ch no logy should be
bas ed on the pro du cts an d not mere ly on t e fact that the p ro ce ss of bio
te chnology was u sed in thei r developm e nt o r cre ati on
a nie s ac ade m i c i n st it u
B I O i s t rade a ssociati on repre se nti n g m ore tha n 500 co m p
tions state bio t e ch n o lo ce n ters an d other orga ni z ations I nvolved i n the re search
a n d developm e nt of hea th care agricultu ral an d e nvironme ntal biote ch nology prod
m it the se co m m e nt s on behal f of o u r m e m be r s hip an d wa nt
s
ub
u c t s We re s p e ct fu ll
y
to i ndi c ate o u r w i llrn g n e ss to appea r a s a wit ne ss at an y futu re sc heduled hea ri ng
V e ry truly y ou rs
C ARL B F E LD B AU M
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P re s ide n t
The C HAI R MA N Than k y o u
t o D r Reid an d the n may ask
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S TAT E M EN
W
T
very much Ms Con te We
a questi on or tw o D r Reid
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OF
ALTE R V R E ID ,
A SH I N G
IN ST I TUTE ,
W
.
WOR LD
TO N
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n ow
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turn
.
R E SOU R C E S
DC
,
D r RE I Mr C hairman than k y o u f i nvi ti n g me to testify
t o day an d I w o uld als o ask that my full stat me n t be i n cluded i n
the rec ord f this heari ng
The C H
MAN With o ut o bj ecti on
D r RE My n ame is Walter Reid I am a bi ol og ist an d V ice
P reside n t f W o rld Res o urces I n stitute a p o licy research o rg a n i a
ti on pro m o ti n g e n vironmen tally s o u d devel o pme n t
This c on ven ti on is a c o r n erston e f the g l obal resp on se t the
bi o diversity crisis I t is i n the Un ited Stat s i n terest a n d i n the
l obal i n terest that we ratify the c onve n ti on an d d o s o swift ly
ick rati ficati on will
e o ther n ati on s to take the steps it
calls f to c on serve their bi o i i ty I t will e n sure o ur full i
l m
t i n pr o cedural decisi on s to be take n by the c onfere n ce of
parties An d it will e n sure that U S i n dustry is no t left t an d
thereby shut out— f the n ew framew ork that will g overn trade i n
g e n etic res o urces
I w o uld like to emphasi e three p o i n ts fr o m my writte n testi
m ony ab o ut why we sh o uld ratify the c onve n ti on Mr C hairman
I am b o ldi n here a specime n f the i n e that T im Wirth re ferred
to A i t adus k p i This plan t is a n ew species foun d i n
B
C amer oon i n 1 98 7 an d it c on tai n s a chemical m i h ll m i
tive ag ai n st the AI D S virus This dru is no w i n precli n ical trials
T w o o ther plan ts on e fr o m A t ia on e fr om I n d on esia are
als o the s ource f drug s active ag i n st the H IV virus that are als o
i n precli n ical trials An d as y o u may no w the drug T a o l de ived
fr o m the P acif c yew tree is the m o st pr o misi n g ca n cer drug di
ered i n the last 1 5 years
These dru g s represe n t j ust a ti ny fracti on f the ec on o mic be n e
fit we obtai n fr o m the w o rld s species g e n es a n d ec o systems E
n o mic be n efits fr o m wild species make up s o me
perce n t f the
U S G D P estimated i n the 1 9 8 0 at ab o ut $ 8 7 billi on a nn ually
S o my first p o i n t is simply that bi o diversity is valuable I t is no t
on ly f i n tri n sic value i t als o c on t ibut s directly to o ur health an d
ec ono mic n eeds to day an d pr omises to be f eve n g reater value f
future g e n erati on s
My sec on d p oi n t is that these res o urces are disappeari n g at a
rate un precede n ted i n human histo ry I t is extra ordi n a ily diff cult
t o con vey the urg en cy f this problem I t d o es no t make the head
D
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42
li n es an d we rarely observe the actual even t f exti n cti on but it
is truly a crisis S o me 2 to 5 perce n t f species are bei ng c ommitted
t o exti n cti on each decade This mean s on e species f bird mammal
o r pla t each day
My third oi n t is that this c on ve n ti on can si g n ifican tly sl o w the
l o ss f this gi di i ty The c o mmitme n ts made by parties to c on
serve an d sust i n ably use bi o diversity withi n their c ou n tries an d
this is the c o re f the ag reemen t will si ifi t ly reduce threats
t o bi ol og ical diversity particularly i n deve o pi ng c o un tries
The c on ve n ti on als o i n creases the ec on o mic i n ce n tive f n ati on s
t o c on serve bi o diversity d it will help fo cus i n ter n ati on al t i i
ties an d g uide limited res o urces t o the hi g hest pri o rities
I will c on clude with fi rec o mme n dati on s fo r st ps the U n i ted
States
take to help e n sure the c on ve n ti on s successful i m pl
men tati on First the U S sh o uld keep an y u n dersta n di ng s that we
decide to i n clude wi th o ur i n strumen t f ratificati on to a very mi n i
mum The wi ll se n d n eg ative sig n als to o ther n ati on s i m plyi
that the S is ren eg o tiati ng the ag reeme n t or is no t c ommitte
t o its obj ectives
I n particular the pr o p o sed u dersta n di n g f article 3 the pri n
i pl
f
example is at best red n dan t a n d seems even t apply
a n arr o wi n g f i n t rn ati on al c o mm on law while the pro p o sed
d
t
di g f article 2 2 on s o verei g n immu n ity seems to carve o ut
a n unn ecessarily br o ad excepti on t the treaty
Sec on d the Un ited States sh o uld q ickly g ive shape t o the c on
thr o ug h its leadership an d acti on s I n particular the U S
ti
n eeds t o dem on strate h o w it pl n s to meet its o bli g ati on to facili
tate the tran s fer of t ch no l og i es This sh o uld no t be difficult We
already have vari o us trai n i ng prog rams c o llab o rative research
pr oj ects an d devel o pme n t assistan ce activities that c o uld pro vide
the basis f meeti n g these obli g ati on s
Third the U S sh o uld supp o rt quick establishme n t f the clear
i gh
f
scie n ti fic an d tech n ical c oo perati on called f
der
article 1 8
F o urth the U S sh o uld be
e n t o c on siderati on f a pr o to c o l on
bi o safety Ma y c o un tries d o ave le g itimate c on cern s ab o ut the
safe tra n sfer han dli n g an d use f bi o l og i cal materials Effective
p olicy must resp on d t o these public c on ce n s as well as t o tech n ical
data The U S sh o uld take steps to address these c on cern s no t
j t the pr o to c o l o ut f ha n d
F i fth the U S sh o uld seek t o devel o p re g i on al ag reeme n ts o r
pr o to c ols der the c on ven ti on because f the imp o rta n ce to us f
c on servi n g shared ec o systems a n d species The Western H emi
sphere Summit i Miami i n D ecember f this year c o uld pr ovide an
excelle n t setti n g f m o vi n g such reg i on al appr o aches fo rward
This c on ve n ti on is a piv o tal eleme n t f the i n ter n ati on al resp on se
t o the crisis f species exti n cti on This crisis represe n ts a trag ic
l o ss f res o urces that are f g reat value t o human ity to day an d
c o uld provide even g reater be n efits i n the future
The c on ve n ti on is s o u n d a n d the Se n ate sh o uld g ive its swi ft c on
se n t t o ratificati on The U S sh o uld the n m ove quickly to dem
t h o w the c on ve n ti on ca n be impleme n ted i n a c on structive
t
a n d efficie n t ma nn er
Tha nk y o u a g ai n f i n viti n g me to testi fy
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44
C ris is — O u r la ck of k no wledge of bi o logic al di ve rs ity i s s im ply a s
whe we conside r h ow i m po rtan t the se re sou rce s al ready are to u s an d
ho w im po rta nt they pro mi se to be i n the futu re The wate r we drink the a ir we
breathe o u r fertile so rls an d o u r pro du ctive seas lakes an d rivers are all pro du cts
of he althy bio logic al sy s tems The di vers ity of wild s pe cie s al so con tribute s e nor
mou s dire ct econo mi c be ne fits to o u r e co n o m a nd to the world e cono m y
E conomi c be ne fi ts fro m wild s
ie
s m e up a n e stimated
e
rc e nt of the
p
Gross Do me sti c Pro du ct of the U — am ou nti ng to more than $ 8 7 billi on a nnu ally
a nd contributing to su ch se2cto rs as h arm ace u tic als agricultu re fore stry fisherie s
an d the chemi c al i n du stry All of t e maj or cro ps gro w n in the U S ori gi nated
in
othe r cou n trie s a n d all depe n d on in fu si ons of new ge ne s fro m those cou n trie s 3 The
e
n
eti
c
dive
rs ity u sed i n
la
n
t
b
reeding ha s accou n te d fo r ab out hal f of the g ai ns
g
I n a ri cultu r al yields i n tE
e
U
n
ited
State
s
f
ro m 1 930 to 1 98 0
am
o
u
n
ti
ng
t
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so
me
g
‘
b
i
l
l
i
on
a
nn
ual
additi
ons
t
o
the
value
of
a
g
i
c
ultu
al
o
utput
Conve rs ely
1
i
n
U
S
r
r
$
leoss
of ge netic divers ity lace s a cultu ral ro du ct iv i ty at ri s k In 19 70 U S farm
rs l os t $ 1 billi on to a
s ea s e t at s wept t ro u h u n ifo rmly su sc eptible co rn vari
e t ie s
Sim il arly the citru s c a nke5 r outbre ak in lorida i n 19 8 4 al so s te m m ed fro m
a redu ction i n ge netic divers ity
Healthy a n d biolog ic ally di verse e cosyste m s al so u nde rlie o u r fishe rie s a n d fo r
e stry ro du cti on In the early 1 98 08 it was e sti m ated that fisherie s contributed
so m e
billion annually to the Gro ss Do me sti c Pro du ct of the U S an d s ince that
time 6 pe r ca ita consu m ption of fish a nd shell fish ha s increased by nearly 36 pe r
ce nt The S i s al so the w o rld s la r s t ro du ce r of fore st p ro du ct s accou nti ng
fo r so m e 2 5 pe rc e nt of the w orld ro u n woo p ro du c ti on An d bi o logi c al dive r s ity i s
on e focu s of the
wi ng eco tou ri sm in du7stry W orldwide natu re tou ri sm ge n
c r ate s so m e $ 12 bi ion i n reve nue s annually
In the pha rma ceutic al i n du stry so me 2 5 pe rc e n t of a ll U S dru s are de rived
fro m pla nt s alone An d o ve r 3000 a n tibio tics— includi ng pe ni ci in a n d te tra
a re de rived fro m mi c ro o rga ni s m s
c yc li n e
Cycl os po rin devel o ped fro m a soil fu n
g u s revo luti oni z ed hea rt a n d ki dn e t ra ns pla n t s u rgery by su pp re ss i ng the im m u ne
reac ti on A s pir i n a n d m a ny o the r
gs that are no w syn the si zed we re fir s t disco v
e red i n the wild R e cen t adva nce s i n bio te ch n o lo have e nha nced pharmaceuti cal
co m pan ie s i nte re s t in the se n atu ral p ro du ct s The se s ea rche s a re payi n g o ff
T axo l derived fro m the Paci fic e w tree — i s the m os t p ro mi si ng c ance r d ru g dl SC OV
ere d i n the pa st 1 5 years A n d t of the most pro m i sin che m i cal s fo r com batin g
the AI D S vir u s a re derived fro m plants (fro m C ameroon u st ralia a n d I ndone sia)
B iol ogi cal diver—sity i s the key re sou rc e u n derlyin g one of o u r m ost pro m— i si ng n ew
e cono mi c se ctors bi ote chn o logy Gro w th in the bi ote chn ol ogy i n du stry includin g
u se s i n h a rm a ce u t ic als a gri cultu re a nd i ndu strial appli cations i s al read su b
o tal pro du ct s ale s fo r the U S b io te c h n o lo i n du s try i n 19 9 1 to t ed $4
st an t i a l
billion a n d by the 8year 2 00 0 sale s are ex pe cted to gi ve gro wn more tha n 1 0 fold
to som e $ 50 billi on
Ye t de s pite the impo rta nce of the se b io lo c al re so u rc e s scie nti s t s have ide nti fi ed
at most on] one te nth of Earth s s pe cie s u rre n t ly about m il li on s pe cie s have
been de sc ri ed out of an e stimated total of at least 10 million a nd conceivably more
than 1 00 mi llion species In fact we don t k now eve n to an order of magn itude ho w
ma ny spe cie s exi st Worldwide the g a 3 even i n the pro fe ssi on al ca acity to ide nti fy
a nd de scribe s pec ie s a re a stou n ding Far ex ample the U S Ne tic u a R e search Cou n
c il ha s e s timated that at lea s t
n ew sy ste mati st s s pecializ i ng in tro pic al orga
n i s m s are u rge n tly needed to pro v i de the ba si c in form ati on on bi o dive rs ity ne c
e ssary fo r wi se dec i sio n m aki n g Wit h thi s poor i nformation base it should co me as
no su rp ri se that sc ie nti st s are repeatedly su rp ri sed by new di sco verie s E ach year
about 3 new s pe cie s of bir ds are di scovere d in 1 990 a new s pe cie s of m onkey wa s
di scove re d near a large city in B razil a n d a new s pecie s of whale was di scovered
i n 1 98 9
The sc ie nce of e co lo ha s ju s t be gu n to e x plo re the com plex i n te rrelationshi p s
am on the E arth s m il ons of s pec ies In ma ny case s there fore it i s dif ficultr to
dict tfi
is
e p re ci se i m pa c t of a s
ci fic e xt i nc ti on What we d o kn o w h o weve
hu m an life ulti m ately depe n s on thi s co mple x web of li fe F ro m thi s pe rsrpe ctive
cons ervi ng bi o dive rs ity i s nothing mo re than a s e ns ible p re c auti on a ry mea s u e
An I n form a t i o n
t o n i sh i n g
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Pr c tt A ll
R
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‘ OT A 198 7
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45
Cris is — The se con d tragedy i s the cri s i s of s pec ie s e xtinction de g
e ys tems an d l oss of ge netic diversity of o u r cro p s live s tock ti m be r
a nd fish Althou gh we a re a l ong way fro m fully u n derstan di ng eithe r the exte nt
we c an be quite su re that the se re sou rce s
o r value of E arth s bi o l ogi c al re so u rc e s
a re di s appeari ng qui ckly B i o l ogi c al dive rs ity i s bei ng e ro ded as fa s t to day as at an y
time si nce the di nosau rs di ed out som e 6 5 milli on years ago 9 The cru cible of e xt i n c
tion i s in tro pic al fore sts whi ch contain more than half of a ll s pecies on —E arth i n
ju st 7 pe rc e nt of its lan d area About—38 million acre s of tro pi ca l lfoo re sts a n are a
larger tha n the si ze of New York state are bei ng cleare d annually
Scie nti sts c an judge the im pa ct of thi s fore st loss on the su rvival of spec ie s be
c au s e of the re lationshi p betwee n the number of s pe c ie s that c a n e x is t i n a g ive n
habitat an d the si ze of that habitat O ne clear conclu si on of e col ogi cal sc ience i s that
a sig ni fica nt redu cti on in a habitat s area will eve ntually lead to a redu ction i n the
nu m be r of s pec ie s su rvivi ng in the habitat that rem ai ns Thi s spe c i e s/a re a relation
s hip thu s a ll ow s c al culati ons to be made of the impa ct of habitat loss on s pec ie s
su rvival
Ou r o w n s tudie s at WR I an d the w o rk of ma ny o the r sc ie n ti s t s has conc luded that
at the cu rre nt rate of tro pical fore st loss so me 2 5 pe rc e nt of tro pical fo re st spe cie s
will die out each decade
o r be redu c ed to s u c h s mall
u lat i o n s that e xt in c ti on i s
a foregone co nclu sion 1 1 B a sed on o u r be st e stimate s 0 t e numbe r of spe cie s i n ex
i st e n ce thi s m e a ns that abo ut 1 s pec ie s of bi rd m am m al o r pla nt will be co m m itte d
to e xtincti on each day a nd of cours e m any ti m es m o re i nse cts a nd i nve rte brate s will
be l ost as well Eve n the se e stimate s m ay be too conse rvative si nce they deal only
with the outri ght loss of fore st a n d do not a ccou nt fo r su ch other threats as cli m ate
ch a nge po lluti on o r fo re st fragme n tati on an y of which m ay drive the exti nction
hi gher still These e stimate s of futu re s pe cies e xti ncti ons are bo l ste re d by
rate
k nowledg e of p a st e xti nction We k no w12 of more tha n 700 s pecie s worldwide that
have gone exti nct in the last 4 00 years Inco mplete thou gh this li st i s it pro bably
re re se n t s only the ti p of the i c ebe rg of what will co m e i n futu re de c ade s
ro pic al fo re s t s are no t the on ly re gi ons e x pe rie nc i ng s i g ni fic a nt l osse s of bi o l ogi
c al di ve rs ity M o re the n te n pe rce nt of s pec ie s i n re gi ons with what i s kno w n a s
M e dite rra nean cli m ate s lik e C ali fo rn ia South Afric a ce n tral C hile a n d So uth
we st Au stralia are e nda nge red a n d oceani c i slan d s face eve n greater threats Ma
ri ne e cosy s te m s con ti nue to be de gr aded an d co as tal s pe c ie s pla ced at ri sk of e xti n e
tion Fre shwate r s pe cie s are p arti cu larly threate ned Fo r examp le all the n ative
fishe s i n the V alley of Me xi co are alre ady e xti nct An d s pe cie s are no t all that are
being lost B iodi versity e ncompa ss es the ge netic diversity among s pe cie s a n d the di
versity of habitats and e cosyste m s withi n wh i ch they live an d thi s ge neti c a nd habi
tat dive rsity i s i m periled as well In B a n lade sh on ly 6 pe rc e nt of the ori gi nal v e g e
t a t io n re m ai ns N i nety ei ght pe rce nt of t e tro pi cal dry fo re s t al ong C e nt ral Ame ri
c a s P ac i fic co a st has di s appeared We have al so l os t cons ide rable ge neti c dive rs ity
that was fou n d am ong the loc al varietie s o r landrace s of ag ri cultu ral cro p s a s new
varietie s have bee n intro du ced In I ndone1s3ia fo r exam ple 1 500 loc al ric e varietie s
have be co m e exti nct in the la st 1 5 years We face ch alle nge s i n the U S as well
with more than 8 00 thre ate ned a nd e nda ngered spec ie s a nd m any habitats redu ced
to s m all fractions of their origin al exte nt
The divers ity of ge ne s s pe cie s a n d e cosy ste m s i s the fou n dati on of su stain able
de v e lo m e n t an d the con te xt of all hu m a n cultu re Su stain able devei o m e n t ha s
been e fin e d as devel op m e nt that meet s the n eeds a nd as pirations of t e p re s ent
without com pri sing the ability of futu re ge ne rations to m eet their o wn needs a nd
wa s a ccepted a s a g oal b more than 16 0 n ati ons i n clu di n the U S at the Uni te d
N ati ons Confere nce on n v iro n m e n t a n d D evelo p me nt i n i0 de Ja neiro i n 1 99 2
The Pre side nt ha s appo i nt ed a Co mm i ss ion on Su s tai n able D evel o pme nt to help thi s
n ati on chart a path to wa rd that obje ctive The bio di vers ity we have inhe rited fro m
pas t generations pro vide s o u r re newable n atu ral re sou rce s mai n tai ns the pro du ct iv
ity of those re sourc es pro vide s sign i fica nt di re ct economi c be ne fits suppo rt s nu m e r
ou s a n d la rgely u n qu a n t i fia ble non consu m ptive be ne fi t s an d fu rn i she s o pti ons fo r
futu re e n e rat io n s We di min i sh the s e bi ol ogi c al re sou rc e s at o u r o w n pe ril a n d at
t re m e n ou s m st to o u r chil dre n an d to futu re ge n e rati ons
T h e Ext i n ct i o n
c os
ra da t i o n of
,
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.
