Win for conservation as new fund is set up
Cali Fund was launched on February 25 in Rome.
4h agoGILBERT KOECHClimate Change
For too long, companies have benefited from genetic resources without fair compensation.
Now, they will contribute to a global fund that ensures equitable sharing of benefits. This is particularly important for countries like Kenya.
In the past, communities have lost out on critical compensation when their genetic resources were exploited.
A well-known example is the bacteria from Lake Baringo, which was used to bleach jeans.
Foreign companies profited, but local communities received nothing in return.
The new Cali Fund, co-run by Unep, aims to prevent such injustices. The fund will support biodiversity protection, sustainable use of resources, and help indigenous communities who are the true custodians of nature.
Half of the resources will go directly to them, addressing their self-identified needs.
Pharmaceuticals, biotech firms, and other industries profiting from genetic data must now give back.
The Digital Sequence Information they rely on is a shared global resource. It plays a key role in food security, health, and environmental protection.
Ensuring fair contributions will strengthen research and conservation efforts worldwide. The swift launch of the fund, just months after its approval, is a testament to international cooperation.
Unep, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and partner nations have set a precedent.
The message is clear: businesses must act responsibly and support biodiversity.
