Concluding Regional Consultation Meeting on Preparation of Bhutan’s First National Report on Nagoya Protocol Held in Paro

Paro, January 23, 2026: The National Biodiversity Centre (NBC) successfully concluded the five  regional consultation meetings for the preparation of Bhutan’s First National Report on the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) with a final consultation meeting held at Tsherim Resort, Paro.

The concluding meeting brought together local government representatives and relevant stakeholders from different sectoral agencies to reflect on issues, experiences, and recommendations related to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol in Bhutan. The consultation aimed to gather inputs similar from earlier regional meetings held in Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, Phuentsholing, and Punakha.

During the meeting, participants discussed issues related to the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources, protection of traditional breeds and plant varieties, sustainable management of medicinal and aromatic plants, and the importance of safeguarding community interests while promoting research and innovation. Issues related to access to genetic resources, benefit sharing mechanisms, material transfer agreements, and monitoring and enforcement frameworks were also highlighted.

Stakeholders emphasized the need to strengthen germplasm conservation efforts, improve coordination among agencies, and enhance awareness of the Nagoya Protocol and ABS framework at the local level. The importance of balancing conservation priorities with livelihood needs of farming and highland communities was also underscored.

The National Biodiversity Centre shared updates on the progress of Bhutan’s ABS initiatives, including product development under the ABS framework and the establishment of the Biodiversity and ABS (BABS) Fund to support conservation and ABS related activities. Opportunities for value addition, traceability, and potential geographical indication (GI) mechanisms for biodiversity based products were also noted.

The concluding consultation marked an important milestone in Bhutan’s reporting process under the Nagoya Protocol, with NBC reaffirming its commitment to ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources while strengthening biodiversity conservation and community participation.

The inputs from this final consultation, along with those from the earlier regional meetings, will be consolidated and incorporated into Bhutan’s First National Report on the Nagoya Protocol.