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.
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.
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9
RWid
RWidM
10
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12
D
e
E h lich
E h lich
Reid
1 99 2 ;
R I , 1 99 4
e
1 99 2 ;
,
C
C , 1992
R I , 199 2 ;
W
,
r
an
d
Wi l so n
.
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an
d
.
an
d M
Wilso n
ill
e r,
1 99 1 ;
,
,
WC M C
19 9 1 ;
1 98 9 ;
WC M C
WC MC
,
1 99 2
,
,
.
1 992
199 2
.
.
46
IM P RTANCE
C N ENTI N
I L ICAL D I ERS IT
What le will the B iodi ve ity Convention pl in p di to the se p blem
a nd p moting the su stai nable u se of bi l l e sou ce s e Conve ntion i s a
f a ew o k ag eme nt mea ni ng that it
gli h a n i e n ati on al legal st u ctu e
f
a coo di ated e s pon e the loss of bi olo i c al dive sity It e stablishe s ge ne al
o bli gati ons f the pa tie s the Conve nti on athe th n le lly bi n di ng ta get s f
s pe cific actions B ut eve n
a f amewo k ag eeme nt it ilg have a n imp o ta nt i
pact bio dive ity conse vation i n th ee aj o e spe ct s
Fi
P
i
h Co
cp
io
d
f co
f co
i
bl
hi
h i co
i
Th e se cons e vati on co m it
f bi d i
me nts the co of the B i o di ve sity Conve ntion lthou gh they have eceived the
leas t p bli i The ce nt al co mmitme nts the follo win
l p n ation al s t te
To
f conse vi ng bi og:ve ity
To i nve nto y a n d moni t
i di
i y
To e stabli s h a sy s te of p te cted a ea s
To e stabli s h
db k
gen e ba nk s to p o tect b o th wild a n d dome s
i
d s pe c ie s dive s ity
To in te g ate bio di ve s ity cons e vation a n d the su stai n able u se of bio l ogi c l
so u e s i nto n ati on al d i maki g a n d
adopt ince ntive s f the con
s e vati on of bi o dive ity
To devel o p a ss e ss me nt
d
(like the U S e nvi nme ntal impa ct
s tateme nt
take n in to accou nt
) to e ns u e t at i pac t s on bi o dive s ity
in p
ig
p o te bli edu cation elated to bio dive s ity a n d
To e x pa n d t e te ch i c al c apa city withi n the co u nt y to s upp o t cons e va
ti on
Imple e ntati on of the se activitie s could s i fi
edu ce th eats bi ol ogi c al
l
dive s ity ove a latively sho t time p i fi i l l i develo pi ng cou nt ie s
whe e coo di ated policie s to p te ct s pe cie s an d habitat s typic ally do not exi st
a nd whe law s to conse ve bi odive s ity still elative ] weak d o ped
u ne nfo ed Mo ove the se co mmit ents p vi de a sou n f amewo k not only f
cons e vi ng
biologi cal h i e but al so f e nsu i ng that the se e sou e s whe n
u sed u sed
i
b]
E
P a ty the con ve n t ion will c a y out the se
i
a s f a s possi 1 a n d as app p iat an d f ma ny cou nt ie s addi ti on al
so u ce s wi ll be needed to help the achieve the se go l s Neve thele ss the e ffect
of the se cons e vation p o vi si ons i s al eady be i n see n Si to ie s of the conve nti on
i ncludi ng C a nada Chile No way I done s ia h l Polan d a nd the Uni t d
ki ngdo m have al eady be n develo p the equi ed bi odive ity st ategies detail
i ng ho w they will meet lig i to ide ntify onito a n d c nse ve bio di ve sity
a n d ide nti fying thei p i o itie s f t ai i n edu cation a n d c a p acity building The
l auth o iz i ng le g i s lation
g p g am s e s tabli shed f the g eat ma
U S ha s
j o ity f t e se co mmit e nts a nd i s no w well i i d devel o p a co p ehensive
a n d inte ated st ate gy f i pleme nti g the
i
h
i
i c
h
i
i g bi log i l
Co
co
S co
i i c
f co
i
d
I n te n ation al a g eeme nt s
io to the B i di i Conve nti on held that
the wo ld s ge ne s a n d s pe cie s we e h co on he itage a nki nd Althou gh
the objective of the se ag eme nt s was to e nsu e wide sp ead availability of ge netic
so u ce s f a g i cultu e an d i n du st y the e wa s on e maj o fl aw cou n t ie s supply
i ng ge netic e sou ce s f u se i n a cultu e in du st e ceived no di e t e conomi c
be ne fit f m thei u se an d thu s ad le ss i nce ntive to conse ve the e sou e than
mi ht othe wi se be the c as e
e B io di ve sity Conve nti on co ects thi s p oblem by bli h i that cou nt ie s
have so ve ei gn cont ol ove these e sou ce s a n d ca n develo p a
f the s ale
a nd t ade of geneti c sou e s Thi s e nable s bene fit s
f
the
u
s e of g
i
n eti c e s u e s flo w back to co u n t i e s that a ct to onse ve i di
y an d p
vi de acce ss to thei sou e s The Conven tion thu s e nable s ma ket i nce ntive s
co mpleme n t othe p ivate n ation al an d multilat al mecha ni s m s that c a n s ppo
bi odi ve s ity conse vati on
The Conve n tion qui e s that P a ie s facilitate acce ss to the s e sou c e s
p
i l l i p o ta n t i ssue f
the pha a ceuti c al bi o te h ol ogy an d seed i n du st ie s
that u se the And the Conve nti on p ovide s a f amewo k withi n which be ne fit s
f
the u se of the se e sou ce s c an flo w back to the cou nt of o i gin i ncludi ng bo th
fin a nc ial e sou ce s
yaltie s ) d t ch nologi e s Give n the ce nt al ole of new
hi p ci pl e
a
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1 98 0 s
47
te ch ol ogi e s i n add ssi ng a ny e nvi n e ntal conce ns the i nclu sion of h l
t a n fe a ticles i s now co monpla ce i n inte national ag ee e nts i cludi ng f ex
am l the Mont al P o col on Sub sta nce s that Deplete the O zone Laye Age n da
1 a o pted by the U ni ted N ati ons Co fe e nce on E n vi on e nt an d D evel o p e n t )
a nd the United Nations F mewo k Conve ntion on C limate Cha nge Su ch i i
aid bi o dive sity onse vation i two ways Fi t te ch ol og ie s like db
ti ssue
cultu e a n d i nve nt
an d data man ageme nt syst ms help meet conse vation bj
di ctly Se on d te ch nolo ie s bl cou nt ie s to ake g eate u s e of
i
bi odive s ity in ag i cultu e a nd n du st y e stab i sh eve n ate e cono ic inc ntives
f conse vati on
I i s no t s p i si ng that the Con ve nti on a ti cle s add ssi n the se subjec t s of
ce ss to ge netic e so u ce s an d tech nol ogy (A i c le s 1 5 a n d 1 have bee n the focu s
of cont ve sy The se a ticle s s tate that co p n ie s mu s t no w
f
acce ss to
sou ce s that they p vi ou s ly co uld obtai n f f e While so e
s aw thi s as
itincce eased cosftactmawa
ny othe s had al eady e cogni z ed that it wa s goo d bu si ne ss p c
s likely
du ce sea ch costs ove the long Thu s thi s
d i
type of be nefit sha i n
al eady bei ng pu sued by bo th the bli an d p ivate
s e cto eve n be fo e the
i
wa s negotiated Exa ple s i l e
A 1 1 ag e e n t betwee n Me k Pha maceuti c al s a n d the Cos ta R i ca n
N ation al B io dive ity I stitut (lN B i ) u n de wh ich Me k e ceive s che ic al e x
t acts f IN B i i n etu n f a n p payme nt yaltie s an d te ch nolog
t ansfe the cou nt y The be nefits etu n ng to the cou nt y all suppo t
s e vati on i ni tiative s M e ck Cos ta R i c a an d b di
i
cons e vation all be n e
fi t f m th i s bu si ne ss allia nce p emi sed on ne go tiat d te s f e xchange of fi
i l t ch no l ogi c al an d ge n eti c e so u c s
A mate ial t a nsfe a g ee e nt d l ed b the U S N ati on al C a nce I
i
ts o nations of o i gin be e cog n iz ed
(N C I ) N C I has i ns i s ted that the i
i n any p du ct s de i ved f o m the cou nt y Thi s a eme nt ack no wledge s the
n eed f a s ha i ng of be n e fi t s i f l ong e m go al s
su stain able devel op e nt
a nd d di
be met
U ba”sed S a a n Pha aceuti c al s d u g di scove y i s p emi sed on be ne
fi t sha i ng not only with the n ation of o i i n but al so with the i n di ge nou s
g up s wh os e knowled ge help s the co pany l ocat p mi s i g n ew d u gs
R ei nfo c in the ma ket n atu e of the se p o vi s i ons f be ne fit sh i ng the C
ti on on B iog i l Dive sity st e sse s that t nsfe s will be made on mutually
a g ed te ms The Nove be 1 1 lette of submi ttal of the Conve nti on on B io
l og i c al Dive sity f o the State D epa tme nt the P e sident no te s the olu nta y
n atu of the se ag eme nt s betwee n cou n t i e s p o vidi ng ge netic sou ce s an d fi m s
s eeki ng sou e s U n de the Conve nti on cou nt ie s may no w e stabli sh e gulations
go ve n ing acce ss to the i
so u e s Thos e gulati ons co uld f ex a 1 s pec i fy
t m s f tu n of fina ncial ech ol og i c al be ne fits
i
e nvi n
me ntally sou nd colle cting stipulations that be nefits shoul flo w to l oc al
i i
a nd in di
g up s an d so fo th Althou gh a co pan y could no t obta i n
mate i al f m t at cou nt y with out ag eei ng to those te s ( negotiati ng app
p iat te m s) it i s e nti ely up the co p ny to decide whethe not to a ccept
those te ms A U S co pa ny thu s cannot be fo ed by the U S G ove n ent to p
vide te chnol ogy to anothe cou nt y
e nt in to an a g ee ent with a u nt y
that it did not feel i its o w n sel f i te e st Mo ove the Convention doe s not
p vide a n i ndepe n de nt bas i s f cou nt i es to seek co mpul so y li ce nse s on pate nt d
t chnol ogy of U S fi
C ce th t th e c ve ti o p vi d d a ba i
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48
O ne of
the st ng th s of the Convention i s that it also cogni ze s the i p o tant
o le that l oc al co m u ni tie s w o e n an d i n di ge nou s pe o ple pla i n conse vi bi o
di ve s ity a n d e nsu i ng it s s u s t i n able u s e Ju s t a s the
lsogt iecnalthe
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so to s eek s to e nco age the
be nefi ts a i si ng f m t aditi on al
i b l s ha i n g
k nowledg of i ndi genou s a nd loc o mmu nitie s with the se co mmu n itie s d to p
te t an d e ncou age cu sto m u se s of bi ol og ic al ou e s
re
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T h i rd, t h e Con v e n tio n w l e s ta blis h a m u lt ila te ral m e c h a n is m to fo c us I n te r
n a t io n a l a c ti v i t ies h elp g u i de li m i te d reso u rc e s to t h e h ig h e s t
rio ri ti es : a n d
ro v ide
p
co n
fin a n cia l s up rt fo r con se rv a ti o n n e eds i n de v elopi n g co u n tn es A o g
s r on o f i di v e rs ity s n
n on i n r s of
co n r s ,
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s f fic n re so rc s o s or ong r- e r o c s
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i i the ati al te e t all u t ie the e tw
imp a t a
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m ethi al ide ati t it le i l bal a b wate
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it u e i i du t e te d bey d the b u da ie
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t ie d t have u ie t u e t upp t l e t m bje tive like t e
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tatu a d t d i bi dive ity with
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u e available he i d ve ity ve ti
p v de thi me ha m
IM PLEM ENTIN
I I ER SIT C N ENTI N
What should the Un ited Stat s do e nsu the s cce ssful i plementati on of the
Conve n ti on on B i l c al D ive s ity I t i s u se f l to conside b oth the acti ons that the
U S sho uld tak e wit
e
ga d s to atific ati on it s elf an d the s tep s the U S could take
a s a p a ty the Conve nti on
The e i s eve y ea son f the U i ted State s to ati fy the Conve nti on
R ifi
ui ckly i n o de to p a tici p ate in the i ni tial i of the Confe e nce of Pa tie s
q with ma n o the i nt n at ion al ag eeme nts i uding the C l ima e Conve ntion
a nd the B a se Conve ntion on the Cont l of T b d y Moveme nt of H az a dou s
Wa ste s the ule s of p cedu e f the Confe e nce of P a ties will be ado pted b con
s e nsu s of the Pa ie s M o ove the in itial meeti gs of the Confe nce of Ph i
will be s ig n ific nt i n setti g the cou se of impleme ntation of the Conve nti on I n both
c a se s it i n the i n te e s t of the U ni t d State s to be i nvo lved in the s e di scu ssi ons
a n d deci si ons
The U S A dmi i s t ati on ha s p o p sed that a set of n de sta ndi ngs be included
i n its inst ume nt of atificati on The se u n de s t n di g s will be impo tant si gn l s t
o the cou nt ie s a n d to U S in du st y Su ch stateme n t s have bee n fi led by cou nt ie s
with ati fic tion i nst u e nts on p viou s occ a sions a nd a numbe of co u nt ies (i
the U S ) have al ady made fo al de cla ati ons of in te p etati on at the
l di
ti e o ado ption of the ag eed t x on May 1 an d on s i gn atu of the C
tion
The e i s a wide a nge of view s
ong e nvi n e ntal a n d i n du st y g oup s on the
des i ability of including these u n de s tan di ngs with fo mal i nst u e nt of i fi
c ation O n the one ha n d so me i n du st y
ups feel st ngly that the se u n de s ta d
i ngs e ssential to a ssu e them that t i inte e sts p o tected O n the othe
so me non
l o g an iz ati ons w o ki ng on e n vi nme nt a n d devel o pme n t i s
sue s feel fit it i s u n wi se to file s ch u n de s ta d i gs at all The se o ga ni z ati ons
conce n ed ab out the n eg ative si gn l s that they may s e n d o the n ations an d
feel that they mi ght hi n de the Conve ntion s impleme ntation Filin su ch u n de
s tan di ngs mi ght be see n as an attem pt to e ne g otiat language i t e Con ve n tion
that e sult d f m delic ate comp mi se s mong ma ny cou nt i es negotiato s could
c ate ill will a ong o the Pa tie s a n d co uld c all in to que sti on the U S co m i t
me nt to the obje ctive s of the Conve ntion
Alth ou gh the U S ma feel it n ec e ss a y to i nclude u n de sta n di ngs the e i s no
that the U S s ould kee a ny su ch state ent s to the ve y mi ni u In
i
t is con tex the u nde sta n di ngs fA ti cle s a n d that p posed by the A d
mi i st ation mi ght wa a nt e ons ide ati on
Fi t A ti cle f the Conve ntion eaffi m s P inciple 1 of the Stockh olm D ecla a
tion that stat s have the sove eig n ight to pl thei o w n e sou e s pu su nt
M t a al
ph ol d th e vi ew th t
C ve tio do
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49
to thei own e nvi n me ntal poli cie s a nd the
to ens e that a ctivitie s
i bi li
withi n thei ju is diction cont l do not c au se a age to the e nvi on e nt of othe
Stat s of a a beyond the limits of national ju i s di cti on The p pos ed Un de
d that A ti c le
s tan di ng stat s that the U S fi d
fe e nce s a p i nciple to
be take n in to accou nt i the implementati on of the Convention Si nce the p i ciple
i s al eady pa t of cu stoma y int national law the U S u n de sta n di ng me ly
s tate s it s p e xi sting statu s as a guiding p i nciple a n d s ee s eve n i ply a
o wing of that cu st a y law The u n de s ta n di ng thu s do e s not s ee
be ne c
e ssa y
S cond the A d i i st ation p o pose s i nclude a n u n de s ta nding of A ti cle
cogn iz i ng sove ei gn i mu ni ty of milita y shi p s a n d ai a f f m the C
ti on s obligations but noting that the U S will seek o pe ate su ch ve ssel s i
c a ft i n a m nne consi ste nt with the Conve ntion Si nce the concept of so ve ig n
i u nity i s u n de s too d to be pa t of the law of the sea d al eady ecogni zed
u nde A ticle
thi s d
di
agai n see s du n da nt
di
O the po ti ons of the p pos ed
deal with conce ns ex p e ssed by
