The Earth's genetic resources of plants and animals exist mainly
in the developing South. The Convention on
Biological Diversity, which came into force in December 1993,
stipulated that if any external party wishes to
access these resources it can do so only with the prior consent of
the country where they are found. But
three-quarters of the botanical gardens, which are mega
storehouses, holding samples of as much as half of all
vascular plant species in the world, are located in the North. In
their quest to discover new sources of plant
derived drugs, pharmaceutical giants are now approaching botanical
gardens to buy samples of tropical plant
diversity. They are finding it easier and more convenient to enter
into corporate deals with the gardens than
negotiating access with the Southern nations. But in the
commercial sale of tropical plants held in Northern
botanical gardens, the rights of the countries of their origin arc
being ruthlessly sidelined.
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