Whose woods these are : are genetic resources private property or global commons?
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Wild plant species, seeds, and germplasm have been long considered in the public domain, not owned by any nation. Developing nations are now claiming ownership by the country of origin. Yet biotic resources are not evidently subject to ownership, if one refers to the species as natural kinds. Sovereign nations may control access to their territories and own individual plants and animals. But as species, those species belong to us all.