so me U S fi ms ab out the p te cti on the Con ve n tion p vide s to intelle c t al p o p
De cembe 1
I pa ti cipated
a wo ki g oup with i n dividu l s
i ht s I
f m e k Pha maceuti c l s G n e n t c h Shama n Pha mac euti c l s Wo ld Wildli fe
Fu nd d the Envi n me nt a nd Ene gy Study I nstitu e to ex pl o di s ag ee e nts
ove the i n te
tation of the Conve nti on an d to seek to identi fy a means of ove
co mi ng th os e
That g u felt that a s tateme nt of h o w the U S pla nned
i nt p t s pec i fic a i cle s i n the Conve nti on could p ovi de one me cha ni sm d
d ss continued conce ns ex
d by U S in du s t
wo kin g up al so d ho weve that the bu lk of the conce ns that had
O
bee n exp sse by i n du st y we e i fact adequately add ssed in the text of the Con
i
I t bec ame appa e nt that the al n eed wa s f i nc ea sed u n de s ta n di ng by
i ndu st y of the actual mea ni ng of the Conve nti on a nd that thi s edu cati on al p oce ss
wa s at lea st a s impo a nt as the fili ng of a fo mal u nde sta ndi ng with the i
me nt of atific tion The i nte p etive l
e that
up devel oped was sha ed
with e nvi e ntal an d in du st g up s a n with the Edi i i
i the h o pe s
that it would be help f l i thei evaluation of the Convention Mu ch of that lan
ua e si ply e stated se ctions of the conve nti on that e sponded to conce ns voi ced
gy tg e p evi ou s admi n i s t ation whe n it de cided not to si gn the Conve nti on in
The u n de s tan di gs p o pos ed by the A dmi ni st ati on with e ga ds to the e con
ce ns o ve i nt lle ctual p o pe y i ght s i n the t ansmi ttal me ss age to the U S S n ate
la gely consi s nt with the conclu sions of w o ki ng up A pa of f
fo t to inc a se in du s t y u n de sta ndi ng of the Conve ntion
up no ed that
u nde A icle the U S could withd aw f the ag eeme nt i n tge u nli kely eve nt
that a w o st c as e elabo ation of the conve nti on ensued Si nce thi s i s al eady clea
i
a n d ha ful to futu
l s tated i n the Con ve n tion ho weve it w ould be
n e go tiati ons if the U S we to beg i n to u n ila e ally s pe ci fy con ditions u n de whi ch
it would withd aw f om the Conve ntion
O
w o king g oup di d not feel that we had the ex pe tis e to fully deal with the
i ssue s ai sed a di n the fin ancial e s u ce s a nd fin ancial me cha ni s di scu ssed
i n A ti cle angi 1
I s hould no te that the A d i ni st ati on s i n te p ta
ti on of A icle 1 h the e ffe ct of edu ci ng the a ccou ntability of the fin anci ng e ch
i
the Conve nti on s admi i st ative st u ctu e The Conve nti on clea ly stat s
that the fin ancing echani sm i s to be accou ntable the Confe nce of Pa ie s
The A dmi ni st ation sh ould thu s u se it s be st e ffo t s to e nsu e that the
p
du e s an d me ch ni s s that ake the fi anci ng mechani s s a ccou n table f eet
i ng the Conve ntion s obje ctive s
IM PLE M ENT N
C N E NTI N
The eal me ni ng of the Conve ntion will no t be dete mi ned by the va i ou s n de
s tan di gs filed by go ve n me nt s but i nstead will take s hape as the Pa tie s put thei
i nte p etations i nto p acti ce Thi s e sts that active i ple e ntation of the U S
i nte p etation i s f o e impo a nt t an a state e nt fi led upon atificati on
B e cau s e the Conve nti on ca n be viewed a s a f a ew o k ag ee e n t the e has
been di scu ssion ab ut the d b li of e stablishi ng p toco l s u n de the a g e e nt
B ec au se p o t col s u st be ati fied y each e be stat the p spe ct exi sts that
diffe e nt p toco l s
apply to only pa tial e be ship of the Convention Wh ile
thi s would ake se nse f p tocol s deali ng with s pe c ific geog aphic e gi ons it will
ge ne ally be mo e e f cie n t f the Confe e nce f Pa t i e s to eek
develo p d
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R e o lutions that w o ld apply
pa ie s
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50
Fi m s that obtai n ge netic
sou ce s f m o the cou nt ie s no w
be equi d u nde the Conve ntion to
pe nsate those cou nt ie s f that sou ce acce ss Pa ie s to the Conve ntion al so a s
a n obli gati on to facilitate the t a nsfe of te ch no logie s to meet the Conve nti on s
og i
l p d cou nt ie s n eed to qui ckly dem ons t at h o w they will meet thi s obli
tion It i s clea f m the initi l oppos iti on of so me s egme nts of U S i n du st y t e
Con ve n ti on that eve n he e the
confu s ion o ve ho w thi s be n e fi t sha i ng c an take
pla ce u n de ket mechani s s a nd ho w it be stimulated by publi c se cto
ti ons It should thu s not be su p i si g that the e i s skeptici s m amon develo pi ng
co u n t i e s as we ll In fa ct the e
a numbe of a tions that uld he p eet thi s
obli g ati on F ex a ple the U S co uld
Suppo t the e stabli shme nt of i nte media ie s ( clea i nghou se s ) that
co uld p vide fin anc ing
i nfo mation elated to t h l g y t a nsfe meeting
the l i of the bio dive sity conve nti on
fi
e] fina nce collabo ative sea h an d develo pme nt ba sed on ge netic
sou e s
n etw o k of Inte n ation al Ag i cultu al R e sea h C e nt s i s
e x i st
i ng ex a ple of such co llabo ative e sea ch an d tech nology t ansfe elated to
ge netic e so u c e s
P o vide tax i nce ntive s to e ncou age te hno lo g y coo pe ation with cou nt i e s
di
ge neti c sou e s T i nce ntive s could du ce co pa nie s to i nc a se
p
the i
of so u ce cou nt ie s i the scie nti fic s ea ch ba sed on ge n eti c
e sou e s st e ng hen sou e cou nt y e sea ch p i
p vide te ch nologie s
f
the conse vation a n d su stai nable u se of bi ol ogi c al dive sity
P o vide g a nt s to st e n e n devel o ping co u nt y i ns titutions so that they
e stablish lliance s with %S co po ations develo p gen eti c e sou e s i nto
n ew p du ct s The AlD/N SF/N IH In te n ation al Coo pe ative B io dive s ity G ant
p og a i s an ex a ple of su ch a og am
Pu chas e pat nt s ( obtai n fi
l pi
cou n
) that could help build d
cons e ing a n d utiliz i ng ge netic e so u c e s The U S
1 l so
y c a p ac ity f
p vide g ants to develo ping cou nt i e s e nabli ng them to pu ha se te ch nologie s
elevant to the cons e vation a nd su stai nable u se of bi olog ical di ve sity di e ctly
the cons e vation an d u se of
P
i d t ai i ng i n the u se of tec hno l ogie s f
bio di ve sity take othe s to build c apacity i n devel oping cou nt ie s f
i i
the
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te
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no
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s
T h e xi s ti ng in te n ati on al t a i ng p og am of the
g
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%S i o e st Se i ce a n d the U S Fi sh a n d Wildl ife Se i ce i s one mo del that
co uld be eplic ated e x pan ded
No t only w ould su ch ctions help l the l oss of bio di ve s ity but they w ould al so
he] meet U S obje ctives with ga ds to wo ldwide co i i of i p o pe ty
io dive s ity con
S to the b
i g t s O n e of the i n ie s of the i nitial o ppos iti on of the
was that the Conve nti on wa s s aid to th eat n i nte llectual p ights
i
I n fact by givi g devel opi ng cou nt ie s the o ppo tu n ity to be ne fi t
the pl i
of thei bio logic al e so u e s an d f
t ch ol ogi cal in ovations lated to
i
th ose sou ce s the Conve nti on on B iologi c l D ive s ity can e h nc the i nce ntive
co u n t i e s to e stabli s h st n
in telle ctual p pe ty i ghts R athe tha n elyi ng
f
on the sti ck of Supe
e etaliation to fo e acceptance of st onge IPR p
1
in d l i g cou nt i e s the Convention ho lds out a ca t cou n i e s that
i
ado t st nge IPR will be able to e ceive g ate be ne fits f the us e of thei
bio ve s ity i n the bi otechnol og a nd pha maceuti cal in du st i e s
i
i gho
M ch
A it s fi s t meeti ng the Confe nc e of P a tie s of
2 Cl
the B i odive s ity Conve ntion will e stablish p ocedu e s a n d set p i o itie s The U S
should empha s iz e the i mpo t nce of the c le i nghou s e me ch n i s f c ie n tific an d
t ch ic al coo pe ation c alled f u n de A ticle
a s a p i o i ty action f the ff
tive impleme ntation of the Conve nti on Not only doe s su ch a mech ni s featu e
ce nt a lly in a ny e ffo t to e stabli sh e ffec tive ma ket ba sed cons e vation e cha ni s m s
it al so he] e nsu e equality of ba g ai ni ng po we of i nstituti ons ( l ocal d
cou nt ie s an d co pan ie s i develo ped c u nt ie s B y p o vi i ng
l pi
i i ) i
i nstitutions an d co mu ni tie s with t ain ing edu c ati on a n d le gal an d t ch i c l as
the clea ingh ou se ca n help e nhance the value of thei bi ologic al sou e s
a nd thuos e ncou aAgeticclense vatiofonthe Conve nti on c ll s on pa tie s to conside
B
g i
f
i ng a p tocol that set s inte national standa ds f bi f that i s s etti ng outi
app o p iate p cedu e s in the field of the sa fe t a nsfe ha n i g a nd u se of g
pl e C
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52
veats that g al on g with our supp o rt f d ratificati on f the trea
t y Alread because we are Shaman P harmaceuticals we are i n the
midst f t is day i n an d day out we are deali ng wi th parties d
c ou tries that are very supp o rtive f the treaty
I t has t o d o m o re with the percepti on f the U n ited States b
f them o i g i n ally n ot si
i g the treaty
cause f the hist
l
th o ug h f c o urse t at is ass o ciated wi th the c a ng e f admi n istra
ti on B t the fact that whe n the si g ed there was a n in terpretive
stateme n t it has s o mewhat cl ou ed their supp ort an d c o mmitme n t
t o the treaty
The C HAI R MAN Thank y o u I f the U n ited States by s o me mis
cha n ce I call it a mischa n ce did no t ratify the c onve n ti on i n time
f
the first meeti n g d o y o u believe that the i n terests f Un ited
States c o mpan ies w o uld be adequately pr o tect d at that meeti n g by
o ther n ati on s ?
An d I g uess this is a questi on primarily directed at D r Albers
Sch onberg d Ms C on te
D r A LB ER s S C H ON BER G Several Euro pean c o u tries are very
much i n fav or f the treaty an d c o uld p o ssibly represe n t us very
well Their i n dustries have similar c on cern s as we have an d they
can b i n g that up
S o I w o uld feel that we w o uld have allies yes B t ag ai n I w ould
prefer it if we ourselves w o uld sit at the table
The C HAI R MA N Ms C on te
Ms C ON T E O certai n issues where there is an ali g n me n t
am on g Western c o u n tries I thi n k that is the case but I als o thi nk
i n the l on g term that c o uld have a very n e ative effect on U S
based busi n esses If the Un ited States is no t t ere to pro vide lead
h i p o r at least pr o vide s o me i n flue n ce there c o uld be pr o visi on s
that may f example limit access to c o n tries that are no t mem
bers f the treaty an d are n o t str on g supp orters f the treaty
S o i n the l on term I thi nk it can be
n e g ative a n d I d o no t
thi n k U S i th dawa] o r sta n di ng back i se n d a sig n al that ca n
have anywhere n ear the i nfl uen ce as participati ng i n th o se c on
f
The C HAI R MAN D r Reid
D r RE I D Co uld I rei n fo rce that p oi n t E ve n whe n the Un ited
States i n itially decided n o t t o si g n s o me c o un t i es V e n e uela i n
l d U S i n dustry fr o m ex
p rticular immediately t ook steps t
f
i
bi
o
diversity
i
n
th
o
se
c
o
u
n
tries
A
n
d
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thi
n
k
that
the
l
i
f
p
g
U S were n o t at the table at the first c on fere n ce f parties a n um
ber f c o n tries w o uld start taki n g acti on s that mi g ht i n fact i m
pede i n dustry
An d let me als o stress that there really is no reas on n o t t o be
there B ecause the pro cedural mechan isms are established by c on
se n sus the U S by bei ng at the table is in a prime p o siti on t o be
able to en sure that its i n terests are met There is no reas on to wait
f
o ther c o u n tries to d o that f us
The C HA IR MAN I w o uld ag ree that there is no reas on but the
stron g est v o ice i n G o vern me n t is i n ertia an d I thi n k delays can
c o me that w ould have n o rati on al reas on f them but that is what
we have to be careful f
I than k all f o u f bei n here Are there any further th o ug hts
that y ou have [ N resp on se %
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53
w o uld ask an im o us c on se n t that the stateme n ts f Se n ato rs
H elms an d B r o wn be i n cluded i n the rec o rd
[ The i n fo rmati on referred t fo ll o ws ]
PRE PA RED S ATEM ENT
S NAT R JESSE H ELM S
M Chai ma n I have a numbe of conce ns abo ut thi s pa ti cula
F
o pe ne ma ny n ations ep e se n ted i n the ne go tiation of th i s t eaty had n a
l age n da s havi ng li ttle to d o with the ons e ati on of bi o l ogi al dive s ity F
ti
the I believe that many of the clau se s a nd state e nts in thi s t eaty e fle ct a ath
co mm on view
c alled devel op ing n ations that thi s t aty i so e so t
of an in te n ation al ca slg co w to t a nsfe wealth d te chno l ogy f o devel o ped n a
ti ons while p moting the e cono mi c g o th of develo ping nations without i nte fe i ng
i a ny way with thei so ve i gn ty
I pa ti cula I fin d the conve nti on s t eatme n t f i n te llec tual p o pe ty i ht s fi
n nce s vo ti ng
d
tech nology t nsfe a nd bio t h nology da nge ou s y d
e di stu bi ng
dl d
But I ave a n eve n m o fu n d me n tal conce n The t eaty be fo e u s will co mmit
the Uni t d Stat s t ce tain obli gati ons— but the Se n ate wh i ch i s bei ng u ed to
atify thi s t eaty no w ha s no way of k no wing the natu e an d exte nt of those li g a
ti ons The t eaty spe ll s out no detail s
d oe s it e fe di e ctly to a ny e xi st ing
me ch ni s st u ctu
exa ple A ticle s 2 0 a nd 2 1 of thi s t eat co mmits the devel o ped cou nt y
F
P a tie s to
id
n ew an d additi on al fi
i
sou e s to devel o ping cou nt y
P a tie s
the develo ped cou nt i e s d wh o the develo pi g cou nt ie s
That will not be k no w n u ntil a ft e the t aty e n te s in t fo e At it s fi s t eeti ng
the c alled Confe e nce of P a tie s will establi sh a li st
What about the se new d addi tional fina ncial e sou ce s ? Ho w mu ch oney will
the Se n ate be committi ng the United State s to pa by ati fyi g thi s t aty That
s eem s like a s t ai h f
d que sti on a n d one Wfig i s i ncu be n t upon u s t a sk
be fo e ati fyi ng
we don t k now O nce ag ai n we lea n that the e shall be a
mechani s m f the p vi si on of fina ncial sou e s to developi ng cou nt i e s a nd the
o pe ati on of that me ha ni s m shall be c a i ed out by su ch i ns tituti on al s t u ctu e a s
b de ided upon by the Confe e nce of Pa tie s at it s fi s t meeti ng
a
fie se ju s t a few ex a ple s amon g an y fu n da e ntal issue s that left
dec ided in the t xt of the ag eeme nt itself
I s ho
M Chai man we
be i ng as ked to bu a pig i a poke The Ad i i
t
i
has to ld u s that it will p o ote an d defen d S nte e sts at thi s Confe e nce
of Pa tie s The have t ld u s that they will no t ag ee
any obli gati on financial
o the wi s e t?
