Demapan introduces Richard B. Seman Bioprospecting Act of 2021

Rep. Angel A. Demapan (R-Saipan) has introduced a bill that seeks to regulate bioprospecting activities within the CNMI in order to ensure prior, informed consent, and equitable sharing of benefits.

Biodiversity prospecting or bioprospecting means any search, analysis or study of naturally occurring biological processes, organic compounds, living or dead organisms, genetic information and DNA, and any other naturally occurring substances, processes and outputs found in the CNMI, for purposes of discovering something useful or commercially valuable, whether or not the search, analysis or study is conducted on-site or if materials were removed for off-site investigative processing.

“As people of the land, it’s important that we make every effort to safeguard our ownership and our rights to the use of our local natural and biological resources,” said Demapan.

Bioprospecting, when properly regulated, generates revenues that can be directly linked to the conservation of biodiversity and to the benefit of local communities.

“These benefits may be monetary and non-monetary. Non-monetary benefits include sharing of research and development results; training through research exchanges and collaborative research; and the provision of equipment and improvement of infrastructure,” said Demapan. “Monetary benefits may be in the form of license fees, payments per sample, and royalties generated from the commercialization of products derived from genetic resources.”

Demapan’s House Bill 22-22 is also known as the Richard B. Seman Bioprospecting Act of 2021. If enacted into law, it will give the CNMI Department of Lands and Natural Resources the authority to promulgate necessary rules and regulations within 180 days. Such rules and regulations will set forth the process for registration and the fee for persons seeking to conduct bioprospecting activities in the CNMI. Demapan also included language to ensure that bioprospecting activities will be subject to the CNMI’s reservation of economic interests.

The legislation is named after the late Richard B. Seman, who dedicated his life to the preservation and protection of the environment, serving the CNMI in multiple capacities, most notably as a representative in the 18th Legislature, director of Fish and Wildlife, director of Agriculture, and as the secretary of Lands and Natural Resources.

“During my term in the 20th Legislature, this was one of the bills that I worked on with then-DLNR secretary Seman,” said Demapan. “He was very passionate about our environment and our natural resources, so I believe it is a proper tribute to name this act after him.” (PR)