Custodians of biodiversity : sharing access and benefits to genetic resources

Co-published with EarthscanThis book addresses biodiversity, crop improvement and natural resources management. It outlines current national and international policy processes underway to protect local genetic resources and related traditional knowledge and the challenges these initiatives have faced. These themes are addressed within the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. The experience of knowledge-holders or “custodians of biodiversity” (farmers, herders and fishers in local communities) in access to, and benefit sharing (ABS) of genetic resources, is crucial for the development of effective national and international agreements