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Rampant Biopiracy in Indonesia as Government Not Sided with Biodiversity Conservation

Redaksi — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 14:00:53 +0000

Bogor (Greeners) – Despite of its vast biodiversity richness and being a member of global coalition, Indonesia keeps on losing its biodiversity. In addition, the country’s national policy is criticized for leaning to economics and politics rather than environment.

Endang Sukara, member of Indonesian Academy of Sciences and Professor at National University, said three major biodiversity conservation issues are, — the policies do not touch biodiversity, it requires long-term commitment, and bio-ethics has never been the foundation for policies on sustainability.

Furthermore, Sukara said that Indonesia has ratified Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which was held in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. In addition, Indonesia is actively participating in Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) and declaration on environment and development.

He said that biodiversity convention is the core of Earth Day celebration which took “Protect Our Species” as this year’s theme.

“Unfortunately, this biodiversity convention does not really attract attention, though Indonesian government had ratified the convention under the 1994 Law,” he said in Bogor, on last Tuesday. “However, commitments from public and government are lacking. The proof, our biodiversity keeps on missing, meanwhile, the aim of the convention is to protect our rich biodiversity.”

Endang Sukara, member of Indonesian Academy of Sciences and Professor at National University. Photo: Endang Sukara

The reason is, he added, because of unsustainable biodiversity management. As a result, Protocol Nagoya was agreed in 2010 which underlines prior informed consent from originating nation before accessing genetic resources.

“Protocol Nagoya is specialized on benefit sharing of biodiversity resources, benefit sharing of traditional knowledge, for instance communities who have been consuming herbs for many years, if someone wants to use it, there will be regulations and it’s already explained in the convention. In addition, benefit sharing of researches which give added value to biodiversity,” he said.

He said that greed and biopiracy has reduced Indonesia’s forest covers, currently less than 19 million hectares out of 120 million hectares. The covers rapidly declining in the 1980s, during President Soeharto administration, who used to control millions of hectares of lands via Lands Ownership Rights.

“We are fortunate for 50 conservation areas, however there are interventions from other parties, such as lack of national parks monitoring and land expansion. If [we are] willing to clear forests for industrial plantation forest, then that’s okay, if [forests] turn to cities, that’s also okay. Those are only exploiting natural resources but not planting. Instead, they plant palm oil and acacia, which are different, no longer as primary forest,” he said.

He said that Earth as human’s carrying capacity drastically declining and in peril. It is obvious as water being polluted, with Indonesia ranked as the second highest polluted oceans in the world.

“The pollution also violates bio-ethics. It is unethical to Earth if that’s how we treat Earth. In policies, science technology and culture should be considered. [However], all influences in politics and investments have bring no benefits,” he said.

Reports by Dewi Purningsih

Indonesia Not Ready To Implement Nagoya Protocol

Redaksi — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 12:14:28 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Convention on Biodiversity Development (CBD) and Nagoya Protocol are international agreements to tackle climate change but also protection on natural resources.

CBD had been ratified under the 1994 Law on United Nation Convention on Biological Diversity Ratification, meanwhile, the latter was ratified under the 2013 Law on Nagoya Protocol which discussed on genetic natural resources benefit sharing.

Unfortunately, Endang Sukara, senior researcher on microbiology of Indonesian Institute for Sciences (LIPI) said that despite of ratifying Nagoya Protocol in 2013, Indonesia has yet to set up national strategic plan on Access Benefit Sharing (ABS).

“We have to immediately brought in best negotiators for this issue and it must be done cases per cases. We also need to have lawyers in the biodiversity field. So, even if we ratified the 2013 law, Indonesia does not have a strong position,” said Sukara while talking at Diskusi Bhumi, held by Indonesian Botanical Gardens Foundation, in Jakarta, on Wednesday (27/9).

Nagoya Protocol is aiming to provide access and benefit sharing for genetic resources uses and traditional knowledge, including its derivatives. Other aim is to prevent biopiracy.