"
at i s not acceptable to the United State s M Chai man I u st
p oi nt out that the F ame s of the Cons titution gave the Se n ate the ight to advi s e
a n d conse nt on t eatie s Thi s t eaty a s a no se vations clau se Thi s p ovi si on f
fec tively take s away the Se n at e s constitution al i ght to advi se i n a ny conc et way
N o w the E xecutive B a nch i s att mpti ng to take away the S n ate s constituti on l
i ght t conse nt
Thi s
c alled t eaty i s mo e of a p ea ble to a t eaty The e sse ntial nut s a n d
bolts of the t eat wi ll be dete mi ned at the Confe e nce of Pa ie s I f the Se n ate
p cipitou sly ati ie s thi s p ea ble posin as a t eaty it Will have gi ve n away one
of it s maj o constituti on al auth o i tie s an will have bet ayed the t u st of the ele c
t
t
The e i s a s imple so lution A ticle 2 3 pa a g aph 5 of the t eaty p vide s that a ny
s tat no t Pa ty to thi s Con ve n ti on may be ep e s e n t d
ob se ve s at eeti ngs of
the Confe e nce of P a tie s I p o pose that we not ati thi s t eaty but encou a e
the State Depa tme nt to pa ticipat i n the Confe nce P tie s O voice an d tge
withh olding of fin nci l pa ticipation will give g eate st e ngth to the U S
i t i g pos iti on at the Confe e nce of P a tie s tha n the s i ngle v o te we w ould g ain
y atifyi ng the t eaty now Wh e n the voti g ules fin ncial p cedu e s de finitions
of devel o ped a n d devel o pi ng s tate s t e ch o l ogy t ansfe a a nge e nt s bio tec h o logy
i ssue s and all the othe c u cial detail s wo ked out the n co e back to the Se n
ate f ati fic tion
M Ch i ma n the Se n at should not ati fy a p a ble
I
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PRE PA RE D STATEM ENT O F S ENATOR HA N K BROWN
Mr Chai rma n the re ha s neve r bee n an y d oubt that the a im s of the B i o di ve rs ity
Con ve n ti on— e s pec ially the p ro te ction of i n tellec tual pro pe rt ri ght s— a re i m po rta nt
Pre s ervi ng the va st dive rs ity of the E a rt h s e cosy s tem an d e v i si n g a fai r a n d equi
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54
table syste m fo r pro v i din a cce ss to in valuable natu ral re so u rces fo r the be n e fit o f
all man kind i s commenda 1e
M r C hairm an I would like t o say that on behalf of the Congressional Biodive rsity
Caucus we feel that a key element to a fa ir and b al a nced Biodi ve rs ity Convention
is the reco gn i tion of the value of the products of natu re as well as the contribution
made by pe rsons and in stitutions who modify those pro ducts into u seful articles of
co mme rc e T h e value o f biological mate ri als increa se when intell ec tu al pr0 pe rt
rights a re create d prote cte d and e n fo rced by all nations Without ad e qu ate and e
fe ct iv e in tellectual p ro pe rt y p rotection the re will be less in centive fo r bus i n ess in
vestment in the developing nations whose te rrito ry encompas se s much of the wo rld s
biologi cal mate rial
We feel that this need fo r stro n g an d e ffective ro te ct i o n of int ellectu al ro pe rt y
along with the need t o p rese rve the p rin cipal o f v o u n t a ry tra nsfe r of techno ogy has
been adequate ly addressed in the transmitt al documents acco m pa n n g the C o n v e n
tion N onetheless there are a numbe r o f ambig uities es i ally wit re gard t o what
ma
appea
r t o be open -ende d financial comm i tments
t
is
especially
impo
rtan t t o
y
a rti culate clearly the relationship between the Co n fe rence of the Pa rties and the
gove rnin g bo dy of the finan cial mecha n i sm Develop in g countries must not be place d
in a position to impose fi n an cial obligations upon the develope d majo r dono r na
tions inclu din g the Un i te d States Art icles 2 0 and 2 1 de al in g with the financial
mech a nism clea rly nee d modification
M r Chair man the inte rpretation of the Convention submitted by the U S State
Department ap a rs t o limit o u r financial liability unde r the Convention We be
lieve that the o n v e n t i o n subject t o the State Department s inte rp retation o f U S
the state d
financial li ability a ri si n u n de r it will be an e ffe ctive tool fo r m e e t in
objectives o f co nservin g i o lo g i c al di ve rsity and providi ng fo r its su st a in a le use
T h e C HA IR MAN I w o ul d n o te further that the re co rd will remai n
o pe n fo r que s ti o n s fo r the remai n der o f the day I t h an k all o f y o u
fo r bei n g h ere an d thi s heari n
i s adj o urn ed
a m
ue heari n g wa s adj o ur n ed to re co n
[\V h e r e u po n at
ve n e s ubje c t to th e c all o f the C hair )
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AP P EN D IX
P
Y E WI R I H
S EN AT OR P ELL
FUN DIN G ISSU ES— T H E GLO BA L EN VIR ON M EN T FA C I LIT Y
'
Qu e s ti on Wh does the United State s want the G EF t o be the Convention s fin a n
c i a l mecha n ismy
An swe r T h e U S is convi n ced that the G EF will be effective in its p ro grams e ffi
cient i n cost and poli ticall acceptable to dono rs and recipients ali ke
l e resou rc es and capacity of the existing development i n
T h e U S beli eves that ty
st i t u t i o n s mu st be leve raged t o add re ss global envi ronmental p ro blems
N egotiations recently w n c lu de d o n the rest ructu rin g of the G EF A s a result o f
these nego tiations the G EF has the political back in g o f the dono rs and recipients
alike We anticipate that thi s sense of o w n e rsh i of the Facility will translate into
concrete attachment to the goals of the G EF inc u ding a comm itment t o the p rote o
tion o f bi o lo cal di ve rsity
e s ti o n
e g o t i a t io n s t o re structu re the G EF we re complete d seve r al w e eks ag o
in neva What was the outcome of these negotiations?
An swe r T h e outcome o f the negotiations was an agreement on the a rt of the
rep re sentatives of the 73 pa rticipat i ng states the Wo rld B an k and the
n i te d N a
tions E nv i ronment and Development Pro g rammes t o re form the i nstitutional a r
the mutu al sati s faction with the result donors
r angements o f the G EF
N o t in
a g re
l t o reple n ish the F ac ilit 8 resou rces at ju st ove r $ 2 b illi on ove r a fou r yea r
R
E S O N SE S o r
T I MOT H
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QU EST
ION S
AS KE D
BY
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Que s ti on Please desc ribe the new governan ce struct u re fo r the G EF and the Unit
e d State s ro le in that structu re
A nswe r T h e new ove rnance structu re ro v i de s that the Fac ility s policies a n d
ro jects a re ult i mate g
y dete rmin ed by the R’ art i ci pa n t s — the membe r states o f the
p
aci li t y T he re will be an A ssembly o f all Pa rt icipants that meets eve ry th ree yea rs
Howeve r the actu al wo rk of the G EF will be conducted by a Council that meets
eve ry six months o r as o fte n as necessary to conduct its bus i ness
T h e Cou ncil is compo se d of 3 2 Pa rticipants— 14 non re cipient dono rs (the OE CD )
2 fro m count ries with economies in t ra nsition an d 1 6 recipient count ries (developing
countries) Par ticipants who sit at the table will represent othe r li ke mi n ded coun
tries i n a constituency system s imi la r to that used in the development bank s
T h e U S wi ll have its own sea t at the table ba sed on its sig n ificant financial co n
t ribu t io n V oting in the Council will be base d o n a double maj o rity
whe re p assage
o f a me asu re re qu ire s the consent of 6 0 pe rcent o f the Participants an d 6 0 pe rcent
o f all cont ributions As a large dono r the U S will have co m mensu rate in fl uence
ove r Council decisions
Que s ti on How a re total fundi ng levels fo r the G EF decided? How is a country s
percentage share of that total dete rmin ed?
An swe r T h e bu rden shar in g a rr angement fo r the first G EF re ple n i shment is
base d on the cu rrent agreement fo r contributions to the I nte rnational Development
A ssociation (ID A ) I DA is the w i ndow of the Wo rld Bank which funds p ro jects in
the poorest countries o f the world A s in the development banks to tal fundi ng levels
a re dete rm i ned base d on stated need coupled with an app raisal o f the institution s
capacity
the
ro ce ss pro ects
recipients abso rptive ca a c it y to receive p rojects
j
the dono rs liev e l o f sati s faction with the policy fra m e w o rg and the capacity of the
dono rs t o pay
A country s share in the total re le n i sh m e n t is dete rm in ed th ro ugh a se ries o f n e
g o t i at i o n s on bu r den sha rin g Alt ough count ries make a firm pledge t o as su me a
share of the total replenishment pa rticipation is volu ntary and the re a re no as
ses se d contributions
Que s ti on Please descr ibe the co m tition i f any between UN E P an d the Wo rld
B ank fo r contro l of the fin ancial mec a n i sm
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(55)
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56
swer T here i s no co m tition between UN E P and the World B an k ove r the
control of the restructu re d EF which we anticipate wi ll be design ate d as the o r
atin g e n tity of the convention s financi al me ch a nism T h e restructu re d G EF w i be
managed by an inde n de n t Secreta riat to which the Worl d Ban k and UN EP are
equally accountable o re o v e r u n like the Wo rl d Ba n k UN E P has n o inte n tion of
engagin g in fie ld b a se d projects ou tside of small sc ale re se arch an d capacity build
An
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L
P B E T WEEN C ON V EN T I ON AN D FUN D IN G MEC H AN ISM
Que s ti on Please de scr ibe the re spective re sponsibilities of the Convention s C o n
ference o f the Parties and the gove rn in g bo dy of the G EF unde r the Convention
An swer U n de r the Co n ven tion the Co n fe re nce of the Pa rties will dete rm i n e the
policy strate gy pro am p rio rities an d eligibility crite ria re latin g t o the access t o
and utilization of m an ci al re so u rces unde r the fina ncial mechan i sm T h e Con
ference o f Part ies (C OP ) to the Convention does not se t the levels of financial co m
m i t m e n t s of Parties T h e C OP c an only give guidance t o the financial mecha n ism
on the amou nt of re sou rces needed
It is impo rt ant that the Unite d States a rt i c i pa t e in the fi rst C OP t o play a ro le
in I) re pari n g thi s guida nce I n this regar it should al so be noted that a lt h o u h the
C OI’ cann ot in any way bin d the dono r nations to financial comm itments U par
t i c i pa t io n i n development o f rules o f p ro cedu re at the fi rst C OP will ensu re that the
fully p rotect dono r inte rests
rules with rega r d to fu nd i n
T h e G E F will m ake a ll e ci si o n s with respect t o ope rational modal ities t o tr ans
late po lic guidance from the C OP i n to projects T h e re fo rm s i n the G EF gu a rantee
that the n i t e d States as a l arge dono r will have a commensu rate in fluence over
fundin decisions
All g 8 fin anci al commitments unde r the Conventio n are met thr ough o u r co n
tribution t o the financial me ch an ism As stated abo v e l o u r dete rm i n ation o f the
U S volu nta ry cont ribution t o the G EF will be gu ided by input from the C OP t o
the Convention an d the G EF as well as o u r own evalu atio n o f the su ccess of the
G EF and o u r capa city to contribute
T h e total a mount o f resou rces available t o the G EF w i ll be dete rmined by the
donor cou ntries taking in to account C OP gu idance on amount of re sou rces neede d
and the pro gramm i n g requests of the G EF
Finally it mu st be emphasized tha t develope d cou n tries do not have an obligation
t o fu n d all measu re s taken by developing co unt ries t o implement the Convention
but o n ly the agreed fu ll incremental costs o f implementing measu res that a re a ed
betw e en a develop i ng cou ntry party and the institutional stru ctu re O pe ratin g t e fi
n an c i a l mechanism
Qu e s ti on Do othe r cou ntries share the U S view o n this relationshi p?
developing coun
An swe r Seventy thr ee count ries inclu din g a ll OE CD an d ke
tries a ed t o the G EF I nstrument which sets forth the terms o r the restructu red
e a re therefo re confident that others sha re o u r view on this relationsh ip
G EF
Qu e s ti on How would a dis u te between the two bodi es about their responsibilities
u nde r the Convention be me ate d?
An swe r Arrangements lv i n effect to the relationshi p of the two bo dies have yet
to be wo rked out T h e U S be ie v e s that such a rr angements should be su f ficiently
fle xible t o allow a cross fe rtili zation o f ideas among the two bodies We do not an tici
pate that a dispu te between the two bo di es will a rise o r that the re will be a need
fo r a di spute resolution mechanism
Ultimately it is u p t o the Pa rties t o the Convention t o in te rpret its p ro visions an d
t o the Pa rtici ants i n the G EF t o in te rp ret the Basic I nst rument
Q u e s ti o n
o w does the re lationship between the Biodive rsity Convention s C o n
ference o f the Pa rties and the G EF di ffer from the relationship between the G EF
and Con ference o f the Parties o f the C limate Convention?
A n swe r T h e re lationshi p between the Biodi ve rs ity Convention s Co n fe rence of the
P art ies an d the G EP does not di ffe r in substance from the relationship between the
G E F and the Conference of the Pa rties of the Climate Convention although the lan
guage di ffe rs sli gh tly Although Article
o f the Bio di ve rsity Convention p rovides
that the financial mechani sm shall fu nction unde r the authority o f the Ce rOP the
Unite d States unde rs tands that the autho rity o f the C OP is relate d t o det mining
policy strategy program prio rities and eligibility crite ria T h e Un i ted States has
p ro po se d that a statement to th i s e ffect should be included in the U S instrument
o f rat i fication T h e Convention doe s n o t give the C OP the autho rity t o go ve rn the
G EF make its p roject fun ding decisions o r assess co ntributions In this re ga rd the
the Biodive rsity C OP an d the G EF to the C limate
relationship o f the G EF to
Change Convention C OP a re the same
in
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R E AT ION SH I
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57
00 31
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Que s ti on T h e Co nvention pro vides that the developed countrie s Parties shall
ro v i de and new and additional fin anci al re so u ro e s to enable develop i ng count ry
ed firll incre mental costs
of i mplementin g measu re s
arties t o meet the
which fulfill [ sic] the o ligations of this Convention
What does the A dmi n istration estim ate those costs t o be?
