Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale
Biodiversity is incredibly important for the myriad ecosystem services it provides, especially for coastal nations such as The Bahamas. However, the newly implemented access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime is undermining scientific research, which is essential to effectively manage and conserve the...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/5/1/3 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850205537353859072 |
|---|---|
| author | Krista Sherman Craig Dahlgren Charlotte Dunn Diane Claridge Nicholas Higgs |
| author_facet | Krista Sherman Craig Dahlgren Charlotte Dunn Diane Claridge Nicholas Higgs |
| author_sort | Krista Sherman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Biodiversity is incredibly important for the myriad ecosystem services it provides, especially for coastal nations such as The Bahamas. However, the newly implemented access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime is undermining scientific research, which is essential to effectively manage and conserve the country’s biodiversity. Key challenges include a poorly drafted legislation with punitive damages (financial and criminal), an overly bureaucratic and dysfunctional permitting process, and cost-prohibitive registration fees that are unsustainable for most researchers and organizations. As a result, the newly implemented ABS regime is driving the demise of academic and conservation research needed to protect the country’s biodiversity, diverting funding away from The Bahamas, jeopardizing relationships with the international scientific community, reducing its capacity to advance science innovation, and impeding much needed experiential learning opportunities for Bahamian students and professionals. A critical solution under the current permitting regime is the need to distinguish between commercial and non-commercial research in the regulatory framework and provide separate accommodations for the same. Furthermore, countries that consider establishing national ABS frameworks are advised to thoroughly engage with all relevant stakeholders through a transparent and consultative process during ABS design and implementation. This will help to ensure that the resulting legislation and policies do not unnecessarily obstruct the research needed for biodiversity conservation and natural resource management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2b7b4ca76bc140fb95ee078d0c9071ac |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2673-7159 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-2b7b4ca76bc140fb95ee078d0c9071ac2025-08-20T02:11:04ZengMDPI AGConservation2673-71592025-01-0151310.3390/conservation5010003Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary TaleKrista Sherman0Craig Dahlgren1Charlotte Dunn2Diane Claridge3Nicholas Higgs4Perry Institute for Marine Science, 5356 Main Street, Route 100 Suite 2, P.O. Box 435, Waitsfield, VT 05673, USAPerry Institute for Marine Science, 5356 Main Street, Route 100 Suite 2, P.O. Box 435, Waitsfield, VT 05673, USABahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization, Marsh Harbour Abaco P.O. Box AB 20714, BahamasBahamas Marine Mammal Research Organization, Marsh Harbour Abaco P.O. Box AB 20714, BahamasCape Eleuthera Institute, Eleuthera P.O. Box EL 26029, BahamasBiodiversity is incredibly important for the myriad ecosystem services it provides, especially for coastal nations such as The Bahamas. However, the newly implemented access and benefit sharing (ABS) regime is undermining scientific research, which is essential to effectively manage and conserve the country’s biodiversity. Key challenges include a poorly drafted legislation with punitive damages (financial and criminal), an overly bureaucratic and dysfunctional permitting process, and cost-prohibitive registration fees that are unsustainable for most researchers and organizations. As a result, the newly implemented ABS regime is driving the demise of academic and conservation research needed to protect the country’s biodiversity, diverting funding away from The Bahamas, jeopardizing relationships with the international scientific community, reducing its capacity to advance science innovation, and impeding much needed experiential learning opportunities for Bahamian students and professionals. A critical solution under the current permitting regime is the need to distinguish between commercial and non-commercial research in the regulatory framework and provide separate accommodations for the same. Furthermore, countries that consider establishing national ABS frameworks are advised to thoroughly engage with all relevant stakeholders through a transparent and consultative process during ABS design and implementation. This will help to ensure that the resulting legislation and policies do not unnecessarily obstruct the research needed for biodiversity conservation and natural resource management.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/5/1/3biodiversitybioprospectingenvironmental legislationgovernanceNagoya Protocolpermitting |
| spellingShingle | Krista Sherman Craig Dahlgren Charlotte Dunn Diane Claridge Nicholas Higgs Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale Conservation biodiversity bioprospecting environmental legislation governance Nagoya Protocol permitting |
| title | Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale |
| title_full | Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale |
| title_fullStr | Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale |
| title_full_unstemmed | Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale |
| title_short | Implementation of Access and Benefit Sharing in The Bahamas: A Precautionary Tale |
| title_sort | implementation of access and benefit sharing in the bahamas a precautionary tale |
| topic | biodiversity bioprospecting environmental legislation governance Nagoya Protocol permitting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-7159/5/1/3 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kristasherman implementationofaccessandbenefitsharinginthebahamasaprecautionarytale AT craigdahlgren implementationofaccessandbenefitsharinginthebahamasaprecautionarytale AT charlottedunn implementationofaccessandbenefitsharinginthebahamasaprecautionarytale AT dianeclaridge implementationofaccessandbenefitsharinginthebahamasaprecautionarytale AT nicholashiggs implementationofaccessandbenefitsharinginthebahamasaprecautionarytale |