Master Class “NAGOYA Protocol and Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): implications for field research/researchers, biological collections/databases and managers”

This MasterClass will provide an introduction to the Convention on Biological Diversity (history, context, Nagoya Protocol, Access and Benefit Sharing, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and Marine Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction) and address concepts, definitions and modalities of implementation of related instruments (Prior Informed Consent,  Mutually Agreed Terms, Genetic Resources, Category of Uses/Users, Digital Sequence Information, Due Diligence and Best Practices, Reporting obligations). Existing Support material and tools for the researchers will be presented and showcased (Best practices, Clearinghouse mechanism, Checklist for researchers). Study cases and examples will allow a more in-depth discussion of the implications of the Nagoya Protocol and Access and Benefit Sharing, complemented by Q&A with the coach (Dr. Filip Colson, VLIR).

This Master Class is a joint initiative by the Flanders Inter-University Council (VLIR) and Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), with the support of the Ocean Teacher Global Academy (OTGA; IOC/UNESCO Project Office for IODE) and Flanders Science Economy and Innovation (EWI), and coordinated under the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by the Decade Implementing Partner (DIP) VLIZ.

Learning outcomes

• Get familiar with the Convention on Biological Diversity
• Understand concepts, definitions and modalities of implementation of related instruments
• Know how to access existing support material and tools for the researchers 
• Understand study implications of the Nagoya Protocol and Access and Benefit Sharing.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity: its rationale and 3 objectives,
• Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), and
• the Nagoya Protocol (NP) as its instrument

• EU
• Belgium: federal and regional regulations
• NP and ABS in UNCLOS, BBNJ
• The central question: Is your research in scope?

• Different ABS laws in different countries
• High stakes of non-compliance
• Steps involved in ABS: PIC & MAT
• Tools: ABS Clearing-House, checklist for researchers,..
• Due Diligence Declarations and best practices
• Benefit Sharing in the context of non-commercial research
• The digital paper trail

• Interpretation of crucial terms: 
• scope, utilization, resources
• Applied in concrete cases: 
• Seagoing research: biological sampling
• Collection management: biological collections
• Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
• Marine Genetic Resources
• Soil samples
• Taxonomy
• Large-scale screening and eDNA
• Intent
• Unknown provider country

Date and venue

Friday 23/02/2024, 10:00am – 12:30 pm. InnovOcean Campus, Jacobsenstraat 1, Oostende.  

Trainer

Dr. Filip Colson (VLIR), policy advisor on Nagoya & ABS

• Seagoing researchers and managers of biological collections and biological databases at VLIZ, ILVO, EMODnet, IODE, and other local institutions.
• Representatives from Marine Research Groups and maritime companies in Flanders and Belgium, in particular, those carrying out research at sea involving biological samples and/or management of biological material.

Provisional Agenda:

• 10AM-10h30 AM: Register and welcome coffee, for external registrations (outside of IC)
• 10h30-12h30PM: Presentation by Filip Colson, including Q&A
• 12h30-13h30: Possibility of a bilateral conversation with Filip, to continue to discuss specific cases.
• 13h30: Closure

Application for participation

Registrations will open on Jan 8, 2024 on https://otga.wufoo.com/forms/z1ru7nc006nxhm8/ until Jan 31, February 16, 2024 (CET 23:59) >> EXTENDED

The event has a limit of 140-160 participants on-site and participation will be confirmed by email. There will be no online broadcast.

Language of instruction

English

Contact

• VLIR-contact person: Filip Colson (filip.colson@vlir.be)
• VLIZ: Juana Jimenez (juana.jimenez@vliz.be), AnnKatrien Lescrauwaet (ann.katrien.lescrauwaet@vliz.be)