In recent years the potential of biological resources to yield million-dollar drugs, including treatments for major diseases such as AIDS and cancer, has focused international attention on bioprospecting. (Bioprospecting is the search for genes and chemicals in biological resources to produce commercial products such as pathogen-resistent crops and medicines. The market value of medicines derived from natural products has been estimated at $50 billion). Whilst developing countries have been asserting their right to share in the benefits from biodiversity taken from their territories, conservationists have had hopes that bioprospecting could help to "save the forests," by generating economic incentives for conservation. However, it is becoming increasingly apparent that bioprospecting can neither provide significant national revenues, nor make a major contribution to the costs of national authorities for protecting biodiversity. It can, however, produce significant economic, social and environmental results at local level, if local people are compensated for providing raw materials such as plants and traditional knowledge. Contractual agreements have begun to emerge that compensate governments and research organisations in developing countries, but they tend not to compensate local people. If bioprospecting is to have a role in sustainable development, there is a need to ensure that local people receive a share of the benefits.

The primary vehicle for regulating and promoting bioprospecting is the Biodiversity Convention (CBD), which has been ratified by 171 countries and the European Community. The CBD has three objectives: the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of biodiversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. Article 8 (j) obliges countries to, inter alia, encourage the equitable sharing of benefits from the use of indigenous and local knowledge.

To increase the understanding of developing country governments of the modalities of securing local participation in the design of benefit-sharing policies, legislation and procedures (under the Biodiversity Convention).

• An overview paper on experiences involving local stakeholders in the design of benefit-sharing measures in several developing countries.
• A research approach to review and assess participatory consultation processes.
• Four case study reports examining experiences involving local stakeholders in particular countries or regions.
• Final report containing four case studies, comparative analysis and recommendations for policy makers on how to involve local stakeholders in the design of benefit-sharing measures.