An swer Fir st it mu st be emphasized that developed count ry Par ties do not have
an obligation t o fund all biodive rs ity p ro jects taken by de v e lo in countries i n i m
8 statement of
ple m e n t a t io n o f the Bio dive rsity Conventio n A s set fo rth in t e
u nde rstan di ng o u r obli gations u nde r the Convention are li mi te d to p rovidi ng new
and additional financial re sou rces t o enable developin g country Parties t o meet the
agre e d full i ncre mental costs
of implementing meas u re s which ful fill the o bli
g a t io n s of this Convention a n d th a t a re a g re e d be t w e e n a de v e lopi n g co u n t ry P a r ty
a n d t h e i n s ti t u t io n a l s t r u c t u re 0 cra t i n g t h e fin a n c ia l m e c h a n is m
A greement between the deve 0 ing cou ntry Pa rty and the institution al structu re
the G EF ) on a project will be constrained not only by the guidance from the
C o n ference o f the Pa rties and by decisions taken b the o v e rn a n ce structu re o f the
G EF but by the amount o f re sou rces available t o t he G E
T h e amount of re sou rces
available to the G EF will be dete rmined by regular volu ntary reple n ishment by the
donor countries takin g i nto account the ida n ce from the Confe re nce o f the Parties
on the a mount o f re so u rces needed by t e financial mechani s m A s state d by nine
te en countries a t the time o f the adoption of the Convention s Final Act and as reit
e rs ted in the U S statement o f understan ding the autho rity o f the Co n fe rence o f
the Pa rties conce rni ng amo unt o f resou rces nee ded d o es not exte nd to the extent
o r natu re and fo rm of the cont ributions of the Cont ractin g Pa rties
As state d above the cu rre nt G EF repleni shm ent will total $ 2 b illion ove r the next
fou r years of whi ch biodi versity ) ro j e ct s w ill have a substantial sh are We cannot
at this time p redict the amount o ffutu re re le n i sh m e n t and the I nte rgo ve rnm ental
Comm ittee on the Convention on Biological iv e rs ity has only just begu n to p repare
its advice on the a mount o f resou rces needed by the financial mechanism
Que s ti on What share o f those costs would be bo rne by the Un ited State s?
An swe r T h e Unite d State s has pledged $ 4 30 mi llion t o the replenish ment o f the
G F ove r a fou r ye ar pe riod T hi s rep resents ro ughly 2 1 pe rcent o f the total re ple n
isE
ment
Que s ti on How does the ph rase agree d full in cremental costs li mit developed
country financial ob ligations?
An swe r A s stated ab o ve the p
hr ase agreed full incremental costs is o n e o f sev
e r al ways in which U S ob ligati ons u nde r the Convention a re l i mited U S obli a
tions are fu rthe r limited to those p rojects that a re a g re ed between the G EF and t e
developing country a pro cess which will be dr iven i n pa rt by the availabili ty of re
sou rces i n the G EF to fund such p ro jects
T h e phr ase agreed fu ll incremental costs is related to the notio n of global e n v i
ro n m e n t al benefit I t limits developed count ry obligations in two respect s : Fi rst the
G EF can on] a p ro ve pro jects that achieve global envi ronm ental benefit ; Second
the G EF w il o y finance the i ncremental costs nece s sary t o achieve such global
envi ro nmental benefit
Qu e s ti on T h e w n ce t o f incre ment al costs h as been called into question by two
re c ent studies of the
ob al E nviro nm ent Facility/ s ilot phase ope ration Both stud
ies fou nd the concept di fficult to im plement and of u b io u s value Does the A dm in is
t ra t io n share this view and if so what a re its impli cations in dete rmi n ing financial
obli gations a ri sing fro m the Convention?
An swer T h e concept of increment al costs is quite impo rt ant becau se it limits the
scope o f develope d country Party obligations under the Convention It is li n ked to
the concept that the G EF is available to fu nd only that w rt io n of a pro ject that has
o ft h e Convention
a global environm ental benefit Unde r Article
the Con
ference o f the Pa rties is tasked to establish an i n dicative list o f i ncremental costs
Prepa rato ry di s cussions on thi s indicative list have only just begun
EVALUAT ION O F T H E G LO BA L EN V IR ON M EN T FA C I L IT Y
Que s ti on What is the A dmi n istration s evalu ati o n o f the G EF s lending p rogram
fo r bio logical diversity? What a re its weaknesse s? What are its strengths?
A nswer T h e Convention s Con fe rence of the Parties is prim ari l re sponsible fo r
developing the b ro ad policy framewo rk fo r the G EF t o implement 0 date the Con
v e n t i o n s C OP has not re po rted out its policy guidance
T h e A dmi n i stration will
wo rk t o ensu re that the convention s po licy guidance is based on sound analysis and
strong scientific fo undations
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58
ilot
phase
o f the G EF was design ed as an expe riment t o t ry new app ro aches
p
t o so lv m g gl o bal envir onmenta l p roblems Howeve r although the A dmi n i st r ati o n be
lie v e d that the pilot phase Faci lity s biologi cal di ve rsity po rtfolio showed p ro mise
we we re also conce rned about several aspe cts of its rfo rm a n ce In pa rticular we
c riticized lar ge investment p rojects which we believe ave a te ndency to ove rwhelm
recipient s implementation capacity I n the pilot phase we we re a lso conce rned that
p ro jects we re goin g fo rward without appropriate c onsultation with affected co m m u
n it i e s o r adequate ac ce ss t o p roject i n fo rmation
We beli eve that the G EF s stren h s will come from its ab ility to engage the reci p
i e n t go ve rnm ents i n the p rocess 0 p ro tecti n g biodi ve rsity We also be lieve that the
G R F can imp ro ve the ca ac it y of the recipient gove rnm ents themselves to add re ss
global enviro nm ental pro lems T h e G EF m ay al so thr ough financial devices such
as trust funds rovide fo r long te rm mech a n i sms fo r ) ro te ct in g biological dive rsity
at the national p
e v e l We also hope that the G EF will inc re ase its involvement at
the lo cal level by fundi n project s t o be executed direct ly by local comm unities and
N G Os thr ou h its Small rants Window
Qu e sti on
at changes if any will be necessa
ry in the Fac ility fo r it t o become
the fin anci a l mecha n ism fo r the Convention?
An swe r As a re sult of the recently conclu ded negotiations to re structu re the G EP
no fu rthe r chan es t o the Facility will be re qui red
Qu e sti on I s t e re a viable alte rnative t o the G EF fo r suppo rting the operation
o f the Convention ?
An swer T h e U S neve r believed that the re was a viable alte rnative to the G EF
A t the s ame time we condi tioned o u r full suppo rt fo r the G EF upo n its success fu l
T h e U S n e o t i a te d ha rd over the last ye ar t o ensu re that the re
re st ru ct u ri n
structu red
F answered t e criticisms that were leveled against the F a ci li t s pilot
phase We believe that the restructu red G EF addr esses the cri ticisms o f t e pilot
phase and meets o u r o w n negotiating objectives We the re fo re consider the issue
of alte rnatives t o the G EF clo se d
U N D ER S T AN D I N GS — LEGAL ST AT U S O F U N D ER ST A N D IN GS
e s ti o n
T h e A dm i n istr ation is re commen din g that seven unde r standings be at
tacQ
ed t o the Un i t ed States instrument o f ratification T h ese understandin gs are
u
portant in cla rifying the U n i ted States inte re tation o f a nu m b er o f the co n t ro v e r
sial Articles in the Convention includi n g t ose dealing with in tellectual p ro pe rty
ro hibits rese rvations
ri hts and financing T h e Convention
p
at stan di n g do these unde rstandi ngs have in in te rnation al law?
An swer A t a mi n imum an unde rstan di ng indicate s an autho ritative statement
of the U S in te rp retation of a pro vision puts othe r ar ties on notice of the U S po
S inte rp retation is being put
a n d estops them from late r claiming that the
sit i o n
forwa rd in bad faith
Que sti on If the Un ite d State s was in volved i n a di s u te that was submitted fo r
a rbitration and the othe r di sputant conteste d the vali t y of the U S u nde rstand
ings could the Un i ted States argue cre dibly t o the contra ry based on the C o n v e n
tion s negotiating histo ry?
An swe r Most o f o u r statements o f unde rstandi ng a re de ri ved from statements
made by the U S and other countries du ring the negotiations We believe all a re
sup o rt e d by the text o f the Convention and its object and pu se T hus we have
ble arguments t o re spond to any u e st i o n s co n ce rn i n the asis fo r o u r state
cre
ments o f unde rs tan din g It should also e noted that the n i te d States will n o t opt
fo r compulso ry di s ute re solution unde r the Convention
Qu e s ti on Do u n e rst a n di n g s become part o f the te xt o f the T reat
n i t e d States in
An swe r N o Howeve r the unde rstandi ngs are in cluded in the
strument of rati fication to be de sited with the Uni ted N ations T h e Uni te d N a
tions will circulat e o u r under stan ngs t o all Pa rties and sign ato ri es
A rt i c le 3 — T h e Depa rtment o f State is recommen din g that the follow i n g u nde r
standi n be i ncluded in the U S instrument o f ratification :
T h e Gove rnment of the U n i te d State s o f Am e rica understands that Article 3
refe rences a p rinciple to be taken in to account i n the implementation of the
Convention
A rticle 3 states that nati o ns have the so ve reign rights t o exploit the ir own reso u rces
pu rsu ant t o thei r own po licies as well as the re s po n sib ilit to ensu re that activities
with in thei r ju ris diction do not damage the enviro nment o fothe r states o r the global
comm ons
Qu e s ti on Wh y is this unde rstandi n g necessa ry ?
A nswer A rticle 3 is not limited by i t s te rms t o bio dive rsity o r t o thi s Conventi on
T he re fo re the unde r standi ng is necess ary to avoid an y infe rence that Article 3 a p
Th
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60
Mo reove r the propo sed statement of u n de rst a n di n is consistent with the so v
e rei imm u n i ty clause in A rt icle 2 36 o f the 1 98 2 n i te d N ations Convention o n
the w o f the Sea and in eothe r in te rnational agreements t o which the Senate has
ven advice and consent g the London (Oce an Du mping) Convention of 1 97 2
P OL
1 9 78 Convention on St a ndar ds of T ra in i ng Ce rt ification and
Wa t ch ke e pi n g fo r Seafa re rs (S T C W) 1 99 0 Convention on Oi l Pollution Prepa red
ness R e spo nse and Coope ration (OPR C ) 1 99 1 Pro tocol on E nvir onmental Pro tection
to the A ntarctic T reaty as we ll as nume rou s regi onal agre ements
T h e p ropose d statement o f u n de rst a n di n
is also consiste nt with U S pr actice in
inte rnational enviro nmental agreements t at do not have a sove reign imm u n i ty
clau se R egar di ng such agreements the Un ite d State s with the advice an d conse nt
of the Senate has deposite d statements o f u nde rstan di ng on so ve reig n i mmuni ty
s imila r t o the u nde rstanding p ropo sed fo r the Bio di ve rsity Convention I n its i n s t ru
ments o f r ati fication
the 198 9 Basel Convention the 198 6 SP R EP Convention
and the 1 98 3 Cart agen a Convention ) N o pa rt y has objecte d t o any U S stateme nt
o f u nde r standi ng on sove re i n immunity
g
Qu e s ti on Have othe r nati ons submitte d o r ann ounced thei r inte ntion t o submi t
s i mi la r u nde rstandi ngs?
An swer We a re awa re o f n o othe r nations that intend t o submit a simila r unde r
st a ndi n g Howeve r as note d in the R e po rt of the Secretary of State many delega
tions du ri n g the n e o t i a t i o n s ag ree d w rt h the Unite d States that sovereign im m u
n it y is a p rin ciple 0
customary i nte rnation al law
IN T E LL EC T UA L PR O P ER T Y R I G H T S A N D T EC H N O LO GY T R AN S F E R — PR IV AT E S EC T O R
T EC H N O LO GY T R A N S F ER
re qu ires each pa rty to t a ke measu res t o e n c o u ra e the
Qu e sti on Art icle
pri
vate sec t o r t o facilitate access t o jo i n t development and tra nsfe r of technology t o
the
l and p rivate s e cto rs in de v e lo in g count ries i nclu ding biotechnologies de
rive (
p
ub
fro ic
m genetic re sou rces and te ch n o fd
g i e s relevant t o conse rvation
What specific measu res does the a dmi n istration pl a n to t ak e t o implement thi s
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ire m e n t ?
re
swer T h e A dm i nistr ation has and wi ll co ntinue to take gene ral and specific
measu re s to implement thi s obligatio n
Ge ne r a lly the A dmi nistration will wo rk with othe r Convention parties to estab
lish market con ditions that will p ro mo te coo pe r ation between U S and fo reign fi rms
T hese mar ket condi tions i n clude e ffective syste ms fo r p ro te cting intell e ctu al p ro p
e rt y rights E stablishi ng and ma i ntaini ng such ma rket conditions will p ro mote the
goal outl i ned b Article
In ad dition t e A dminist ration has de v e lo
d ro g ra m s that di rectly address this
obli ation T h e I nte rnational Coope rative io versity Groups Progr am of N IH
US
and N SF involves US g o ve rnm ent academic and pri vate secto r pa rticipants
in collabo rative dr ug di sc o v e programs with developing country partne rs T h e o b
f; im p ro vement o f infrastructu re training o f scientists
j e ct iv e s o f the pro am i n clu l
and assist a nce wit prio rity health needs o f art ic ipat in g developing countries
T h e N ational C a nce r I nstitute has a num r o f p ro gr ams which st rive to ensu re
the conse rvation o f biological and cultu ral resou rces i n countries pa rticipatin g in the
natu r al p roducts drug discovery proc ess and t o p romote economi c growth fro m the
comm e rciali zation o f ph armaceuticals deri ved from host c ountry plants T hese ro
gr ams promo te the sha rin g o f benefits among the pa rtne rs involved in the deve o
ment and comm e rcialization o f omising genetic resou rces identified by N 81
scree ning p ro gr ams inclu ding the p
ost countries the pha rma c eutic al indu stry and
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Y R IGH T S— A C C ESS T O AN D T R AN S FER O F
T E C H N O LO GY
Qu e s ti on Article 1 6 is one o f the most controve rsial p ro visions i n the Convention
in the Article s sub sections re flects the move and
T h e ci rcula r c ro ss re fe re n c i n
counte r move o f developed an developing cou ntri es du ri n the ne g o tiations
pro vides that access to and trans fer o f te e n o lo g y shall be p rovided
Article
on te rms wh ich recogni ze and are consistent with the adequ ate an d e ffective rote o
tion of intellectual p ropert y rights I n this context what does adequate an e ffe c
tive mean?
A nswe r T h e Uni ted States conside rs the phr ase adequate an d e ff ective to mean
a level o f prote ction that p rov ides the owne r o f p roprieta ry technology with e ffective
1e a1 ri hts t o p re vent the ft mi suse o r misap rop riation o f the p rotected te ch
p
n o ogy
o be conside red ade ate and e ffective i ntellectual pro pe rt y systems must
m ake p rotection widely ava able without disc rimination as to the natu re of the
P
R OT EC T I ON OF IN T E
LLEC T UAL
P P
R O ER T
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61
te chn o logy o r the nationality o f the entity seeki n g pro t ection and must p ro vide e f
rights
fe ct i v e accessible means fo r e n fo rc
i n va ri ous fo ra includi ng throu h o u r bilat
We have advance d this unde rs t an
e ral in ve stment treaties with othe r na io n s as we ll as multilate ra l e o rt s such as
the N o rth Ame rican Free T rade Agre ement an d most re cently the A e m e n t on
the T rade R elate d A spe cts of In te llectual Prope rty R ights negoti ate d in t e U ru guay
R ound We will also adv a nce this unde rstanding of the ph ra se in the Convention
o n Biological Dive rsity
Que sti on Could you discuss fo r the Committee how the Convention s pro vi sions
on i nte llectual ro pe rt y re late to othe r re
es in this a rea P a rticul ar the re cently
nego tiations on T rade late d As pects o f I ntellectual Pro pe rty
c oncluded G A
R hts (T R IP S )?
w e r T h e Convention s p rincipal refe ren ce t o intellectu al p ro pe rt y
ro te ct i o n
s pe cifies that te chnology transfe r is t o occu r on te rms that re cogn ize an are con
s i ste nt with the adequate and e ffective ro t e c t io n of int e llectual p ro pert y rights I n
ementa the N AFT A and in the T R IP s A gre ement we and
o u r bilate ral tr ade
to c reate legal syste ms that ro v i de
a
ave
accepted
obligations
rt ne rs
o u r t radi n g
p
ce rt ain spe c rfic characte ri stics of in tellectual pro pe rty p rotection T hu s we lieve
the Biodi ve rsity Convention and o u r trade agreements that address in tellectu al
rt y p ro te ction are not only fu lly compatible but i n fact complement each othe r
pro
Doe s the Convention in an way u nde rcut the T R IP s agre ement?
ue s ti o n
A ns we r N o We do not believe the o n v e n t io n can legitimately be use d by a cou n
rt y impo se d b
the T R IP s A gre ement
t ry t o avoid obli gations on intellectual pro
Que sti on Do other countries sh are the 8 conce rns wit re s se t t o the C o n v e n
tion s tre atment o f inte llectual pro rt y rights? If so how have t ese conce rns been
ma n ifested? Have othe r nations su m i tte d unde rstan di ngs i n this re spect with thei r
instruments of ratification?
