Conservation, Sustainable Use and Equity in Biological Resource Research and Development Governance: Australian Scientists’ Perspectives

The access and benefit sharing (ABS) concept was originally intended to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of biological resources and traditional knowledge for research and development (R and D). Many anecdotal studies suggest that global regulatory models are failing to deliver expected outcomes, with increasing calls to rethink ABS governance. Through the first nationwide survey of Australian scientists, this article aims to fill a significant gap in empirical research about biological resource user perspectives on the effectiveness of ABS regulation. The survey results include insights into: (a) the nature and diversity of bioscience activities; (b) bioscience researcher engagement with benefit sharing and ABS procedures; (c) perspectives of effectiveness (impacts and efficiency); and (d) ideas for regulatory reform. The study finds that participants support benefit sharing goals but generally perceive current approaches to ABS to be ineffective. Highlighting a thriving benefit sharing culture in R and D but low levels of engagement with ABS processes, the study reveals insights into motivations for benefit sharing and indicators of effectiveness for regulatory regimes. The findings offer lessons for countries that are developing ABS measures to achieve conservation, sustainable use, and equity outcomes.