Download - Biopiracy Crackdown Results
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
1/11
SHARE: submit print
About | Contact | Mongabay on Facebook | Mongabay on Twitter | Sub
Rainforests | Tropical fish | Environmental news | Blog | For kids | Madagascar | Photos | Non-English languages | Tropical Conservation Science | Jobs
Biopiracy crackdow n results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies,receives mixed reviews
Morgan Erickso n-Davis, mongabay.comDecember 31, 2010
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Email:
Agoda.com/Hotels Ads
Penny Ande rson Associates
Ecology & Evironmental Consultancy Our
knowledge is your advantagewww.pennyanderson.com
Rolex Enterprise Aw ards
Recognizing Pioneering Projects ThatContribute to HumankindRolexawards.com
Brazil Bahia Investments
Exclusiv Villas, Land or Business Beach front or
Sea View Investmentswww.brazilbahiaproperties.com
Is Jesu s Really God?Scholars Examine the Facts About Jesus' Claims
to be Godwww.Y-Jesus.com/JesusGod
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
1 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
2/11
The giant monkey frog (Phyllomedusa bicolor) is known for its mind-altering skin
secretions. Shamans in the Amazon rain forest have used this species in hunting
rituals. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
The Brazilian government is stepping up anti-"biopiracy" measures and imposingsubstantial fines on companies which make use of rare plants or animals withoutgiving adequate compensation to Brazil or its indigenous communities. The moveattracts criticism by some who believe that it hampers scientific research.
Ads by Google
Zero Energy Design EBookwww.ZeroEnergyDesign.com1000 Free-Fuel Energy Savings Ideas Reduce Your Energy Bills to ZERO
Gas Turbine OperatorsMeeFog.com/Gas-TurbineSeeing 20% power loss on Hot Days? MeeFog augments MWs for only $25/kW Advertising Policy
Brazil's unique species have been exploited for centuries by businesses which oftenmake fortunes while overlooking local communities. For instance, the slime from
Kambo frogs, found in the Amazon state of Acre, has been used by pharmaceutical
companies to develop anti-inflammatory drugs without granting Acre residents anyof the profits. In the 1960s, the hypertension medication Captopril was developed bythe US drug company Squibb (now Bristol-Myers Squibb) using the venom of theBrazilian viper - Bothrops jararaca. The venom causes a sudden, massive drop inblood pressure and was used by Indigenous populations on their arrowheads. Itshould be noted that actual snake venom and frog slime are not used in themanufacturing of these drugs.
Brazil's anti-biopiracy initiative began in 2001 with a ruling creating the currentlaws which control species use. The government will expand the program with aproject called "Operation New Direction" which may hike up fines to $29 million with
a possible loss of patents for companies found to be using species which they haven'tregistered.
"Given that (fighting biopiracy) is a new process and that Brazil has one of thebiggest reserves ofbiodiversity in the world, Ithink most of this activityis illegal, and we're goingto find those people,"
ABOUT
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciationwild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact ofemerging trends in climate, technology, economics, andfinance on conservation and development (more)
Help support mongabay.com when you buy from
Amazon.com
POPULAR PAGES
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
2 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
3/11
Bruno Barbosa, of the environmental oversight agency Ibama, told Reuters.
One of the largest fines imposed so far has been on the cosmetics company, Natura.The Brazilian company was fined $12.4 million for allegedly including unregisteredgenetic material in its products. Natura denies any wrongdoing and is appealing thefine.
"The company will appeal all of the legal actions, because it is sure it complied with
the fundamental principles of the Convention on Biological Diversity," Natura said ina statement. "Natura has been a pioneer in Brazil in reaching agreements to share
benefits with traditional communities."
Critics say that the anti-biopiracy measures often make it impossible to ship samplesabroad for medical analysis which could provide benefits for all. Zoological researchcan also be hindered, inciting skepticism that the rules are applied too generally.
"The current law is very vague on a lot of points, it ends up classifying everybody asillegitimate," Raul Telles do Valle who works with ISA, a think tank on social andenvironmental issues, told Reuters. "Just passing out fines under the existing
framework isn't going to solve the problem."
He believes that the measures should be more concerned with determining how to
compensate local populations from collective knowledge passed down overgenerations.
However, Barbosa maintains that the fight against biopiracy is important topreserving sensitive environments and promoting fair profit distribution.
"This is going to enable concrete alternatives that substitute destruction of theecosystem for new economic mechanisms," he told Reuters.
Ads by Google
Be Green. Be Good.www.responsibility101.comFor New Year Give Your Life a Sustainable Makeover!
Eco-friendly Technologywww.konicaminolta.comChange the future with advanced technology printers.
