Biodiversity, Botanical Institutions and Benefit sharing: Comments on the Impact of the Convention on Biological Diversity

In this paper, we add our considerations to Miller’s analysis (this volume) of benefit-sharing and the impact of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) on botanical research. However we will focus on the benefits arising from non-commercial research in botanical institutions rather than those from natural products discovery programs. We also reflect upon some lessons learned from ten years ’ experience of using agreements and establishing models for equitable benefit-sharing at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Kew decided quite early on to take a proactive stance on the CBD, largely because the usefulness of its global collections to science and conservation is dependent on its ability to acquire, use and exchange material legally, in line with all relevant national and international laws and best practice. The adoption of Kew’s first Policy on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing (in 1997) was accompanied by significant changes to its research and curatorial practices, and we continue to review the policy and procedures and their effectiveness. It is a good time to review the impact of the CBD, as several initiatives of particular significance for botanical research were adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its most