Title: Community BioBank: Thailand initiative for sustainable bioeconomy

Biography:

Tanit  Changthavorn has his expertise in legal aspects of bioresources and traditional knowledge as well as intellectual property laws. He has passion in working with communities to promote conservation and sustainable  use of bioresources and traditional knowledge. His research experiences focus on legal management of bioresources. He jointly developed models of management of material transfer for microbial resources. These models have been introduced to and adopted by research organisations in some Asian countries. 

Abstract

Biodiversity-Based Economy Development Office (BEDO) has ultimate goal to create employment, income, and opportunities for the local communities in Thailand. BEDO promotes bioresources utilization for economic purposes, to encourage conservation of biodiversity and traditional knowledge. In 2015, BEDO developed the Community Biodiversity Bank or Community BioBank concept for initiating the natural resources repository at the community level. “Community BioBank” means a place for storing bioresources and traditional knowledge with the participation of the community in maintenance and management of local bioresources. Those bioresources are preserved and maintained to be alive for propagation. The Community BioBank can be used as a source for research and development of bioresources diversity, and as a community learning center leading to protection and sustainable utilization. Community BioBank consists of 3 elements: 1) Living Collections, both In situ and Ex situ; 2) Database; and 3) Management of Material Transfers from and into the BioBank. In December 2016, the first Community BioBank, Longan Community BioBank, was officially established in the Nong Chang Keun sub-district, Lamphun province.   Indigeneous longan varieties of this area more than 200 longan trees have come from over 12 varieties. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: The operation requires collaboration of community organizations, local administrative bodies, and educational institutes. Local administrative organization role is to support operations or areas for storing community bioresources whereas educational institutes provide scientific knowledge. BEDO has the duty to provide financial support for Community BioBank’s operation namely surveys, mobile application to collect information, gathering of samples and recording of local biological resources in database system. Conclusion & Significance: Community BioBank serves as one of the mechanisms driving conservation and utilization of bioresources through community’s participation. This, together with rules and principles for sustainable resource conservation, will serve as a crucial instrument in generating income for the people.