National Biodiversity Centre Represents Bhutan at the 4th Asian Access and Benefit-Sharing Forum in Tokyo, Japan

A representative from the National Biodiversity Centre (NBC), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, represented Bhutan at the 4th Asian Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) Forum (AAAF) held in Tokyo, Japan. The two-day regional forum brought together policymakers, researchers, legal experts, and practitioners from across Asia to exchange experiences and strengthen collaboration on the implementation of Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

The forum was attended by representatives from Bhutan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, and Cambodia, providing a valuable platform for countries to learn from one another’s experiences and discuss common opportunities and challenges in implementing ABS.

On the first day of the forum, participating countries delivered presentations on the status of ABS implementation in their respective countries. Bhutan shared its progress in developing and implementing its ABS framework, including policy and institutional developments, practical experiences, and ongoing efforts to promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources. The presentations were followed by an engaging “Meet the Speaker” session, where participants exchanged ideas, asked questions, and explored opportunities for regional cooperation.

The second day focused on Digital Sequence Information (DSI) and its growing relevance to biodiversity conservation and benefit-sharing. Through expert presentations and interactive discussions, participants explored emerging policy developments, implementation challenges, and possible approaches to addressing DSI within the evolving global biodiversity framework.

The forum served as an important platform for bringing together policymakers, researchers, experts from Asian countries, and Japanese practitioners to openly discuss the practical challenges of implementing Access and Benefit-Sharing.

Bhutan’s participation in the forum reaffirmed the National Biodiversity Centre’s commitment to engaging in regional and international dialogue, sharing national experiences, and learning from best practices to further strengthen the country’s implementation of the Access and Benefit-Sharing framework.