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 - Biotechnology involves the
use of all life forms for human welfare. Therefore, extinction of wild
species and destruction of ecosystems has been a major concern of
policy makers and biotechnologists alike. One of the major efforts,
has been to conduct a survey and conserve country's biodiveristy,
so as to save wild plants and animals from extinction.

National parks and sanctuaries have been established in many countries to

meet this objective. Under the auspices of the United Nations also, funds are being established and
other efforts being made for conservation of germplasm at the global level. Biodiversity studies thus
include the following:

(i) a systematic examination of the full array of organisms on this globe and
(ii) a study of the methods by which diversity can be maintained and used for the benefit of mankind.

A discussion on biodiversity in a book on biotechnology is relevant, because biodiversity is being

utilized to provide genes from wild species for biotechnology exercises. In recent years, a discussion on
biodiversity has become important also because countries in the North of the hemisphere (developed
countries) have been utilizing biodiversity available in the South (developing countries) without paying
any compensation.

Several Biodiversity Conventions were held in 1992 for discussions

on measures required to be taken by developing and developed
countries to preserve the biodiversity at the global level. In this
connection the latest Biodiversity Convention was held in May,
1992 at Nairobi to formulate a treaty, that was desired to be signed
at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED)
later held in Brazil in June 1992.

In this treaty, an agreement was sought by the developed countries

to allow, as a matter of right, ac cess of every country on the
germplasm or biodiversity available anywhere in the world. Since
tropical countries are far richer than temperate developed
countries, such a treaty would have benefitted only the developed
nations.

In view of this, the South (particularly India) had rejected such a treaty desired to be signed in this
convention. Such a rejection was also based on the argument that while the convention was meant to
globalize the natural resources, it did not want to globalize the benefit derived from biotechnology
inventions.

Instead, the developed countries wanted to privatize biotechnology through patents and other
intellectual property rights (IPR; consult next two chapters for details).

Similarly, to the disadvantage of developing poor countries, the concept of Plant Breeder's Rights
(PBRs) was recognized in the North ignoring the Farmers' Rights for compensation desired to be given
to poor farmers in the developing countries. Although, most countries agree to the need of preserving
biodiversity, there is disagreement on the issue of who will pay for it.

 While the developing countries feel that the conservation efforts will depend on flow
of money from rich nations, the latter reject such a treaty to avoid payment of
compensation for the losses, which the poor nations suffer due to inadequacy of their
efforts towards biodiversity conservation.In view of serious implications of


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the biodiversity
studies on developments in biotechnology


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