Partnerships for Equity
Empowering Indigenous Peoples through Access and Benefit Sharing
The lush and vibrant landscapes of the Philippines, inhabited by some indigenous communities that have not just survived, but thrived, tell a compelling tale of resilience and stewardship.
These communities - protectors of their invaluable lands and resources - weave their indigenous knowledge systems and practices (IKSP) into the rich tapestry of the country's biodiversity and sustainable development. They often tap into this ancestral wisdom to make medicines, cosmetics, and industrial uses, oblivious to the immense potential it holds for the bio-industry, biodiversity, and humankind.
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Project is a product of the combined efforts of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB). The project is designed to unlock this potential. It aims to stimulate economic growth and safeguard biodiversity by establishing benefits-sharing agreements between indigenous communities and all stakeholders in the value chain.
In harmony with the theme of this year's International Day for Biodiversity - "From Agreement to Action: Build Back Biodiversity" - the ABS Project demonstrates a global commitment to biodiversity conservation. It is a pledge to equitably distribute benefits derived from the use of genetic resources and the associated traditional knowledge of indigenous communities. Since the Philippines acceded to the Nagoya Protocol in September 2015, implementing ABS has been a concerted effort to amplify the voice of the indigenous peoples in the management and utilization of their resources.
In collaboration with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the ABS Project has undertaken a series of site-selection assessments in Bataan, Pampanga, and Zambales. This cooperative effort peaked in a nationwide orientation seminar in Quezon City in March 2023. The seminar served as a melting pot for dialogues on cultural sensitivity, gender responsiveness, ABS, IKSP, and Free Prior Informed Consent processes, addressing crucial facets of ABS implementation and laying the groundwork for future initiatives.
The ABS Project team had discussions with Maporac Ayta leaders in Cabangan, Zambales, one of the project’s potential sites. Photo by Orange Omengan/ABS Project
The ABS Project team had discussions with Maporac Ayta leaders in Cabangan, Zambales, one of the project’s potential sites. Photo by Orange Omengan/ABS Project
In an age when understanding the intersections between economic development, environmental protection, and social equity is on the rise, the ABS Project is a beacon of progress. It seeks to empower indigenous communities, equipping them to negotiate with researchers and the private sector, and paving the way for mutually beneficial agreements.
Take the banaba tree as an example. Its leaves are traded in large quantities for their health benefits, and as an ingredient in anti-diabetes tea. However, the indigenous communities, the true proprietors of this resource, often remain in the dark about the ultimate use or commercial derivatives of banaba. The ABS Project is stepping in to change this situation, fostering a trade system that is fair and equitable. Through the ABS Project, the banaba tree emerges as a symbol of hope and an emblem of the potential of equitable partnerships.
Salvador Dimain, Maporac Ayta leader Photo by Orange Omengan/ABS Project
Salvador Dimain, Maporac Ayta leader Photo by Orange Omengan/ABS Project
The ABS Project is not just a step forward. It is a considerable leap towards
empowering indigenous peoples to manage their resources. Through ongoing policy development, awareness raising, and capacity-building activities, the project prepares these communities to form meaningful partnerships and equitable agreements, providing a framework for potential future gains.
Through initiatives like the ABS Project, we are charting a course toward a world where the stewards of our biodiversity are recognized, valued, and actively involved in decisions that shape our collective future.
The Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Project, also known as the Implementing the National Framework on Access and Benefit Sharing of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in the Philippines, is implemented by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau (DENR-BMB), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines with generous support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
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