Surveying Illegal Access to Genetic Resources: A Case Study in Borena Zone, Southern, Ethiopia

摘要

One of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) target to realize the mission of reducing pressures on biodiversity is "reduction of unsustainable utilization of biodiversity and ecosystem services". Thus ultimately tackles and controls illicit movement of genetic resources of the country. Therefore, the objective of this study is to survey the current status, routes, impact, means, involved actors and management of illicit access to genetic resources particularly in Oromiya Regional State, Borena Zone. Data were collected from a total of 120 informants selected purposively from Moyalle District, Yabello District and Borena Zone governmental offices. Semi structured interviews, structured questioners; focus group discussion and document analysis were used for data collection. 75.6% of the informants reported that genetic resources are illicitly transferred from Ethiopia to Kenya followed by both Kenya and Somalia (14.3%) informants and 68% of the informants reported that genetic resources are illegally imported from Kenya followed by both Kenya and Somalia reported by (12.3%) of the informants. Merchants were the responsible actors involved (41.6%) in the illegal access to genetic resources followed by transboundary travelers (8.4%). 26.9% of the respondents reported that plants, animals and their derivatives have been illegally transferred to neighboring countries and (16.8%) of them said that animals have been illegally transferred to neighboring countries. 43.7% of the informants stated that the overall multiple impact and trend of illegal access to genetic resources in the future would become high and increased sharply respectively and 42.9% of them said that the current status and trend of illegal access to genetic resources would be intermediate and constant trend respectively. The result revealed that considerable amount of genetic resources around Borena Zone has been subjected to piracy, which will have a probability of intermediate continual impact in the countries biodiversity in the future if appropriate measures are not taken. Therefore, border checkpoints should be strengthens in human capacity and facilities to monitor whether Prior Informed Consent (PIC), Mutual Agreed Term (MAT), Multilateral System and other legal requirements of a particular permit are fulfilled and to undertake technical control. Besides, authoritative and concerned governmental Institution of the three countries (Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia) should work cooperatively to curve out the ecological and economical effects of illegal access to genetic resources by developing and implementing further proper controlling intervention techniques.