An swe r Ye s A n umbe r of developed countri es sha re the U S conce rns rega rdin g
in te llect u al pro pe rt T h e Eu ropean E conomi c Comm u n ity on behalf of its membe r
states has include a stat ement o n intellectual p rope rt y ri hts in its in strument of
appro val of the Convention (attached) Switze rl a nd (whi ch as not yet de site d an
instrument o f ratification) made a decl aration on i nte llectu al p ro pe rt y righ ts at the
time o f sign i ng the Convention
S T AT E M E N T OF T H E EUR O P EAN EC ON O M IC C OMMU N IT Y U PON APPR OVA L OF T H E
C ON VEN T IO N O N B IOID G IC AL D IVER S IT Y
Withi n their re s tive compete n ce the Eu ro pean Community and its Membe r
State s wish to re a rrm the impo rta n ce they attach to transfe rs of techn olo y and
to bio te ch n o lo in orde r to ensu re the conservatio n an d sust ainable use of gi o lo g i
cal di ve rsity
e compli an ce with inte llectu al ro pe rty ri ghts constitutes an essen
tial element fo r the implementation of po licies o r technology t rans fer and cc in vest
ment
and
Fo r the Eu ro an Commu n i ty and its Membe r States transfe rs o f te c h n o lo
access t o bio te c n o lo g y as defined in the text of the Convention on Biological g iver
s it y will be carried o u t in a cc o rdance with Art icle 1 6 o f said Convention an d in com
pli an ce with the rules o f p rote ction o f intellectu al pro rt y in pa rt icular m u lt ilat
e ral an d bilate ral agre ements si g n ed o r negotiated by t e contracting parties to this
Convention
T h e Eu ropean Comm unity an d its M embe r State s will en c ou rage the use of the
fin ancial mechan ism established b the Convention to p romote the volunta ry trans
eld by Euro pean ope rato rs in pa rticular as re
fe r o f intellectu al pro
rt y ri ghts
ga r ds the granting 0 licenses throu h no rmal co mm e rcial mech a nisms and deci
sions while ensu rin g adequ ate and e e ct i v e p ro tection o f pro pe rty ri ghts
(December 2 1 1 993 )
Que s ti on Due to its v a enese it is likely that the p re cise meaning of Article 16
will be established th rou pre cedents cre ate d du ri n g the convention s im plementa
tion to be debated and argu ed at the meetings o f the Confe rence of the Parties
(C OP ) t o the Convention Are these issu es that will be taken up b the C OP at its
]e ct u al pro pe rt
firs t meeting this N ovembe r that relate to the protection of inte y
what
rights? If so what a re the
a re the A dmi nist ration s view i n those a reas
y and
A nswe r We do not anti ci pate that the C OP at its fir st meeting thi s N ovembe r
wi ll t ake u p issues re latin g t o inte llec tual pro pe rty rights If it does however the
U S will at eve ry oppo rt unity p romote its vi ews on inte llectual p ro pe rty righ t s pro
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te ct io n
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Que s ti on Does the A dministration have a stra t egy to advance its views on intel
lectu al pro pe rt y rights p ro tection in the Co n fe ren ce o f the Part ies the Global E n v i
ro n m e n t Facility and othe r fo r a associate d with the Convention ? Specifically would
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62
the A dmin istration be more suppo rtive o f G EF funding t o reci pients w
and ffective inte llectu al pro perty pro te ct ion over re cipients without
tionse
An swe r We will encou r age co unt ri es t o rely o n the Convention as an autho rity
and as an impetu s fo r im p rovi ng thei r d omestic intelle ct u al ro e rt y syste ms we
will hol d countri es to their obligations u nde r GAT T T R IP s w hicg se t s a mi n i m u m
floor of pro tect ion fo r intellectu al ro pe rt We w ill seek fu rthe r imp rovements in
intellectual pro perty pro tect ion in t e ma ets of o u r tradi n g partn e rs
T h e A dmi n i st ration will contin ue t o address in tellectu al prope rty conce rns as a
tra de matte r We will rely as we have in the past on bilate ral consultations and
negotiations to a ddr e ss in te llectual pro pe rt y conce rns we have with o u r tra din g
partne rs We will also re ly on the so o n to be est ablished Wo rld T r ade Organ izatio n
to addr ess inte ll e ctu al ro pe rt y is sues cove re d by the T R IP s Ag reeme n t
With re s ct t o the Conve n tio n we will actively e n cou rage the Co n fe re n ce o f the
Part ies t o ocus its attention o n the b ro a de r issu es of technology tran sfe r an d sci
e n t i fic and tech n i ca l 00 0 p? ra t io n
r ather than the specific question of intellectu al
p ro pe rty standar ds T o the extent that inte llectu al pro perty issu es a re raised i n the
acti vi ties un de r the Convention we will actively a dvance o u r vi ews in suppo rt of
adequate an d e ffec tive levels o f pro tection fo r in tellectual pro rt y
In the G EF we will continue t o p ro mote the adequate an e ffective p rotectio n of
IP R s and to facili tate the transfe r of techn ology consistent with Art icle
of the
Convention I nsofa r as the G EF h as a g ree d t o follow the po licies strate gy p ro gram
p ri o ri ties an d e ligib ility crite ri a of the Convention we would expect that the pro
grams an d p rojects o f the G EF will be in acco rdan ce with Art icle
DI SPUT E SET T LEMEN T
Art icle 2 7 p ro vides that fo r pu rpo ses of compulso ry di spute resolution Part ies
may elect eithe r Arbitration in acc ordance with pro cedu re s contained in the C o n v e n
tion o r submi ssion of the di s u te to the In te rnational Cou rt of J ustice o r both I t
would a p a r howeve r that arties a re not requi red to su bmit t o compulso ry dis
pute re so u t i o n pro cedu res a t all if they do not want to do so
Qu e s ti on What are the Admi nistration s plans in this rega rd? Does the Adm i n i s
t ra t io n plan t o t ake a decision whe re by the U n ite d State s could be subject t o co m
?
u
s
o
l
r
dis
ute
solution
p
ce
du
s
r
e
r
o
r
e
p
y
An swe r
e Admi nistration will not opt fo r any me a ns o f compulsory di s u te set
t le m e n t u nde r the Convention i e arbit ration in acco r da nce with the pro c e u re lai d
down in Part 1 o f An nex II of the Convention o r submission o f the dispute t o the
I nte rnational Cou rt o f J ustice T hu s an y dispute in volving the Unite d State s under
A rticle 2 7 will be re solve d by negotiation conciliation o r (if the Pa rties t o the dis
pute agree) the good offi ces of o r medi ation by a thi rd party T his is consistent with
pas t p ractice in enviro nmental ag re ements
Qu e sti on What is the rationale behin d thi s decisio n ?
An swer Given the questions that have been raised about text o f the Convention
the U S w i ll not subject itself t o com
o n issues o f the highest conce rn t o the U S
pu lso ry di spute settlement u nde r this Convention
R OL E OF T H E C ON F ER E N C E OF T H E PA R T IES
Qu es ti on What are the key issues that must be addressed at the fir st meeting
of the Co n fe rence o f the Parties?
An swe r T h e two key issues are fin ancial issues an d the biosafety proto col
FIN A N C E
Fina ncial issues are nume ro us Fi rst and foremost is the question as t o how deci
sions re lat i n to the financial mech ani sm will be taken T h e first Conference of the
P arties (C O will adopt ru les of p rocedu re that will answe r this question Only as
a Part y can the U S part ici ate in the consensus dec isio n m aki n g u i re d to ensu re
that the rules o f pro cedu re lly pro tect U S inte re sts on questions 0 fun din g
a perma
I n addi tion the Convention cha rges the C OP with the task o f ch o o si n
nent institutional structu re t o O pe rate the financial mec han i sm T h e S has a
keen inte rest in ensu ri ng that the G EF is design ated as the pe rmanent institution al
structu re
ates the G EF as the rm a n e n t institutional structu re the C o n v e n
Once it desi
tion requi res t e C OP to decide o n t e arra ngements to give e ffect to the relati o n
shi p between the C OP and the G EP T h e U S has stro ng views conce rn i ng the rela
t i o n sh i between the C OP an d the G EF inclu di n g on su ch issues as the scope o f
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the C OI S autho ri ty with respect to the G EF
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63
its fi rs t meeti n g the Convention re qui re s the C OP to pro vide guidance on pol
icy strate y and p ro gram prio rities as we ll as detailed cri te ri a and guidelines fo r
elig ibt
go r access to and utilization of the financial re so u ro e s under the G EF As
the G E has stated it will de fe r to the i dan ce o f the C OP on such issu es we be
lieve such guidance is of key conce rn t o t e U S
i res the C OP to establi sh an indica tive li st o f i n cre m e n
T h e Convention also re
tal co sts to ide the G E T h e co ncept o f incre mental costs relates to the s co o f
the Pa rties ndin obligations under the Convention and the basic pu rpose 0 the
G EF to fu nd o n ly t ose po rt ions o f pro e ct s that have a global envi ro n mental benefit
and is thus o f high i mpo rt ance to the US
B IOSAF E T Y PR O TO C O L
T h e Conventio n requires the C OP t o consider the need fo r an d modal ities o f a
bios afety ro to co l We antici ate that thi s ro cess could begin as early as the fi rs t
o rt ly the re a ft e r
8 indust ry be p
ie v e s and we concu r that the U S will
C OP o r sIp
be able t o advance U S in te rests most e ffectively as a Party rathe r than as an o b
se rve r
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OT H ER
Co n vention also requires othe r more o rgani zation al decisions t o be taken by
the fir st C OP o r sho rt ly the rea fte r:
E stab lish a list of developed count ry parties and othe r Pa rties whi ch v o lu n
t a ri ly assume the obligations of the developed count ry Pa rties
Dete rmin e how to establish a clearin g hou se mechanism to p ro mote and fa
c ilit a t e t x h n i c a l and scient i fic coo pe ration
E stabli sh su bsi dia ry bo dies
Choo se a pe rmanent secre ta ri at
A dopt financial rules fo r the gove rn ing the fundi n g o f the s e c ret ariat
A dopt a bu
t
De te rmi n e t e inte rvals betwee n meetin gs of the C OP
Que s ti on If the Convention is app ro ved by the Senate what will be the U S o h
j e ct iv e s at tha t m e e t in
t a te s p ri ncipal objectives include :
An swer T h e U n i t e d fi
a do pt in
ru le s of pro cedu re which fully p ro tect U S i n te rests on questions
o f funding (t
g‘e U S has suppo rt e d a pro sal to 1 u i re that decisions of the
Parties u nde r para g ra h s 1 and 2 o f Artic e 2 1 be {113 8 by consensus )
desi g n atin g the
F as the in stitutional structu re t o O pe rate the financial
mec hanism
ensu rin g that any discussions o n the topic of biosafety give h i ll an d fa ir
conside ration of the question o f the nee d fo r a bios a fety ro to c o l and wo rkin
to
rsu a de othe r gove rnments that a p ro tocol o n b io s a fgt y is not wa rr ante
un
e r this Convention
ensuri n g that po li cies st rategy p ro gram p riori ties and e ligibility cri te ri a
relating to the financial mechanism a re in acco rd with U S inte rests
ensu ri n g that any a rrangements t o establish the relationship betwee n the
G EF and the C OP re flect the autho rities and responsibilities set fo rth in the
Convention an d the G EF Basic I n strument
establishing an indica tive list o f agre ed in cre mental costs that is consi s te nt
with U S licy and the G EF B asic In strument
e st a b f
igh i n g the Subsidia ry Body on Scientific T echnical and T echn ological
Th
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Que sti on What would be the cons u e n ce s if the Un ited States was not able to
p articipate in the fi rst meeting of the arties?
An swer R u le s o f P ro c e d u re a n d D e c is io n s R e la ti n g to th e F i n a n c ia l M e c h a n is m
T h e Convention re quires that rules o f p rocedu re mu st be adopted by consensus
T h e rules o f ro c e du re will dete rmi ne among othe r th i n gs how decis i ons relatin g
t o funding w i
be made Only a Part y can block consensus If we a re not a Party
we c annot block consensu s o n unacceptable rules of pro cedu re and thus ca n not e n
su re that the U S inte re sts on funding issues will be fu lly pro te cted We have sup
po rte d a rc po sa l to re qu ire that decisions o f the Pa rtie s u nde r pa ragraphs 1 and
2 o f Art ic e 2 1 be made by consensus
If we a re not a Pa rt y the U S likewi s e cannot ensu re that the basic h i ndi n deci
sions thems elves are fully a cceptable t o the U S
designation o f the G F e s
t a bli sh m e n t o f arrangements t o give e ffect to the re lationship betwee n the G E F an d
the C OP establishment o f policy strategy pro gra m p ri o ri ties and eligibili ty c ri
t e ria )
Ot he r OE CD countries are in the p rocess o f ratifyi n g the Convention as a re we
T h us it m ay n o t be possible t o rely o n the m to e n su re that the ru les fu lly p rote ct
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64
the in te rests o f the major do n ors t o the G EF o n matte rs of fun di n g o r that the fun d
i n g decis ions themselves a re in ac co rd with U S inte re sts
BIOSA FET Y
Que s ti on We a nticipate that consideratio n o f the n ee d fo r an d modalities of a
ro t o co l co uld begin as early as the fir st C OP
bi o s afe t
T h e Un ited States is the
ho m e 0 t e larg est an d m o st advanc ed b io t e ch n o lo in dustry i n the wo rl d T his
able m ost e ffect ively to re p
i n du st ry believes an d we c oncu r tha t the U S will
pro to c ol as a Party r ather
re se n t o u r i n te re sts in any discussions on a b i o s afe
th an an obse rve r Sin ce most other OE CD countri es g not share the degre e of ou r
conce rns o n biosafety we ca nn ot re ly on them to re prese n t U S in te rests
beyond the first m ee tin g what a re the Admi n i stration s go als in the C o n
Lo o ki
fere nce o the Part ies?
An s we r Beyond the fi rs t meeti n g the A dmi n ist ratio n s prin cipal g oals are to
focus the Conve n tio n o n the co nservation an d sustainable use of bi o l g rc al dive rsity
a d t o p ro mote an active subsi dia ry body on scient i fic techn i cal
anp
i tech nolo g ica l
agV i ce
T h e A dmi n i stration w ill also wo rk with the Se c retari at and the Confe rence of the
P arties t o ensu re that implementation o f the Convention is consist ent with the obli
rt y ri hts
a t io n t o p rovide a de quate and e ffective p rotect ion of inte llectu a l pro
gin ally the Admi n istration will ensu re that any discussions o n the nee fo r an m o
dalit i e s of a biosafety p rotocol are scientifically base d a n d analytically sound
R U LE S OF PR OC E D U R E
Que s ti on T h e Convention states that the Conference o f the Parties rules shall be
a do ted by consensu s What does consensus mean in the conte xt o f the C o n v e n
tion Whe re
An s we r Consensus me an s the abse n ce of a stated objection T hus if an y Part y
they ca n n o t be adopte d Consensus is a matte r
o bj ct s t o the rules of p ro ce du re
lN
of te
racti c e ; it is not o f fi ci ally defi n e d
p
Que s ti on Wh at are the U S objectives with re spect t o the ru les? Fo r example
what rules should apply with re s ect t o t h e Confe rence of the Part y s decision mak
p ro cedu res on fin ancial issuesp
i
n i re
that decisions of the Pa rt ies
w er
T h e U S suppo rts a ro po sa l t o
u nde r pa ragraphs 1 and 2 of Art ie e 2 1 be ma de y consensus
R E LAT ION SH I P T O T H E C ON V EN T I O N O N C LI MAT E C H AN GE
Qu e sti on How doe s the Adm i n istration lan t o coo rdin ate i mplementation of the
Bio dive rsity Con vention and the Framewo rkConvention on Cli mate Change?
