Biodiversity research and prospecting are long-standing activities taking place in a new legal and ethical environment. Following entry into force of the Convention on Biological Diversity in 1993, and other recent policy developments, expectations and obligations for research and prospecting partnerships have changed. However, to date there are few guides to integrating these concepts with practice.

This book offers practical guidance on how to arrive at equitable biodiversity research and prospecting partnerships. Drawing on experience and lessons learned from around the world, it provides case studies, analysis and recommendations in a range of areas that together form a new framework for creating equity in these partnerships. They include researcher codes of ethics, institutional policies, community research agreements, the design of more effective commercial partnerships and biodiversity prospecting contracts, the drafting and implementation of national 'access and benefit-sharing' laws, and institutional tools for the distribution of financial benefits.

As part of the People and Plants initiative to enhance the role of communities in efforts to conserve biodiversity and use natural resources sustainably, Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge will be invaluable to students, researchers and local communities, academic institutions, international agencies, government bodies and companies involved in biodiversity research, prospecting and conservation.

Contents

Section 1: Biodiversity Research Relationships - Laying the Foundation; Equitable Biodiversity Research Relationships * Professional Society Standards for Biodiversity Research: Codes of Ethics and Research Guidelines * Institutional Policies for Biodiversity Research * Publication of Biodiversity Research Results and the Flow of Knowledge * 'Giving Back': Making Research Results Relevant to the Local Group and Conservation * Section 2: Biodiversity Research and Prospecting in Protected Areas * Section 3: Community Relationships with Researchers - Building Equitable Research Relationship with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities: Prior Informed Consent and Research Agreements * Section 4: The Commercial use of Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge - Biodiversity Prospecting: The Commercial Use of Genetic Resources and Best Practice in Benefit Sharing * Biodiversity Prospecting Contracts: The Search for Equitable Agreements * Elements of Commercial Biodiversity Prospecting Agreements * Sharing Financial Benefits; Trust Funds for Biodiversity Prospecting * Section 5: National Policy Context - Developing and Implementing National Measures for Genetic Resources Assess Regulation and Benefit-sharing * Section 6: Conclusions and Recommendations * Directory of Useful Contacts and Resources* Contributors' Contact Information * Acronyms and Abbreviations * Glossary * References * Index