At the third meeting of Implementation and Compliance Committee to the Nagoya Protocol to the Convention on Biological Diversity, Prof. Qin Tianbao, Vice Dean of Law School, Wuhan University ; Director of the Research Institute of Environmental Law (RIEL), was elected Vice-Chairman of the Committee for a two-year term.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a legally binding international convention of the United Nations aimed at protecting global living resources. The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS), one of the three international treaties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, aim to the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, thereby contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Establishing an Implementation and Compliance Committee is part of the Implementation of ABS. There are 15 members in the Committee, with only three members per district. At the end of 2016, Prof. Qin was successfully elected as a member of the Committee at the recommendation of the Chinese government.

Prior to this meeting, the secretariat of CBD, taking into account Prof. Qin’s professional knowledge and practical experience, considered the nomination of Prof. Qin as a candidate for vice-chairman. Finally, the members of the Committee voted unanimously to agree on the personnel case at its third meeting.

Prof. Qin has long been engaged in biological genetic resources, biosecurity, natural protection, wildlife protection and other biodiversity related laws and policy issues research. As the chief expert, he is undertaking the research on the major project of the National Social Science Fund, “The Study of Legal Regulation of Biodiversity Conservation under the Holistic System View” at present. He has also participated in the relevant domestic legislation and international negotiations on biodiversity, giving full play to the advantages of scholars, providing theoretical support, and achieving better social benefits.

Prof. Qin’s election as Vice-Chairman is an important progress of the project under his lead and the construction of RIEL, which is conducive to further enhancing the academic reputation, political competence and international influence of Wuhan University School of Law.

Edited by Yuan Yuhang & Wu Liuqing