Why would biopiracy affect India most ? (Short)
Answers
Indigenous people posses important traditional knowledge that have allowed them to sustainably live and make use of biological and genetic diversity within their natural environment for generations. Traditional Knowledge naturally includes a deep understanding of ecological processes and the ability to sustainably extract useful products from the local habitat.
Most Traditional Knowledge is handed down through generations. Components of Traditional Knowledge that are especially relevant to our global survival include knowledge of:
• Food, crop varieties and agricultural/farming practice
• Sustainable management of natural resources and conservation of biological diversity
• Biologically important medicines
The conservation of species, habitat, and biodiversity are essential to the continued survival of indigenous and rural people. By conserving the customs and habitat of indigenous persons we concurrently reduce emissions from deforestation and ecosystem degradation. Furthermore, the opportunity for cultural survival is a basic human right. The traditional knowledge is facing a problem of bio-piracy.
The act of Piracy is unauthorized publication or reproduction of another person’s work or material. When someone indulges in piracy, the accused is using someone’s else’s work illegally or without taking any permission. Biopiracy is the appropriation of another’s knowledge of use of biological resources. Of late, the major issue involving biopiracy is the exploitation of patent biological resources or knowledge of farmers and traditional communities and indigenous tribes by many organizations and multinational companies. The innovations and discovery of the pharmaceutical and agricultural researches are not new as to qualify as invention as they are based on centuries of knowledge of the traditional societies.