Mountain to Mountain Cooperation: Sustainable use of biodiversity, including genetic resources, in the Himal-Andes

FINAL REPORT HERE

This e-conference was organised between 12-30 June, 2006 with the expectation that it would generate a valuable exchange of ideas, experiences and lessons learnt in the management of the two critical mountain regions of the world and help to strengthen existing alliances as well as create new ones to conserve and manage biodiversity, now and in the future.

The first session, "The potential for cooperation in science, technology, policy, for the conservation of genetic resources, indigenous farming systems and sustainable development between the Himalayas and the Andes", sought to review past and present exchanges and explore some areas with opportunities of mutual benefit. The second session focused on "Sharing Himal-Andes experiences and opportunities of technological innovations, socio-cultural adaptation, marketing, risk and opportunities in history and exploring future trends". The third session, "The legal and normative framework for the use of biodiversity and genetic resources and the status of Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) policies in the Himalayas and the Andes", reviewed a critical dimension which has become a key pre-requisite to further a future partnership agenda. The fourth session, "Prospects and challenges for the institutionalisation of information exchange", discussed options towards promoting a more systematic and enduring cooperation on information and resources exchange between both regions.

A synthesis of all the four sessions moderated by experts is presented in the e-conference report in two parts:

1) the first dealing with conservation of genetic resources and indigenous farming systems for sustainable development of the Himalayas and the Andes, exploring the potential for South-South Cooperation through appraisals of past experiences and discussing the risks, opportunities and future trends; and

2) the second dealing with the legal and normative framework for the use of biodiversity and genetic resources and existing Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) regimes, discussing in the process the status of legal frameworks and the ABS regime in the countries of the two regions, key challenges for development of effective ABS regimes as well as the prospects for institutionalising knowledge and information exchange to strengthen South-South Cooperation.