The maintenance of biological and cultural diversity is of global concern. Developing countries are major centres of biological and cultural diversity. Indigenous peoples frequently possess knowledge that provides a key to natural products of economic value.
All national governments have sovereignty over their biological resources.
There is a need for further investment in training and technology in developing countries and for equitable partnerships with developed countries in order to obtain new products from biological material. National governments, with advice from appropriate professional organizations within the region, develop adequate legislation to exercise control over the collection and export of biological material. As a high priority, governments, international agencies, multinational corporations and academic institutions, through training, laboratory construction and technology transfer, should support the development of human and material resources needed for all aspects of local biological evaluation of indigenous materials for conservation and for managed development. Internationally recognised professional societies develop a code of ethics that facilitates the formation of equitable partnerships in the development of new products from biological material. Mandatory royalty or licence agreements be established to ensure fair and equitable distribution of benefits to the region of origin.