Objective
Access & benefit sharing (ABS) mechanisms - where access to genetic resources (generally in developing countries) is bargained against benefits used for conservation actions – were formed to mitigate deep inequalities between countries and biodiversity actors originating in the colonial history of plant genetic resources’ collection and use. However, these inequalities are currently under threat by technological innovation such as Digital Sequence Information (DSI), which alter the nature of bio-based R&D. DSI revives the past ABS fight between the Global North and South over the control of genetic resource. It is thus urgent to unpack the issues at stake by listening to all actors involved in biodiversity conservation and DSI innovation. In response, DecoLawBiodiv proposes a novel approach to explore how a decolonial reading of biodiversity conservation law can contribute to reach the international objectives of biodiversity conservation laws, sustainable use and fair and equitable ABS.
DecoLAwBiodiv will dig to the roots of the ABS North/South divide and (1) account for actors’ interactions, including power games in negotiation arenas; (2) highlight the multiple actor groups’ understandings of key ABS concepts, rights and obligations; and (3) scrutinize the negotiation processes using a decolonial lens. DecoLawBiodiv’s theoretical ground-breaking nature lies in the holistic study of DSI within the ABS market-based, legal and institutional frameworks using conflict transformation theory. The methodological originality is to spell out the decolonial lens through the circle of dialogue of wisdom method in 3 case studies (Bolivia, India, South Africa) in order to transform the ABS/DSI conflict into mutual understanding and support between actors and lead to a decolonized co-creation of knowledge for an effective international biodiversity conservation legal regime.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC GrantsHost institution
4000 Liege
Belgium