By Rachel Chase
Peru’s efforts to preserve valuable biodiversity have been so successful they’re now advising other countries on the issue.
Andrés Valladolid of Peru’s National Biopiracy Commission, told press that “We have a law that establishes a regimen of protection for the collective knowledge held by indigenous peoples in relation to biological resources. This law is unique, and it’s considered all over the world as an example.”
According to NordGen, an organization dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity, genetic resources are,” living material that includes genes of present and potential value for humans. Plant genetic resources includes all our agricultural crops and even some of their wild relatives because they too often have valuable traits.”
Perú is now advising Ecuador as they look to improve protection for their own genetic resources. “We’re supporting Ecuador as they implement a system like ours.