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Researcher Name: Nina Moeller Project Start Date: Project End Date: Contact Details: n.moeller@lancaster.ac.uk Funder: ESRC Background: The aim of this project is to enhance social scientific knowledge and understanding of indigenous perspectives on the commercialisation of traditional knowledge and plant genetics in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The project aspires in particular to clarify potential gender differences in these perspectives. It forms part of a wider project entitled ‘Indigenous Peoples and Globalization of Genomics Knowledge in Amazonia’ which has as its objectives: analysis of indigenous perspectives on genomics on the local level; analysis of key networks through which Amazonian peoples represent their perspectives on genomics; exploration of the possible emergence of shared discourses on genomics among Amazonian peoples in a context of globalisation. The world-wide market for products derived from biodiversity is estimated as US$500-800 billion per annum. In a context in which scientific knowledge of biodiversity is limited to approximately 1.7 million of an estimated 14.5 million species, ‘indigenous’ or ‘traditional’ knowledge of the environment is regarded as playing a vital role in facilitating the identification of genetic materials for potential commercial development. The Ecuadorian Amazon is home to an estimated 108,000 indigenous people divided into seven groups and Ecuador is an important actor in international policy debates surrounding traditional knowledge and genetic resources under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). However, existing evidence suggests an increasing resistance within local communities to cooperation in the commercial development of their knowledges. Local indigenous organisations, such as the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), and the Confederation of the Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE), as well as international networks and fora, such as the Coordinating Body of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), the Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network (IWBN) and the Amazon Alliance are persistent in challenging and articulating their concerns about the growing trends towards the commercialisation of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources. This project seeks to elucidate the reasons for such resistance with a particular focus on the following questions: what are the actual developments in patent and other intellectual property claims over biological and genetic material originating in Ecuador; what legal and other measures have been taken, or are proposed, to ‘protect’ traditional knowledge and establish benefit sharing arrangements with Amazonian peoples in Ecuador; to what extent is a dialogue between indigenous peoples and actors representing other interests on the national and international level taking place; are the existing formalised articulations of this resistance congruent with community level perspectives, and in particular with indigenous women’s perspectives? The CBD has recently emphasized that trust is the fundamental precondition of progress in the pursuit of the third objective of the Convention, that is, the sensitive issue of access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of these resources. In view of developments in this area, in particular the initiation of negotiations to develop an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS) under the CBD, the proposed project aims to identify which factors have thus far supported, or hindered, the process of building a relationship of trust between indigenous peoples and other actors in ABS arrangements. The research aims to be particularly attentive to those factors which affect indigenous women’s perceptions of this relationship. Special attention will also be given to issues of cosmology-based divergence in conceptions of justice, rights, and consent. Aims and Objectives: Research Methods: Key Findings: Wider implications for policy: Project Update: Publications: External Links: Further information:
The aim of this project is to enhance social scientific knowledge and understanding of indigenous perspectives on the commercialisation of traditional knowledge and plant genetics in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The project aspires in particular to clarify potential gender differences in these perspectives. It forms part of a wider project entitled ‘Indigenous Peoples and Globalization of Genomics Knowledge in Amazonia’ which has as its objectives:
The world-wide market for products derived from biodiversity is estimated as US$500-800 billion per annum. In a context in which scientific knowledge of biodiversity is limited to approximately 1.7 million of an estimated 14.5 million species, ‘indigenous’ or ‘traditional’ knowledge of the environment is regarded as playing a vital role in facilitating the identification of genetic materials for potential commercial development.
The Ecuadorian Amazon is home to an estimated 108,000 indigenous people divided into seven groups and Ecuador is an important actor in international policy debates surrounding traditional knowledge and genetic resources under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). However, existing evidence suggests an increasing resistance within local communities to cooperation in the commercial development of their knowledges. Local indigenous organisations, such as the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE), and the Confederation of the Indigenous Nationalities of the Ecuadorian Amazon (CONFENIAE), as well as international networks and fora, such as the Coordinating Body of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), the Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network (IWBN) and the Amazon Alliance are persistent in challenging and articulating their concerns about the growing trends towards the commercialisation of indigenous knowledge and genetic resources.
This project seeks to elucidate the reasons for such resistance with a particular focus on the following questions:
The CBD has recently emphasized that trust is the fundamental precondition of progress in the pursuit of the third objective of the Convention, that is, the sensitive issue of access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of these resources. In view of developments in this area, in particular the initiation of negotiations to develop an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing (ABS) under the CBD, the proposed project aims to identify which factors have thus far supported, or hindered, the process of building a relationship of trust between indigenous peoples and other actors in ABS arrangements. The research aims to be particularly attentive to those factors which affect indigenous women’s perceptions of this relationship. Special attention will also be given to issues of cosmology-based divergence in conceptions of justice, rights, and consent.
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