Canada BC Rainforest Tourwww.coastalrevelations.comDiscover BC's giant trees, wildlife Vancouver Island guided hiking tour
Rainforests
Rain forestsAmazon deforestationDeforestationDeforestation statsWhy rainforests matterSaving rainforestsAmazon rainforest
Congo rainforestDeforestation statsRainforest canopy
News
Most popular articlesWorth saving?Forest conservationEarth DayPoverty alleviationCell phones in AfricaSeniors helping AfricaSaving orangutans in BorneoPalm oilAmazon palm oilFuture of the AmazonCane toadsDubai environmentInvesting to save rainforestsVisiting the rainforestBiomimicryDefaunationBlue lizard
Amazon firesExtinction debateExtinction crisisBlackwashingIndustrial deforestationSave the AmazonRainforests & REDDBrazil's Amazon planMalaysian palm oilAvatar storyNew GuineaSulawesi
Amazon ranching
Amazon JungleExpeditionEnjoy our adventureand nature packagesat Altos del PastazaLodge
www.altosdelpastazalodge.
Jangala RetreatAn All-Inclusive YogRetreat On The BanOf The Amazon Rivewww.jangalaretreat.com
Davlin ThomasExtraordinary ideasfrom obscure places.
See the theatrical
sublimewww.creativecaribbeannetw
Commercial ShipSecurityArmed security in Gof Aden Embarkteams- Djibouti-Salalahwww.mast-commercial.co
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
3 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
4/11
i i kd l i $59 i fi f ili i i i d i h // b /2010/1230 bi i b il h l
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
5/11
Advertisements:
Mongabay Store
Wildlife of Madagascar T-shirt Bold and Dangerous - Pygmy tyrant
Photos
Alaska Argentina Australia
Belize Brazil Cambodia
Indigenous ExperienceUnique stay in Aboriginal Community
within Kakadu National Parkwww.connections.travel
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
5 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PMBi i kd l i $59M i fi f B ili i i i d i h // b /2010/1230 bi i b il h l
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
6/11
Love me before I'm gone -Gladiator frog
Licking this frog may make youcrazy
China Colombia Costa Rica
Deforestation Frog Gabon
Grand Canyon Honduras India
Indonesia Kenya Laos
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
6 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
Bi i kd lt i $59M i fi f B ili i i i d i htt // b /2010/1230 bi i b il ht l
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
7/11
Lemur Madagascar Malaysia
Monkey New Zealand Panama
Peru Rainforest Sunset
Suriname Tanzania Thailand
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
7 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
Biopiracy crackdown results in$59M in fines for Brazilian companies receives mixed reviews http://news mongabay com/2010/1230 morgan biopiracy brazil html
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
8/11
Uganda United States Venezuela
HIGH RESOLUTION PHOTOS / PRINTS
CALENDARS
Mount Kenya
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
8 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
Biopiracy crackdown results in$59M in fines for Brazilian companies receives mixed reviews http://news mongabay com/2010/1230 morgan biopiracy brazil html
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
9/11
East Africa Safari WildlifeKenya's Turkana PeoplePeruAfrican WildlifeAlaskaChinaMadagascar Chameleons
CANVAS BAGS
Hallucinogenic frog bagMadagascar wildlife bag
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
9 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
Biopiracy crackdown results in$59M in fines for Brazilian companies receives mixed reviews http://news mongabay com/2010/1230 morgan biopiracy brazil html
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
10/11
Sandra Gwen Bright Lisa Isabel
Lisa Paul Ellis Teng Lim
Mongabay.com on Facebook
3,197 people like Mongabay.com.
Like
Mongabay.com Harpy eagles nest in Belize for the first time
in over 60 years (pictures) http://sns.ly/iFd71
Scientists have confirmed the presence of a harpy eagle nest
in the Maya Mountains of Belize. The discovery represents the
most northerly breeding pair in the Americas , and signals acomeback for a species which has become lo...
See more
5 hours ago via SNS Analytics
Mongabay.comhttp://news.mongabay.com
/2011/0105-peru_kirkland.html
Renewed conflict betw een tribes and
oil companies looms in Peru
news.mongabay.com
Indigenous peoples and their allies have
intensified their fight against two oil
companies over contamination in the
Peruvian Amazon. Last week, a group of
indigenous protesters blockaded portions of
Mongabay.com's Fan Page on Facebook
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
10 of 11 7/1/2011 12:48 PM
Biopiracy crackdown results in$59M in fines for Brazilian companies receives mixed reviews http://news mongabay com/2010/1230-morgan biopiracy brazil html
-
8/8/2019 Biopiracy Crackdown Results..
11/11
Copyright mongabay 2010
Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from mongabay.com operations (server, data transfer, travel) are mitigated through an association with Anthrotect,an organization working with Afro-indigenous and Embera communities to protect forests in Colombia's Darien region.
Anthrotect is protecting the habitat of mongabay's mascot: the scale-crested pygmy tyrant.
Biopiracy crackdown results in $59M in fines for Brazilian companies, receives mixed reviews http://news.mongabay.com/2010/1230-morgan_biopiracy_brazil.html
11 f 11 7/1/2011 12 48 PM