The Indian foreign minister stressed the need for "an ambitious and at the same time equitableandfair outcome" at the Copenhagen international climate conference later this year.
It represents a dramatic step forward in the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fairandequitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.
On the last day, after intense negotiations, the meeting agreed an important new international protocol on access to genetic resources and the fairandequitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation (known as Access and Benefit-Sharing, ABS).