Biodiversity and ecosystems
Indigenous knowledge of biodiversity and LINKS
The UNESCO-LINKS approach is to find opportunities for dialogue between different knowledge holders. A trans-disciplinary approach has emerged over two decades that emphasises the need to respect the integrity of Indigenous knowledge and Indigenous institutions, with an emphasis on helping Indigenous Peoples value, sustain, promote and transmit their knowledge in the manner which they see as appropriate and which is associated with UN human rights norms and standards.
Indigenous knowledge systems are an integral part of Indigenous economies, livelihoods, cultural and spiritual systems. The vitality of Indigenous institutions and languages are key in ensuring the constant evolution of knowledge, sustaining taxonomies, historical memory and building resilience to emerging challenges and pressures. UNESCO notes the wide diversity of the conceptualisation of gender in relation to knowledge production, custodianship and transmission.
Our actions focus on:
- Researching and describing natural resource knowledge, practices and governance;
- Identifying knowledge of and practices that support the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems;
- Community-led research and documentation on a range of specific biodiversity and ecosystems issues, including fresh water biodiversity and ecosystems; savannah fire knowledge, Arctic biodiversity knowledge, knowledge on Small Island Developing States; biodiversity knowledge related to climate change in Africa;
- Support to initiatives to protect, safeguard and reward Indigenous knowledge, for example documentation of Indigenous tracker training and data collection on species health and trends.
LINKS' biodiversity policy work with partners
LINKS hosts the IPBES Technical Support Unit on Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems
LINKS established its technical unit on Indigenous and local knowledge as part of UN Consortium for BES-Net.
are an integral part of Indigenous economies, livelihoods, cultural and spiritual systems
IPBES Task Force on Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems
UN recognition of Indigenous knowledge systems
The United Nations system formally recognised Indigenous knowledge systems, skills, practices, management and governance capacity in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at the time of the drafting of the Rio Conventions and Agenda 21, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the 'Earth Summit', which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 3-14 June 1992.
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) includes two important articles dealing with Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities knowledge systems, 8j and 10c. 8j encourages Parties to the convention to protect and promote traditional knowledge, innovations and practices. Article 10c promote customary use and associated practices.
This recognition marked a major shift in how the UN has taken into consideration diverse knowledge systems and encouraged an interactive relationship in relation to sciences, natural resource management and policy making.
Some key mechanisms and normative instruments that furthered or were influenced by the CBD’s resolutions have included:
- The CBD Ad Hoc working group on 8(j); which has helped elaborate a range of normative materials and toolkits;
- UNESCO establishing the Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems programme in 2002;
- The 2004 Addis Ababa Principles Guidelines on the Sustainable Use of Biodiversity;
- The 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which makes explicit reference to the themes of Indigenous knowledge and the environment;
- The founding of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on 21 April 2012 in Panama City, and the adoption of its mandate to include scientific evidence along with Indigenous and local knowledge throughout its processes and assessments;
- The emergence of the Local Biodiversity Outlook as complementary to the Global Biodiversity Outlook.
Biodiversity in the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
The UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples states in the resolution:
Recognising that respect for Indigenous knowledge, cultures and traditional practices contributes to sustainable and equitable development and proper management of the environment,
Article 29 1. Indigenous Peoples have the right to the conservation and protection of the environment and the productive capacity of their lands or territories and resources. States shall establish and implement assistance programmes for Indigenous peoples for such conservation and protection, without discrimination
Article 31 1. Indigenous Peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, as well as the manifestations of their sciences, technologies and cultures, including human and genetic resources, seeds, medicines, knowledge of the properties of fauna and flora, oral traditions, literatures, designs, sports and traditional games and visual and performing arts. They also have the 23 right to maintain, control, protect and develop their intellectual property over such cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expressions.
UN Convention on Biological Diversity - Articles 8 & 10
UN Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD) states that:
Article 8(j) - Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices
Each contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
Subject to national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge innovations and practices.
Article 10. Sustainable Use of Components of Biological Diversity
Each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate:
(c) Protect and encourage customary use of biological resources in accordance with traditional cultural practices that are compatible with conservation or sustainable use requirements;
Sustainable Development - Agenda 21
Herewith, some of the original text from UNCED Agenda 21 which draws attention to Indigenous knowledge, systems of management and governance.
8.5 d. Adopting integrated management systems, particularly for the management of natural resources; traditional or Indigenous methods should be studied and considered wherever they have proved effective; women's traditional roles should not be marginalized as a result of the introduction of new management systems;
10.7d. Strengthen management systems for land and natural resources by including appropriate traditional and Indigenous methods; examples of these practices include pastoralism, Hema reserves (traditional Islamic land reserves) and terraced agriculture;
11.14 d. Carrying out surveys and research on local/Indigenous knowledge of trees and forests and their uses to improve the planning and implementation of sustainable forest management;
12.18 e. Promote participatory management of natural resources, including rangeland, to meet both the needs of rural populations and conservation purposes, based on innovative or adapted Indigenous technologies;
12.23. Governments at the appropriate level and local communities, with the support of the relevant international and regional organizations, should:
a. Integrate Indigenous knowledge related to forests, forest lands, rangeland and natural vegetation into research activities on desertification and drought;
35.7. Countries, with the assistance of international organizations, where required, should:
h. Develop methods to link the findings of the established sciences with the Indigenous knowledge of different cultures. The methods should be tested using pilot studies. They should be developed at the local level and should concentrate on the links between the traditional knowledge of Indigenous groups and corresponding, current "advanced science", with particular focus on disseminating and applying the results to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Publications
