Module I: The Business of Biodiversity

Discussion centered on how West Africa should proceed in order to protect its interests and participate effectively in the biological resources market, starting with the overall philosophical perspective. Three basic questions were identified as framing the assessment and action agenda process: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? How do we get there?

Participants also sketched out a process by which progress can be made in this area, consisting of six essential steps:

1. Set up a permanent, influential organizational structure comprising members from each key institution and involving NGOs and other stakeholders, e.g., a national steering committee charged with determining the status and direction of biological resources policy and coordinating the roles of the various agencies;
2. Review existing policies, strategies, and laws (including contract law, intellectual property rights, wildlife laws, and enforcement procedures) in order to determine the extent to which the current legal and policy framework addresses the pertinent challenges;
3. Assess existing bio-resources and knowledge (including plant, animal, and microbial resources, human resources, infrastructure and facilities, and financial and market resources) to understand better the strengths and weaknesses of the nation;
4. Formulate a policy regime for use of bio-resources, i.e., define institutional roles and responsibilities and set priorities, e.g., sustenance of the environment, commercialization/utilization of biological resources, local capacity-building, equitable benefit sharing, etc.;
5. Implement policies and laws, i.e., draft new laws and regulations as necessary, or revise/adapt existing legislation (including efforts to educate and sensitize all stakeholders to the issues and each others’ needs, establish incentives and penalties, formulate specific projects, identify collaborators, and manage information); and
6. Periodically evaluate and review policies and overall strategy, ensuring the receipt of feedback from all stakeholders, with a particular emphasis on the overall socioeconomic effects of the policies.