Initial Workshop

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The Dutch-German ABS Capacity-Building
Initiative for Africa

• Initial Workshop
• At the Kirstenbosh National Botanical Garden
• Cape Town, South Africa
• November 19th-24th, 2006

Sustainable Commercialization of Majidea
Zanguebarica (Mgambo)
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Background

• Centre of origin is the Kenyan coastal strip.
• Currently found growing in Hawaii, Barbados,
  South East Asian countries but in an endemic
  manner.
• In Kenya no previously known economic/commercial
  value.
• Found mainly in areas falling under the
  jurisdiction of Kenya Forestry Research
  Institute, Kenya Wildlife Service, Forestry
  Department and on private land.

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Actors Involved

• Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI).
• Growing Gorgeous, (Erin Lee Bratton Betsy Rae
  Mock), a US based partnership housed at the
  University of Wyoming.
• Local Community Groups
• Ufanisi Conservation Group
• Goshi Dairy Self Help Group
• Jiinue Uinuliwe Women Group
• ICIPE-providing legal back-up support to the
  local community groups and KEFRI. Others
  KEPHIS, KWS.

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How the genetic resource isused

• Seeds of the tree used to make jewelry.
• Pods sold as dry flowers.
• Main market is the US.
• No known traditional knowledge.

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Type/kind of ABS agreement

• A Tri-partite Memorandum of Understanding among
  the parties.
• Each partys roles and responsibilities clearly
  laid out.

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Agreed benefits in the agreement Monetary

• Access fees to KEFRI.
• Cash payments to seeds and pods collectors.
• Wages for jewelry makers (the women groups).
• Annual Royalties to each.
• A trust fund for the community groups as a
  source of funds to carry out communal activities
  of their own choice-schools and school fees,
  health centers etc etc.

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Agreed benefits in the Agreement Non-monetary

• Training of the communities by KEFRI of
  sustainable seeds and pods harvesting skills.
• Training of the communities by Growing Gorgeous
  of jewelry making skills.
• Equipment for making the jewelry.
• Infrastructural support to the local health care
  facilities.

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Benefits realized to date

• Cash payment for seeds and pods collected.
• Wages for jewelry makers.
• Jewelry making equipment.
• Training on sustainable seeds and pods harvesting
  skills.
• Training and transfer of jewelry making skills.
• Establishment the tree specie (Majidea
  Zanguebarica) nursery by KEFRI.

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Direct contribution to Poverty alleviation

• Creation of income and employment.
• Training and transfer of skills.
• Sustainable use of local biological resources.
• Other indirect benefits (mainly conservation
  related) arising from increased planting of the
  tree specie by the community, and others.

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Lesson learned to date

• Sustainable exploitation of genetic resources is
  possible.
• The local community involved must be
  identifiable.
• The local community involved must be organized
  in some way in order to acquire locus standi to
  negotiate
• There is a thin line between a genetic resource
  and a commodity

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Changes in national, Regional int. level

• National ABS legislation to set minimum/ uniform
  access and benefit sharing standards at the
  national level focusing on poverty alleviation
• Regional cooperation agreements setting
  standards/ conditions/ rights/responsibilities/obl
  igations on exploitation of cross-border genetic
  resources esp. aquatic resources and border
  measures.
• International ABS framework may be useful in
  setting international standards and reduce
  transaction costs- ITPGRFA may serve as a useful
  lesson herein.

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• Questions/clarifications??
• Thank you.