An swe r Coordi n ation will tak e place at several levels Fi rst the Deputy A ssistant
Secreta ry of State fo r E n viro nment an d Developm en t se rves both as the U S R e p
ca l
re sentat i ve t o the I n te rgove rnmental Co m mittee fo r the Convention on B i o lo
C)
D iv e rs it
(IC C B D ) an d to the I n te r ove rnm ent al N egotiatin g Comm i tt e e
un de r t e Un ite d N ations Fram e w o rg Co n vention o n Cl imate Ch an e T he re is
ove rlap between the U S delegations t o m eetin gs o f the Biodiversity I C B D an d t o
of the IN C ; this ra ct ice lik e ] will co n tinue at an d aft e r the fi rs t meetin gs
m e etin
of the o n fe re n ce s of the arties to bo th conventions
d in an inte r
Secon d U S po sitions in the IC C B D an d in the IN C are de v e lo
agency p ro cess chaire d by the Deputy A ssistan t Secretary of State o r E nvir o n m ent
and Development Seve ral o f the same re pre sentatives of othe r fede ral agencies pa r
tici ate in both ro ce s se s
Thi rd the re as and contin ues t o be conside rable i nte rchange and discussion
among State Department re pre sentatives and rep resentatives of othe r fede ral agen
cies involved in implementi ng both conventions We anticipate that such inte r
change may deepe n i n the fu tu re as both conventions face si mila r i mplementation
i ssues
Qu es ti on Will bi o div e rs it conce rns be raised by the A dmi nistration
l i mate Convention and vice -versa?
e rn m e n t al meetin gs o f the
A n swe r Ye s the habitats o f m i llions o f species— and the species within them
could well be adve rsely affected by lobal wa rmi n I t will be vi tal n o t to co mpart
mentali ze U S conce rns about bio iv e rs ity a n d g obal warm ing Fo r this reaso n
U S bi o di v e rs i t co nce rns and U S concerns about global w armi n g will be ra ised
e r both conventions
re cipro cally u n
Qu e s ti on Does the U S Cl i mate Action Pl an tak e in to account b i o di v e rsrty co n
ce rns? If not wi ll these conce rns be integrated in to the pl an in the futu re ?
A nswe r Pre sident Cl i nton re lease d the U S Climate Change A ction Plan i n Octo
be r 1993 t o de m o n strate spe cifically h o w th e Un i te d State s will m eet its co m m it
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65
ment
educe U S g re enhouse gas emi ssions t o thei r 1 990 levels by the e ar 2 000
T h e A ction Plan whi ch acknowledges bio di ve rsity conce rns focuse s o n
S e ffo rts
t o mi ti ate cli mate chan e T h e A ction Plan will howeve r fo rm the co rne rs tone o f
the U submission t o t e Co n fe re nce of the Pa rt ies o f the Unite d N ations F r ame
wo rk C o nvention on C limate Ch a nge that is due by Se ptember 2 1 1 9 94 T h e U S
national submi s s ion will address not only U S mitigation effo rts but a host o f othe r
issues includin U S biodive rsity conce rns as they re late to glo bal wa rmi ng
I n ad dition tge I nte rgove rnmental Pa nel on Cl i mat e Change which emba rked on
its Second A ssessment R e po rt in N ovembe r 199 2 will syst e m a t i ca ll addre ss
biodiversity concerns i n the repo rt o f its Wo rkin g Gro up II (on Im pacts da pt at i o n
and M itigation ) D r R obe rt T Watson A ssociate Dire ctor fo r E nviro nm ent in the
White House Offi ce o f Science and T e ch n o lo Policy 00 42t
the IPC C s W
o rki n g
Group II and h as been a stro ng advocate o in te g rati n g biodive rsity conce rns into
the assessment of climate change
U S I M P LE M EN T AT ION — FOR E ST MA N AG EM EN T
Qu e s ti on Please des cri be the A dm i n i st ra t io n s s plans fo r implementing its pledge
t o attain su stain able mana ement o f all U S fo rests by the e a r 2 000
g
What is the A dministrati on s thi nking on how t o best ad s e fo re st p rote ction at
the glob al and regional levels? F o r example is a Convention approp ri ate o r di d this
idea fall by the wayside at the E a rth Summi t?
Should forest pro tec tion be the subject of special conside ration at fu tu re Con
fe re n c e s o f the Pa rties t o the Biodive rsity Convention?
An swe r A s you may be aware last J une at the Eu ro pean Mini ste ri al on Fo rests
in Helsink i the U S annou nced its commitment to the c a l o f achieving sustainable
mana ment of US fo re sts by the year 2 00 0 We we re t e fi rst country in the wo rld
to m e thi s commitment although othe rs have joined us since We plan to move
forward on thi s comm i tment by working with the community of fo rest inte rests in
and out of the gove rnm ent to develop cri te ri a and in dicato rs fo r su sta in able fore st
manag ement On fede ral lands we a re al re ady in the pro cess o f implementing an
ecosystem appro ach t o fo rest management
R egionally we believe it would be useful to develop a consensus on b ro ad c rite ria
and i n dicato rs fo r the susta in able ma nagement o f tempe rate and bo re al forests as
a whole Canada has taken some ste ps in this di rection already and we a re worki ng
with them R ega rdin g a global fore st convention we a re n o t su re that ope n i ng nego
t i a t i o n s at this time would be p ro ductive Suppo rt fo r a convention by developing
countries which is esse ntial does not a g pe ar wides read We will have a clea re r
idea o f the likelihood of a convention fo llo w i n g the c re st review to be unde rt aken
by the Commi s s ion on Sustainable Development next Sp ring
Fo rest ecosystems produce a wide di ve rs ity o f economic and ecological benefits of
which biologi cal dive rs ity is o n ly one We would expect the biodive rsity convention
t o focus on the bio di ve rsity values of fo rests While the C OP should take the to ic
up whe re relevant du ri n g the cou rse of its wo rk we do not expect at this time o r
forests which are addre ssed in man multilate ral fora t o receive 8 c i a l consider
ation by the C OP T h e outcome of t e C S D re view of fo rests shoul cla ri fy whe re
when an d how fo re sts should be addressed
AR T IC L E 5— C OO PER AT I O N
Que s ti on What speci fic ste ps is the Unite d State s cu rre ntly taking that would
comply with Art icle 5 which re quire s Pa rt ies to coope rate on conse rvation and sus
t a in able u se of b io lo ca l di ve rs i ty in respect t o a re as beyond national ju risdiction
on matte rs of mutu i ntere st?
What steps does it plan to t ake i n the futu re ? I n pa rt icular could you please
b rie fly outli ne the a dm i n i st ra t io n s s la n e fo r areas such as the fo llowing that a p
pea r to be part ic ularly re levant : the
tic i n cludin g the Ar ctic E nvi ro nmental P ro
te ct i o n St r ategy ; the Ca ri bbean in clu ding the S pecia lly Pro te c te d Areas and Wild
l ife (SPAW) Pro tocol t o the Ca rt a g ena Conventio n ; the 1 94 0 Convention on N atu re
Protection and Wildlife Pre se rvati on in the Weste rn Hemi sphere (Weste rn Hemi
sphe re Convention ) ; and Co ral R ee f Pro tection including the Co ral R ee f I ni tiative
A nswer Ou r majo r fo rum fo r coope ration in the A rctic is the Arctic E nvi ro n
mental Protection strategy sign ed 3 years a in R o vaniemi Finland We have
made p ro gress o n envi ro nmental p ro t ection u n e r this Strate
as well as o the r re
late d activi tie s With specific rega rd t o wildlife the A R PS as create d a wo rking
grou fo r the Conse rvation o f Arctic Fau na and Flo ra t o address issues specific t o
wild fe habitat protection and other re lated matte rs
w e r f fl to ol in p ro te cting
In re ga r d to the SPAW P rotoc ol we believe it can be a
wild life and habitats of special conce rn in the Ca ri bbe a n Fo llowing U S ratification
to
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we will be in a stro ng position t o u rge other Cari bbe a n cou ntries t o ratify and
thereby speed SpA Ws entry into fo rc e As you a re aware the Protocol is cu rre ntly
endi ng before o u r Committee We u rge the Fo reign R elations Committee to re ’0 rt
p
av o ra bly the S AW Proto co l with the re se rvations an d unde rstanding
ro pose dby
p
the Depart ment of State as soon a possible with a string recommendati on that the
Full Senate give early advice an d consent t o ratification Until Pro tocol does ente r
into fo rc e we will continue to participate i n the SPAW I nte ri m Scientific and T ech
n ic a l C o mm i tte e that is developing inte ri m re commendations o n species and habitat
p ro tection We a re al so fu nding specific p ro jects aimed at p rotecti ng pa rt icul ar spe
cies and habitats su ch as tu rtles manatees an d co ral re e fs
Withi n the Orga n i z ation o f A me ric a n States we are wo rkin with othe r nations
of the hemi sphere t o identify ways t o re in vigo rate the Weste rn emis he re C o n v e n
tion I n the meantime we contin ue an extensive bilate ral pro am wit L atin A me r
ican and Cari bbean nations withi n the Convention s resent ram e w o rk
T h e A dmin ist ration is cu rrently developing a Cora R eef In itiative to focu s 3 ci al
att ention on co ral re efs an d related ecosystems (mangroves and seagrass da)
which are the ma ri ne equivalents of tropical fo rests in te rms o f biodi ve rsity T h e
i n itiative unde r conside ration is expected t o focu s on imp ro vin g the coo r dination
among the many dispa rate p rograms bo th i n te rnational and domestic and fo rg e
part ne rships a mong cou ntri es with an inte re st in these re sou rc es
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WT T I IDR A WAL
Qu es ti on Some ob se rve rs have exp ressed the view that given the Convention s
vag ueness in some are as o f concern fo r the Un ite d States the A dmini stration
should a rticulate crite ria u nde r which the United State s would withdraw fro m the
Convention
What a re the A dm i n istration s views in this area?
An swe r We do not anti cipate that withdr awal fro m the Convention will be nec
essa Howeve r Art icle 38 o f the Convention expressly sets fo rth p ro cedu res that
any arty may in voke t o withd raw from the Convention If it becomes clea r that
the U S long te rm inte rests will n o t be se rved by contin ued a rt ic i pat io n in the
Convention the U S will conside r all its options I f necessa ry t e U S would e xe r
cise its right t o withdr aw from the Convention
Qu e s ti on Unde r what ci rc ums tan ces do yo u thi n k the U S should withdraw fro m
the Convention?
An swe r We cann ot s e cu lat e on what combination of ci rcumstan ces might cause
the U S to consider wit drawing fro m the Convention
PR OT OC OL ON BIOSAF E T Y
Qu e s ti on What are the A dm i n istration s views on the desir ab ility of such a pro t o
o f the Convention?
co l o n bios afety pu rs u ant t o A rticle
C an yo u assu re the Co m mi ttee that if negotiations on such a Proto col were i n i t i
ate d inte re sted pa rties in the United State s i n c lu din indu stry and envi ronmental
groups would be consulte d i n the fo rmulation o f the 8 position towa rds those n e
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o t i at i o n s?
swer T h e Convention calls in Art icle
fo r conside r ation o f the need fo r and
modalities o f a ro t o co l on bios afety
T h e Uni te d tates sup o rts the s a fe u se of bio technology and fu ll implementation
of the relevant articles 0 p
the Convention in pu rsuit of this objective
Based on U S expe ri en ce in the development and applica tion o f biosafety re g i mes
the substantial amount o f biosafety relate d activities taking place in othe r for a an d
the recogn ized thr eats to biodive rs ity demandi ng prio rit atte ntion the A dm in istra
tion does not believe that a p rotocol on biosafety u nde r t s convention is wa rranted
T h e Uni ted State s will look fo rwa rd t o sharing o u r views an d relevant data with
othe r parties as the Confe rence o f Parties pu rsues a scienti fically ba se d anal ic a lly
o f the
sound p rocess to consider the need fo r a protocol as requi re d by Art icle
Convention Howeve r should discussions on this i ss ue proceed the A dmi nist ration
in close consultation with the inte reste d pa rties including the bi o techn olo g y i ndus
t ry and envi ro nmental gro ups will wo rk t o ensu re that any bi o sa fety regi m e that
mi ght arise from the Convention is sc ientifically base d and analytically sound
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Y E WIR I H T O QUE ST ION S ASKE D B Y S EN AT OR M UR KOWS KI
Qu e s ti on T h e B ush A dmini stration di d not sign the t reaty fo r a vari ety o f re a
son s — its failu re t o pro te ct inte llectual prope rt y rights and unce rt ai nti es about the
financing mecha n isms t o name a fe w
R
P
ES O N S E S 0 F
T I M OT
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68
swer While the Convention s defi n i tion of the co m lex of biodive rsity is by n e
ce s s i t y b roa d o u r inte r retation of thi s defi n ition woul
d not prec lude any activity
authori zed by e xi st i n g fa w s and would n o t
n i re
us t o do a nythi n g more T hi s
is an issue that pe rt a ins t o existin g laws that fee t wildl ife management T h e trea
t y does not create sup lant o r ch a nge any laws o r autho ri ties now held by Parties
t o the Convention A s t e Pre sident stated in his lette r of t r ansm i ttal
existing pro
gr ams and autho ri ties are conside red su f ficient to enable any activities necessary
to e ffectively i mplement o u r re s
n s i b i li t ie s u nde r the Convention
Que s ti on Is it in the re alm o po ssibility that actions by the part ies t o the tre aty
could result in mandat ory pro hibitions on habitat u se s? F o r example co uld any pro
h ib it i o n s on the explo ration o r development o f U S oil o r mi ne ral rese rves a rise
fro m this treaty?
An swe r Articles in the treaty pa rallel the approach of U S law T h e treaty does
not g o beyon d what the U S al ready does I n o u r vi ew the tre aty does not an d c an
not obligate the U S to i m o se spec ific p ro hibitions on fo r ex ample o il an d gas o r
m i ne ral activity could re su p
t fro m this treaty An y such prohibitions would re main
a domestic decision
Qu e s ti on E xpla i n how and in which i nstances n ational strate gies lans and pro
grams will be develope d as requi re d by the treaty Would this o r co n d this inclu de
st ra t e g ie s fo r the management of national and inte rnational fishe ri es resou rces fo r
instance ’
An swe r T h e Convention does not requi re that each Part y develop a single na
t i o n a l biodi ve r sity st r ategy I t requi res development of st rategies pl a ns o r pro
grams o r adaptation of existing strategies plans o r ro g ram m e s whi ch re flect the
measu res set out i n the Convention A s state d in the t te r o f T ransmi ttal the Unit
ed States has a tightly woven a rt n e rsh i p of Federal State an d p ri vate secto r pro
grams in management of o u r ands and wate rs and thei r resident and mi a t o ry
species T h e Unite d State s doe s not intend to disrupt the existi ng bal ance o f e de ral
and State autho rities th rough this Convention It is o u r conclu sion that we have
met the lette r o f the Convention with o u r existi ng e ffo rts
It is also t rue that bio dive r sity conside rations a re inc reasin gly being taken into
account in the pro gramm es plans and strate e s o f resou rce m a nagement a e n c ie s
and in inte r agency e ffo rt s T o the extent t fi
a t st r ategi es fo r national an
inte r
national fishe ries resou rces evolve in this di r ection this would be consistent with
but not requ ired b the Convention
Qu e s ti on T h e o n v e n t io n seems t o mi rro r o r anticipate the creation o f the N a
t i o n a l B i o lo c a] Su rvey at the De a rt m e n t of the I n te rior T hi s N ational Biolo g ical
Su rvey (N B has not e t been aut o ri ze d by law
I s such a N ational io lo g i c a l Su rvey requi red fo r the U S t o meet its obligations
unde r the treaty?
w ill the implementation of thi s treaty be in tegrate d with the activities of the
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N
swer T h e Admi n istration has dete rmin ed that no additional legislation is re
qui red to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity C reation o f the N a
t i o n a l Biological Su rvey (N B S ) is n o t requ ired fo r the U S t o meet its obli gations
u nde r the Convention Existing p rograms and relate d e fforts a re su f ficient to allow
the United States t o fulfill the i n vento ry and m o n ito rin responsibilities unde rtaken
as a Pa rt t o the Convention on Biological Diversity
e new organ iz ation wi ll e u
able the S t o meet these dem a nds mo re e f ficient] by maki ng i n fo rmation mo re
accessible and by focusing scienti fic re sou rces mo re e Ic i e n t ly
With respect t o authori zation the N B S was create d by Secreta ri al Order in Sep
tembe r 1 9 9 3 N o autho ri zing le s la t io n i s necessa ry fo r the Sec reta ry to reo rganiz e
existing pro ams within the e pa rt m e n t in this manne r T h e same ro c e ss was
u se d to esta li sh the M ine ral s M anagement Se rvice (M S ) in 1 9 8 2
S has been
ope rational fo r 1 2 years T h e N B S is essentially a re o rganization o f existin g biologi
cal re se arch invento ry an d mo n i to ring and i n fo rmation t ransfe r programs fro m
seven bu reaus of the De art m e n t o f the In te rio r
Qu es ti on Yo u a re u n ely t o success fully i mplement a national biological dive r
sit pro gra m without me an i ng fu l part icipation b the States
H o w will you facili tate State pa rticipation in t ese e ffo rts?
