Introduction

In recent years, genetic resources have increasingly been brought under the spell of intellectual property rights, as conceived in the industrialised countries. The unique property regimes enjoyed by traditional communities in many developing countries have been sidelined in favour of Western-derived patent systems. With a widening interest in medicinal biodiversity, the developing countries are likely to derive little or no benefits from their biotic heritage after years of conservation. The recent case of endod, derived from an Ethiopian plant, now being patented by an American university to control zebra mussels, dramatically illustrates the lopsidedness of existing patent regime vis-à-vis the genetic resources conserved in developing countries.

This chapter will focus on two main issues. First, I address the place of medicinal biodiversity in the folk cultures of some communities in the developing countries. In this context, I will provide a review of the conservation efforts made by some countries that have recognised the significance of medicinal biota.

Second, I will explore the impact of uniform patent protection on biodiversity conservation in developing countries. The pressure by industrialised countries to make intellectual property regimes uniform is likely to undermine conservation efforts directed at biodiversity in general. The new diplomatic moves stem from the growing recognition of medicinal biodiversity as vital resources for therapeutic clues.