The overall objective of the ABS Initiative is to contribute – based on business partnerships between South and North at a “level playing field” – to poverty reduction, food security, technology transfer, social development including equity and rights, and biodiversity conservation through implementing the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (NP) and the third objective of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in its entirety: “The fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic/biological resources and of traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding“ In this context regulatory access and benefit sharing (ABS) frameworks and contractual ABS agreements are regarded as possible building blocks for emerging low carbon development strategies as well as practical TEEB 1examples where lessons may be drawn from for designing green economy concepts. Furthermore, ABS contributes directly and indirectly to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), specifically to MDGs 1, 3, 7 and 8. In addition, ABS features as one of the targets under the draft Sustainable Development Goal (SGD) 15 and will contribute directly and indirectly to other SGDs depending on the final formulation of their targets.