T h e reco r d of the A dm inistration t o involve the States in existing ecosystem m an
a g e m e n t p rograms have been acco r ding t o of fi cials in my State less than sa t i s fa c
to ry Wh y should they believe that this will imp ro ve if this tre aty is ratified an d
implemented?
An
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69
there any u n funded mandate s to Stat es that will result fro m the i m ple m e n
t at io n of this t re aty?
C an States qu alify as N G O s at fu tu re meeting o f the parties ?
E xi sting lawsuits an d legal deci s ions deali ng with the sco pe o f the Fede ral A dvi
so ry Committe e Act have placed a cloud over the ro le states will play in develop i n g
mean i n gful pa rtne rshi ps with the federal agencies in the se a re as I s this a dm i n is
t ra t io n in favo r of exempting the implementation of this t re aty fro m the p ro visions
of the Fede r al A dvi s o ry Committe e Act ?
A nswer T h e A dmini stration has consulted in de t h with the I nte rnational As so
A ) w ic h re p re sents State Fish and
ci a t i o n o f Fish and Wil dl ife A ge ncies (IAFW
Wildlife Agencies on the Conventio n on Biological Dive rsity A re p re sentative o f the
IAFWA was on the Unite d States delegation to the negotiations o f the Convention
as well a s to the Firs t I nte r governmental M eeting on the Convention on Biological
Diversity Wh ile we a re open to he ari n the views of an y State go ve rnment o u r
A We will continue t o wo rk closely with
p ri ncipal contact t o date has been the
an d co o
rate with the IAFW
A and othe r constituents on Convention implementa
tion an in pre par ations fo r the second I nt e r go ve rnmental Committee M eetin g the
Con fere nce o f the Parties an d other futu re meetings
I n h i s Lette r of T ransmitt al P m s i de n t Clinton states that the A dmi nistr ation
does n o t in tend t o disrupt the existing balance of Federal and State autho rities
th rough this Convention I ndee d the Admi n istration is comm i tte d t o ex ) anding an d
strengthe n i n g these relationships Both in matte rs unde r the gene ra lpu rv iew of
t h e Co n ventio n and in othe r matte rs this A dmi n ist ration w ill wo rk actively with
states
Followi n g the conclu sion that existing pro grams and autho ri ties a re conside red
su f fi cient to enable an y activities necessa ry t o implement o u r re sponsibilities unde r
the Convention the re are no un fu nded m a ndate s t o the State s that will result from
im plementation o f this tre aty
N o Art icle 2 3 of the Convention p ro vides that any bo dy o r agency whethe r g o v
e rn m e n t a l o r non go ve rnmental qualified in the fields relating to conse rvation and
sustai nable use o f biologica l di ve rs ity may be conside red fo r obse rve r statu s B e
cause States have a gove rnmental function they do not quali fy as non gove rnmental
o rganizations N o r under U N p ract ice would individual States withi n a fede ral sys
te m qu al ify as go ve r nment a l bo dies
As state d above the A dmi nistration is comm itted to wo rking closely with and co
ope rating with the IAF WA and othe r constituents on Convention implementation
and in preparations fo r the second I nte r gove rnm ent al Committee Meetin g the Con
ference of the Parties and other futu re meetings so that the views of State s a re ac
cu rately and adequately re fl ecte d in U S positions
Pre sident Clinton stated in h i s lette r of transmittal that thi s A dmi n i stration is
comm itted t o expandin g an d strengthening the fede ral state and p rivate secto r
p artne rship in man agement of o u r lands and wate rs and their re sident migr ato ry
species T h e Pre sident also state d that we look fo rw ard to continued coope ration
with the States in conserving biological di ve rsity and p ro moting the sustainable use
of its components We believe coope ration in implementing the Biodi versity C o n v e n
tion can be achieved without a change to the Fede ral A dvisory Comm ittee Act
Que sti on U S Fish and Wil dl ife Directo r Mollie Beattie has indi cate d that Fed
e ral Ai d in R esto ration funds di stributed to the states through the Pittman R obe rt
son and Dingell-J o h n st o n /Wa llo p B re au x programs should emphasize regio nal and
national p ri o rities
W ill an y o f these fu nds be targeted requ ire d o r use d t o i mplement re quire ments
o f this t re aty?
A ns we r I t was neve r the intent of the Fish and Wil dlife Se rvice t o ta rget Fede ral
A i d dolla rs o r to require the States t o help fu nd national and re gional p rio rities
such as those related to the Convention on Biol o gical Dive rs ity We do not have
legal autho ri ty t o mandate that States s pend thei r money o n p ro jects not consistent
with the pu rpo ses o f the Fede ral Aid in Wildlife and Spo rt Fish R esto ration Act s
M any States cu rrently coope rate with the Se rvice on majo r re sou rce issues o r p rio r
ities T hese Ooope rative e ffo rt s a re focuse d p ri marily on mi grato b irds endange red
species and wetland re sto ration It is the desire and in tent o the Se rvice to e n
h ance the se co ope rative ventu res by asking the State s to as sist us o n identifying
major resou rce issues and in the de v e lo ment o f st rate gies fo r add re ss ing these is
sues State pa rticipation would be t o t 1y voluntary In addition we do not have
legal autho ri ty t o mandate States to spend thei r money on ro e ct s not consiste nt
with the pu rposes of the Fe de ral Ai d in W il dli fe an d Spo rt is R esto ratio n Acts
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P
T I MOT
ES ON SES o r
H
Y E WI R T H
QU EST I ONS A SKE
D
S E N AT OR B R OWN
Que s ti on A dequate ro t e cti o n o f intellectu al prope rt y h as been cite d by both
President Clin ton an d t e State Depa rt ment as a m atte r of a ram o u n t inte rest As
a p ract ical matte r can yo u tell u s what steps a re o pen t o e Un ite d State s once
we be come a party t o the Bio di ve rsity Co n ve n tion if i n the futu re we shoul d become
di ssatisfied with th e p rotectio n o f in te llect ual prope rt y whi ch is be i n g a ffo rded
u n de r the Convention?
An swe r We will encou r age countri es t o rely o n the Conve n tion as an au th o rit
and as an impetu s fo r imp ro ving their domestic in te'llectu al pro rt y stems W:
will hol d countries t o their obli gations u nde r the G A T T s T r ade filate yAspe ct s o f
I n tellectu al P ro rt y R ights Agreement (T R I PS ) whi ch sets a m i n i mum fl oo r o f pro
t e ct io n fo r in tel e ctu al ro pe rt
We will se ek firrth e r impro vements i n in tellect ual
rt y
ro te ct io n i n tp
e m ar ets of ou r t radi n g part n e rs
pro
n i st rat i o n will contin ue t o a ddress in te llectu al pro pe rt y co n ce rn s as a
e A
trade matt e r We w ill rely as we have in the past o n bilate ral consultations and
n egotiations t o addr ess inte llectu al p ro pe rt y conce rns we have with o u r t radi ng
p art ne rs We will also rely o n the soon -t o be established Wo rld T r ade Org an ization
to address intellec t u al ro pe rt y issues cove re d by the T R I PS A greement
With re s ct t o the Convention we will actively encou rage the Confe re nce o f the
Parties to ocus its atte ntion on the b roade r issues o f technology transfe r and sci
e n t i fic and te chn ical coo pe ratio n
rathe r than the spec i fic question of intellectu al
e rt y standa rds
pr p
p
0 the extent that inte llect u al
ro pe rt y issues a re rai se d i n the activities unde r
the Co n ventio n we will active ] advance o u r views in suppo rt of adequate and e ffe c
tive levels of protection fo r inte e c t u a l pro pe rt
An y action that has the e ffect o f de n yi n e fy
e ct iv e
ro t e c t io n o f inte llectu al pro p
e rt y rights will co ntin ue t o be viewed by t e U n i te d
tat es as an one rou s an d egre
g i o u s bu r den on tra de that is actionable unde r domestic law
Qu e sti on I n the implementatio n o f this Convention it is possible to establish
some so rt of li n kage between the pro te ction affo rded inte llectual ro pe rt y and the
gr anting of awa rds fo r ca rryin o u t pro jects design ed t o p rotect bim fi
v e rsi t y?
An swe r I n the G EF we w i g contin ue t o p ro mote the adequ ate and e ffective pro
te ct io n o f [ P B S and t o facilitate the t r ansfe r of techn ology consistent with Art icle
of the Convention In sofa r as the G EF has agreed t o follow the policies strat
e g y p rogr am p ri o rities and eli gib ility c ri te ria of the Convention we would expect
that the pro ms and pro jects of the G EF will be in acc o rdance with Art icle
Que sti on
e United State s has repeate dly stated its oppo sition t o a fo rmulation
of a biosafety pro tocol unde r the Convention If the Confe re nce of Pa rties n e v e rt h e
less decides t o g o forward with the fo rmulation of such a Convention what will be
the position o f the Un i te d States? Would the Un i ted States be bou nd by su ch a
biosafety p rotocol?
A nswer Should discussions on the issue of a biosafety protocol procee d the A d
mi n istration in close consultation with the in te reste d parties inclu ding the bio
techn ology indu stry and envi ro nm ental groups will wo rk t o ensu re that
bios afety regim e that might ari se from the Convention is sci enti fically base d
analyt ically sou nd
Should a p ro tocol be conclude d under the Convention the Unite d State s would not
be bo un d t o that pro tocol unless the United States becomes a Party t o it
Qu e s ti on As is the case with eve ry in te rnational agreement o f thi s magn itude it
contain s p ro visions whi ch a re not prec ise and could be the subject o f v aryin g i n te r
re tation Will you state fo r the reco rd the te rms and con ditions u nde r whi ch the
Un ited State s woul d feel it n ecess ary to withdraw fro m the T reaty ove r matte rs of
inte rp retation?
A n swe r We do not anticipa t e that withdr awal fro m the Convention w i ll be nec
essary Howeve r Article 38 of the Convention sets fo rt h express p rocedu res that any
Party m a y invoke to withdraw fro m the Convention If it becomes clear that the
U S long te rm i nte re sts will n o t be se rved b contin ued pa rtici ation in the C o n v e n
tion the U S will consider a ll its options If necessa ry the 8 would exe rcise its
right t o withd raw fro m the Convention
u e s ti o n
Once the Convention is in place what do you estimate the total fin a n
ci g comm i tment o f the U S government t o be ?
A nswe r T h e U S has pledged $ 4 30 million t o the re structu re d G EF ove r the next
fou r ea rs T his voluntary contri bution will satisfy o u r fin anci al comm i tments unde r
the go n v e n t i o n fo r the cu rrent re le n i sh m e n t pe riod Of the cu rrent G EF reple n i sh
ment which totals $ 2 bi llion a su gst a n t i a] po rtion will g o t o B iodive rsity Convention
decisions o n o u r v o lu n t
financial comm itments will
related p rojects Fu tu re U S
be t aken befo re futu re G EP reple n ish m ent sessio n s n dete rm i ning o u r volu n t ary
R
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71
contri bution the U S will take into consideration gui dance from the Confere nce o f
Part ies to the Convention as t o the a m ount of re sou rces necessa ry as well as eval
u a t i o n of facto rs of the C EP S pe rfo rman ce such as the G EF S capacity t o p roce ss
the
abso
rptive
capacity
M
ost
ro jects
an d
recipients
to
re ceive
ro j e ct s
p
I m po rt a n t ly l th e Un i ted State s wi ll sys t ematically evaluate the OE Fpolicy frame
wo rk an d o u r own ca pacity t o contribute
Que s ti on Have yo u established a ceili n g o f financial commitment whi ch the U S
Go ve rnm ent will not exceed? If so what is the ceil i ng?
An swe r As state d above we have made a volunta 1 ple dge to the cu rrent re ple n
i sh m e n t of the G EF T h e Unite d State s will make d
ecisions with re gard to futu re
volunta ry fu n di n g levels pri or to futu re G EF pledgi n g sessions taking into ac count
the facto rs enume rate d above
T h e A dmi n i stration will not re quest fun di n g fo r me etin g o u r co m mitme nts unless
we are convince d that a legi tima te need exists we are satisfied that o u r resou rces
will be wise ] 3 n t and we have made o u r own dete rmin ation o f an appro priate
amou n t fo r t e S t o pay
Que sti on What safe uards exist in the Convention whi ch protect the U S govern
ment from u n acce pt abge financial co mmitments?
An swe r T h e Confe re nce of Part ies (C OP ) t o the Convention d oes n o t set the levels
of financial commitments of Pa rt ies T h e C OP can o n ly give gu idance to the fin an
ci a l mechani sm on the amount o f re so u rces n eeded
It is impo rt an t that the Unite d States a rt i c i pa te in the fi rst C OP t o play a ro le
I n this regar it should a l so be note d that a lt h o u h the
rep aring th i s guid a nce
in
3
C Op
cannot in any way bind the dono r nations to fin a ncial co m mi tments U par
t i c i pa t io n in d evelopment o f rules o f p ro cedu re at the fi rst C OP will ensu re that the
rules with re ga rd t o fu nd i n
fu lly pro tect do n o r inte rests
T h e G E F will make a ll e ci si o n s with re spe ct to ope rational modalities to t r ans
late polic guidance from the C OP in to projects T h e re fo rms in the G EF gua rante e
that the n i te d States as a large dono r will have a comm ensu rate in fluence over
fu ndin decisions
All g 8 financi al comm i tments unde r the Convention are met through o u r co n
t ri bu t io n to the financial mechanism A s stated above o u r dete rmi nation of the U S
volunta ry contribution t o the OEF will be gu ided by input fro m the C OP t o the Con
v e n t io n
and the G EF as well as o u r own evaluation of the success o f the OEF and
o u r ca pac i t
t o cont ri bute
T h e to t
a mount of re sou rces available t o the G EF w ill be dete rmine d by the
donor countri es taki ng in to account C OP guidance o n amount o f resou rc es neede d
and the pro g rammin g requ ests o f the G EF
Finally it must be em h as ize d that develope d countri es do not have an obligation
t o fund all measu re s ta en by developing count ries t o implement the Convention
but o n ly the agree d full increment al costs of im pleme n ting m easu res that a re a ed
betwee n a developin g co untry party an d the institutional structu re ope ratin g t e fi
n an c i a l mechan i sm
Que s ti on Coul d you explain the financial me cha n i sm in the Convention and how
it relate s t o the Co n fe re nce of Pa rties?
An swe r Art icle 2 1 of the Convention establishes a mechan i sm fo r the p rovision
o f fin ancial re sou rces t o assist developing count ries i n implementation o f the Con
v e n t io n
T h e Convention al so ro v i de s fo r an i n stitutional structu re t o ope rate the
P
'
financial mecha n i sm T h e G EI h as been acting as the institutional st ructu re o n an
i nte ri m basis and we antici ate that it will be design ated as the pe rmanent i n s t it u
t i o n a l st ru ctu re at the fir st o n fe re n ce of the Pa rties o r S ho rt ] the rea ft e r
T h e re lationshi p between the OEF and the Confe rence 0 the Pa rties is estab
lis h e d in the Convention an d is fu rt he r addre sse d i n the U S statements of u nde r
standi ng Unde r the Conventio n au t h o rit of the Con fere nce of the Parties relate s
t o dete r min ing fo r the pu rposes o f the
o n v e n t io n
the poli cy strategy rogram
ma n c i a l
p ri o ri ties and eligibility cri te ria re lating to the access to and utiliz ation of p
resou rces unde r the financi al mecha n i sm T h e G EF howeve r will make all deci
sions with re s ct t o O pe rational modalities to tr anslate that policy guidance in to
p ro jects T h e o n fe re n ce o f the Pa rt ies will also pro vide advice as to amount o f re
sou rces needed by the financial mechani s m Howeve r as the U S state ment o f n u
de rs t a n di n g emphasizes noth i ng i n the Convention autho ri zes the Con fe re nce of the
Parties t o take decisions conce rnin g the amount natu re frequency o r size o f the
co ntributions of the Pa rties t o the institutional structu re
Qu e sti on How doe s the State De art m e n t lette r o f submittal mo di fy the potenti al
v e rn m e n t?
fi nanci al comm itments o f the U S
An swer T h e State Depart ment lette r o f submi ttal does not modi fy the financial
comm itme nts o f the U S gove rnment I t me rely clar ifies the U S i nte retation o f
the text of the Convention o n issues of the authori ty o f the Co n fe rence 0 the Parties
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72
ove r the financial mecha n i sm the re quire ment that both costs an d measu re s be
a
d between the G EF an d the developin g country and the scope o f the au th o ri t
o
the Co n fe re n ce of the Part ies with respect to the a m ou n t of re sou rces nee de
by the fi n a ncial mechanism
,
,
“
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0
I SB N
0- 1 6
-
0 4 48 1 4 - X
90000