Gangtok, Apr 22 (UNI) International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development(ICIMOD) today proposed setting up a common platform in the Eastern Nepal-Sikkim-Bhutan corridor for establishing regional Access and Benefit Sharing(ABS) regime from their biological resources.
''We have to come up with a common understanding and platform on the regional context to ensure a smooth ABS regime for local community,'' said Dr Eklabya Sharma, Programme Manager of ICIMOD, during an international consultative orkshop on ABS being held at Gangtok today.
Several bio-diversity stakeholders from Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim are attending the two-day workshop that seeks to form strategies on various issues relating to Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) ratified by the global community and prevention of bio-piracy while protecting traditional knowledge.
While the Kathmandu-based ICOMOD project on ABS focus on four countries-India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, Dr Sharma highlighted on the need for regional platform.
Sikkim, which Dr Sharma termed as a natural laboratory, is a bio-diversity rich region extending around 100 kms from south to west straddled between Eastern Nepal and Bhutan.
''We look forward to corridor development between these Himalayan countries for protection of wildlife, biodiversity and at the same time, ensuring livelihood options for the local community by landscape management and ABS, Dr Sharma said.
Sikkim forest minister S B Subedi highlighted the strategic international position of the state with respect to its rich bio-diversity.
Sikkim, which with only 0.2 per cent land in the country boasts of 26 per cent of India's biodiversity, is being recognized as a bio-diversity hotspot.
''The key to ABS is how the rules are implemented and how can the commercial companies are regulated so that Sikkim can benefit from its vast resources,'' Mr Subedi said.
Sikkim government had already established the state Biodiversity Board on 2006 with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chairperson and framed the Biological Diversity Act.
The entire strategy of ICIMOD for Eastern Nepal-Sikkim-Bhutan corridor development will be revealed during a two day meet at Bhutan on May 6, Dr Sharma said. Government representatives from this corridor will be attending the meet and if an agreement is reached, then works for landscape management can be considered, he added.
An ambitious trekking route dubbed ''Great Himalayan trek'' spanning from Eastern Nepal upto Bhutan through Sikkim is a part of this landscape management plan.
UNI BG LL AKJ KP1858
''We have to come up with a common understanding and platform on the regional context to ensure a smooth ABS regime for local community,'' said Dr Eklabya Sharma, Programme Manager of ICIMOD, during an international consultative orkshop on ABS being held at Gangtok today.
Several bio-diversity stakeholders from Nepal, Bhutan and Sikkim are attending the two-day workshop that seeks to form strategies on various issues relating to Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) ratified by the global community and prevention of bio-piracy while protecting traditional knowledge.
While the Kathmandu-based ICOMOD project on ABS focus on four countries-India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, Dr Sharma highlighted on the need for regional platform.
Sikkim, which Dr Sharma termed as a natural laboratory, is a bio-diversity rich region extending around 100 kms from south to west straddled between Eastern Nepal and Bhutan.
''We look forward to corridor development between these Himalayan countries for protection of wildlife, biodiversity and at the same time, ensuring livelihood options for the local community by landscape management and ABS, Dr Sharma said.
Sikkim forest minister S B Subedi highlighted the strategic international position of the state with respect to its rich bio-diversity.
Sikkim, which with only 0.2 per cent land in the country boasts of 26 per cent of India's biodiversity, is being recognized as a bio-diversity hotspot.
''The key to ABS is how the rules are implemented and how can the commercial companies are regulated so that Sikkim can benefit from its vast resources,'' Mr Subedi said.
Sikkim government had already established the state Biodiversity Board on 2006 with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling as the chairperson and framed the Biological Diversity Act.
The entire strategy of ICIMOD for Eastern Nepal-Sikkim-Bhutan corridor development will be revealed during a two day meet at Bhutan on May 6, Dr Sharma said. Government representatives from this corridor will be attending the meet and if an agreement is reached, then works for landscape management can be considered, he added.
An ambitious trekking route dubbed ''Great Himalayan trek'' spanning from Eastern Nepal upto Bhutan through Sikkim is a part of this landscape management plan.
UNI BG LL AKJ KP1858
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