Access and Benefit Sharing Toolkit for the Management of Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge in Bhutan

Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) is a relatively new concept in Bhutan since it came to the forefront only after the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol in 2010. While there have been several efforts to create awareness on ABS till date, the need to provide holistic information on ABS under one window for the effective implementation of the ABS regime led to the development of this toolkit. This toolkit provides necessary information on the legal, administrative, and policy framework for the implementation of ABS in the country, including national and international experiences. It is aimed at building the capacities of stakeholders involved in accessing Bhutanese genetic resources and/or associated traditional knowledge such as companies/private enterprises, local communities, policy makers, regulators, public and private research institutions, and academia; and also to serve as a Communication, Education and Publication Awareness (CEPA) material on ABS.