REGIONAL ABS CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

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REGIONAL ABS CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP FOR
EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA

• ZAMBIA PRESENTATION
• BY
• LOVEMORE SIMWANDA AND RICHARD M. LUNGU

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INTRODUCTION

• Zambia is a land-locked country
• Estimated at 750,000 km2 in size
• Bordered by eight countries
• Falls Zambeziana biome and Afromontane elements

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INTRO CONTD

• Miombo woodlands dominant species
• 5,500 vascular plant species
• 233 Mammal species
• 731 Bird species
• 200 Fish species

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Genetic and Biological Resources Endowment

• Agricultural crops
• Forestry resources
• Domesticated and wild animals
• Nurtured and maintained by local communities
• Through traditional management systems/practices
• Rich biodiversity currently threatened through
  erosion and loss

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Name and Type of Genetic Resources

• No data on prospected Genetic and Biological
  Resources (scanty)
• No definite information on ABS
• On-going bioprospecting believed to cover
  medicinal, pharmaceuticals, veterinary, wild teas
  and vegetables etc.
• Botanical and Zoological Taxonomy collections
  done and recorded.

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Actors involved

• Overall mandate under Ministry of Tourism,
  Environment and Natural Resources (MTENR)
• Composition of the MTENR ZAWA, FD, ECZ, TDD,
  ENRMD, PID, NM, NHCC
• Stakeholders NGOs, Private sector, Civil
  Society, projects-JFM, CBNRM, CRBs.

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Use of Genetic and Biological Resources in Zambia

• Traditional Medicine
• Refer to table given
• However, no guidelines for bioprospecting
• No penalties for any violations

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Types of ABS Agreements

• General Permits, MOUs, Special Permits etc.
• Based on National Policy and legislative
  frameworks.
• Example, Missourri Botanical Gardens of USA

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Agreed Benefits

• No clear guidelines on benefits
• However, MOUs do stipulate some ABS issues

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Benefits Realised to-date

• Data on collected wild species related to
  agriculture crops
• Zambians work as counterparts to international
  experts
• Capacity building in herbarium samples handling
  and management

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Direct contribution to Poverty Reduction

• Policy formulation addressing CBNRM initiatives
• Improved livelihoods and income generation in
  piloted areas

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Lessons learnt

• Limited skills in processing and management of
  genetic and biological resources
• Lack of governance and accountability in the
  management of genetic and biological resources
• Lack of understanding on issues of patenting and
  IPR regimes related to ABS

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Lessons Contd

• Lack of adequate understanding of the impact of
  CBD in association with 27 (3b) on TRIPS and WTO
  issues.
• Policy development process that are all inclusive

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Way Forward

• There is need to develop an Access and Benefit
  Sharing regime for Zambia by reviewing the
  current relevant legislation to help remove the
  existing ambiguity on ABS.
• There is need to initiate Access and Benefit
  Sharing regimes pilot programmes on specific
  genetic resources bioprospecting in Zambia

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Way forward Contd

• There is need to facilitate and develop capacity
  in ABS regimes implementation and management by
  all stakeholders involved particularly the main
  actors.
• There is need for mainstreaming ABS regimes into
  National Policies and Legislation, including
  development plans and strategies.

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Way Forward Contd

• There is need to facilitate and document
  existing ABS regimes in practice in all community
  based natural resources management programmes
  that have been implemented in the country to date
  i.e. forestry, wildlife, tourism, agriculture,
  fisheries, pharmaceuticals and traditional
  medicine.

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• THANK YOU