BIODIVERSITY PROSPECTING AND BENEFIT-SHARING - PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

Searching for new biologically active compounds from natural sources s tarts, obviously, in the field. Plant, microbial or animal materials t o be sought and investigated may be selected through a number of appro aches. No matter what selection criterion(a) is (are) used, the first step in obtaining the organism concerned is to undertake field collect ing work to search for and to collect the organism. Good knowledge on the ecogeographic distribution and precision in the taxonomic identifi cation of the organism(s) sought are crucial if the field work involve s the search for a pre-determined organism or set of organisms. Such k nowledge and precision during field work are of secondary importance, however, if the search and collection are based on biodiversity or eth nomedical uses, since accurate taxonomic identification may be made at a later date, in a Museum or Herbarium environment. When an individua l or institution from a biotechnologically developed country wishes to obtain indigenous raw biological material from a biotechnologically l ess developed country, an agreement for the procurement of such raw ma terial may be negotiated. Since the effort to search and develop a bio logically active compound(s) from natural sources is a long-term proce ss that involves teamwork between field and laboratory scientists, the success of the endeavor will depend in large part on the continued fl ow of raw material from the field. Goodwill to maintain such a flow ma y be achieved through appropriate scientific and monetary compensation s, both in real-time and in long-term sharing of the benefits of disco very. Only with the prospect of financial return to the supplying coun try will there be an incentive for the protection of the natural resou rces towards sustainable use and development, as well as to allow time for continuing explorations and discoveries.