Furthermore, he said, Indonesia’s homework was to actually implement the 2013 law considering there were no derivatives that regulated the implementation of Nagoya Protocol in the ground and no management authority had been formed.

“I have recommended to use the existing institution with the suitable competence, for instance [Ministry of Environment and] Forestry for biodiversity inside forest areas, LIPI as academic reviewers, agriculture, marine and fisheries, all of those areas need to have clear basis,” he said. “There should be a proper clearing house connected with all parties ratifying the Protocol. The important thing now is to form the management authority as soon as possible.”

Diskusi Bhumi is an event part of Jaga Bhumi Movement initiated by Indonesian Botanical Gardens Foundation. The movement was launched on May 2017 and will end on April 2018. For further information on the event, go to www.jagabhumi.com.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

The New Patent Law Aims To Protect Genetic Resources

Redaksi — Sun, 28 Aug 2016 16:38:32 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Aside from Ministerial Regulation on Genetic Resources, protection to these resources can also be under the newly issued Law on Patent, said a senior official, in Jakarta, on Tuesday (23/8).

Director General of Research and Development, Ministry Research, Technology, and High Education, M. Dimyati, said that Law on Patent could strengthened the protection of the country’s massive genetic resources.

“We will regulate on the research to patent process, and benefit sharing,” said Dimyati adding that foreign tourists and scientists more often than not manage to steal Indonesia’s genetic resources through national parks.

The Law on Patent will be stipulating for foreign scientists to cooperate with local scientists and determine benefit sharing concept.

Similar regulation had also been issued through 2006 Government Regulation on Research and Development Permit for Foreign Universities, Research Institutes, and Development, Foreign Owned Company, and Foreign Individual.

“If it’s for initial assessment, we could let it pass. But, if they’re planning on large scale research and collecting samples then we impose the regulation,” he said.

Enny Sudarmonowati, Deputy of Sciences, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said that there has yet any exact data on potential genetic resources managed to be stolen by foreign scientists then patented abroad. However, from several cases, Sudarmonowati said, that the issue of natural resources protection has lack of attention in Indonesia.

Furthermore, she said that there should be socialization to public on the importance of genetic resources as biopiracy was not limited to illegal activities but also legal practice and straight forward activities.

Indonesia, she said, had already ratified Nagoya Protocol in 2013 on Access to Genetic Resources and Fair and Balance Benefit Sharing from Biodiversity Convention.

“Before Nagoya Protocol and ratification, we had lost lots of opportunities in genetic resources. Our genetic resources were taken outside the country and we got nothing in return,” she added.

Genetic resources are being handled by Ministry of Research Technology and High Education for its permits, meanwhile Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture are dealing with results of genetic resources researches.

Reports by Danny Kosasih

KLHK Prepares Ministerial Regulation to Protect Genetic Resources

Redaksi — Wed, 24 Aug 2016 07:33:24 +0000

Jakarta (Greeners) – Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) is currently preparing a ministerial regulation on benefit sharing and genetic resources protection in Indonesia.

Director of Conservation and Biodiversity, Bambang Dahono Adji, said that the ministerial regulation would be in line with 1990 Law on Conservation and Ecosystem but more technical.

“Our target is that once the 1990 law revision is finalized then the ministerial regulation can be immediately implemented, including Nagoya Protocol which had already been ratified under the 2013 Law on Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources,” said Adji in Jakarta, on Thursday (18/8).

Meanwhile, head of genetic resources directorate, Moh. Haryono said the draft of the ministerial regulation had entered expert discussions.

“Because, the ministerial regulation draft is related with other institutions, such as Ministry of Health, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Indonesian Institute for Sciences, universities, and research and development centers,” he said.

Genetic resources is one of major issue in the 1990 Law on Conservation revision which had entered 2016 National Legislation Program. In addition, traditional knowledge had been included in the revision as part of genetic resources protection.

Reports by Danny Kosasih