ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 5927
Session = 4.19.7


IMPACT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY ON MANAGEMENT OF HERBARIUM COLLECTIONS.


James S. Miller, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO, USA.


The primary objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity are to recognize the value of biological resources, regulate access to them as sovereign possessions of individual countries, and insure that benefits that arise from their development are shared in an equitable manner. While the primary aim of the Convention is to regulate the use of plant genetic resources for commercial research, such as agricultural and pharmaceutical development, the mandate to develop regulatory mechanisms has had a direct effect on basic research including the operation of herbaria. New regulatory procedures have had an effect on access for collectors. Permits for the collection of specimens for basic research are often more complex to obtain and usually require significantly more time to be issued. In addition, the Convention also has implications for distribution and exchange of duplicate and loan specimens. The implications of the Convention as it effects collection, distribution, exchange, and loan of specimens and also exchange and repatriation of collection data will be discussed.


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