International agreement for the use and exchange of classical biological control genetic resources: a practical proposal

Abstract

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Beneft Sharing (ABS) was implemented to further develop the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the fair and equitable sharing of benefts arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. Interpretation of this agreement is wideranging and there is concern that if ABS measures are poorly implemented biological control and the resultant public good will be greatly impeded. The ethos of multilateral use and exchange of geneticresources used in classical biological control will be particularly afected. In the spirit of the fair and equitable sharing of benefts arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, we propose a simple practical solution in the form of an international agreement on the use and exchange of classical biological control genetic resources.