​What's the Nagoya Protocol?

​So we've gone over what the CBD is, we know how it operates, and we know the main part of their decade long plan.  What we haven't talked about yet, however, are any of its protocols.  Way back on day 2, I mentioned that at COPs the CBD works on creating and reinforcing protocols, so today I'm going to focus on its major one: The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity (it's a bit of a mouthful).  The protocol was adopted on October 29th, 2010, but only came into effect on October 12, 2014, and provides a legal framework for enforcing the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.  It essentially covers how countries are allowed to use and share natural materials- something hugely important if we're trying to protect and sustain biodiversity.  Currently, Canada has not signed on to the protocol.  For more information, go here!