You are currently viewing Pay local communities for indigenous knowledge – Shifeta

Pay local communities for indigenous knowledge – Shifeta


MINISTER of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta says local communities should not share information about their genetic resources for free.

Genetic resources involve any biological material containing genes, such as plant varieties and animal breeds.

Shifeta says those who intend to access Namibia’s biological and genetic resources and or associated traditional knowledge must apply for an access permit and make sure communities benefit from these resources.

“Gone are the times that the lack of legal certainty for access and benefit sharing served as an excuse to exploit communities which nurture biological and genetic resources and preserve the knowledge associated with their use,” he says.

He was speaking at the launch of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) campaign in Windhoek yesterday.

The minster said many of the country’s resources, more specifically indigenous plant products, continue to be utilised for cosmetic or pharmaceutical purposes, without proper benefit sharing arrangements.

Devil’s claw, for example, which has proven medicinal properties, is also important to the national economy, as between N$20 million and N$30 million worth of it has been exported to countries like Germany and France annually over the past years.

“Over the years, these resources have provided a supplementary income to vulnerable rural communities with limited agricultural harvests or livestock to fall back on. In addition, for that reason, we need to protect their rights,” Shifeta says.

To streamline this protection of indigenous knowledge the parliament passed the Access to Biological and Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge Act in 2021.

The act intends to regulate access to genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, and to protect the rights of communities over genetic resources and its associated traditional knowledge and technologies.

The ministry also developed ABS legislation to facilitate access to genetic resources for environmentally sound purposes and for fair and equitable benefit sharing resulting from their use.

However, the implementation of this legislation is slow.

Shifeta said his ministry is concerned about effective implementation, but remains optimistic about the administering of the legal framework and overall mandate, which is to ensure adequate implementation and compliance to this legislation.

“Our resources remain below the level of much-needed human capacity and financial commitment to ensure implementation and compliance with the ABS legal framework, but we remain steadfast,” he said.

Immanuel /Gaseb, the chairperson of the council of traditional leaders, said a lack of knowledge and poverty within local communities make them vulnerable to greedy wholesalers and dealers who are happy to obtain raw materials at rock-bottom prices.

“By organising into cooperatives, grower associations and conservancies, we have seen how communities can counteract this challenge.

“I am confident that community-focused ABS awareness campaigns planned by the ministry and all stakeholders related to it throughout the year will further strengthen the hand of our communities in this regard,” /Gaseb said.





Source link