Traditional Knowledge Bulletin |
- Meeting review: TK at CBD COP 11
- This week in review … Post on the benefits of recognizing indigenous conserved areas
- This week in review … UNGA Third Committee hears report on rights of indigenous children
- Meeting prep: 8th Ministerial Conference on intangible cultural heritage in South-East Europe
- This week in review … Planning begins for World Indigenous Conference
- This week in review … Aboriginal elders share traditional ecological knowledge
Meeting review: TK at CBD COP 11 Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:16 AM PDT Eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD COP 11 adopted 33 decisions on a range of strategic, substantive, administrative, financial and budgetary issues. Among other issues, the meeting addressed: the status of the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing (ABS); implementation of the Strategic Plan 2011-2020 and progress towards the Aichi biodiversity targets; and implementation of the Strategy for Resource Mobilization. Deliberations also focused on: issues related to financial resources and the financial mechanism; cooperation, outreach and the UN Decade on Biodiversity; operations of the Convention; and administrative and budgetary matters. Delegates also addressed: ecosystem restoration; Article 8(j) (traditional knowledge); marine and coastal biodiversity; biodiversity and climate change; biodiversity and development; and several other ecosystem-related and cross-cutting issues. The meeting's main highlight was agreement on an interim target of doubling biodiversity-related international financial resource flows to developing countries by 2015, and at least maintaining this level until 2020. This target is coupled with targets aiming to improve the robustness of baseline information as well as a preliminary reporting framework for monitoring resource mobilization. Deliberations on Article 8(j) focused on repatriation of TK (task 15 of the work programme), the development of a plan of action on customary sustainable use (Article 10(c)), and whether to change terminology in CBD decisions from ILCs to "indigenous peoples and local communities" on the basis of recommendations of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII). On customary sustainable use (Article 10(c)), as a major component of the work programme on Article 8(j), the COP requested the Secretariat to develop a draft plan of action, including a proposal for phased implementation of the plan, for consideration by the next meeting of the Article 8(j) Working Group; and mandated the Working Group to provide views and advice on TK and sustainable use directly to SBSTTA on a regular basis. The COP decided that the initial tasks shall be to: incorporate customary use practices or policy into national biodiversity strategies and action plans; promote community-based initiatives contributing to customary sustainable use and collaborate with ILCs in joint activities to achieve enhanced implementation of Article 10(c); and identify best practices. The COP adopted terms of reference to advance task 15, emphasizing that task 15 is to be interpreted in accordance with the Convention provisions, in particular Article 8(j) and Article 17(2) (exchange of information), and is intended to build on, and enhance repatriation by governments and other entities, including international organizations, museums, herbaria, botanical and zoological gardens, databases, registers and genebanks. The COP acknowledged that the Nagoya Protocol on ABS provides a favorable framework for the development of sui generis systems for the protection of TK and for ABS from the use of TK associated with genetic resources, and decided to hold an expert group on the issue, with the participation of indigenous experts; and on the basis of UNPFII recommendations, requested the Article 8(j) Working Group to consider the matter of terminology related to "indigenous peoples and local communities" and all its implications for the CBD and its parties, for further consideration by COP 12. Integration of TK-related items in other decisions indicate that Article 8(j) is gradually being considered as a cross-cutting item throughout the CBD work. In the decision on ecologically and biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), the COP invited governments and international organizations to consider the use of guidance on the integration of TK in the application of EBSA criteria, with the approval and involvement of TK holders, where applicable, in any future description of areas meeting the EBSA criteria and for the development of conservation and management measures, and further noted that socially and culturally significant areas may require enhanced conservation and management measures and that criteria for the identification of areas in need of such enhanced measures may need to be developed. Under guidance to the financial mechanism, the COP called upon the GEF, donors, parties and others to consider providing technical support and financial resources for work on indicators on TK and customary sustainable use. Due to budget cuts, the next meeting of the Working Group on Article 8(j) (TK) depends on voluntary contributions, which were pledged by a number of countries, including notably the African Group and India. Visit the meeting's webpage … Read the summary and analysis of the meeting by IISD Reporting Services … |
This week in review … Post on the benefits of recognizing indigenous conserved areas Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:13 AM PDT Recognising indigenous "sacred areas" could double amount of protected land worldwide HYDERABAD, INDIA: Recognizing areas conserved by indigenous peoples could double the amount of land designated as protected worldwide, said representatives attending the Convention on Biological Diversity conference last week. Whether a grove in the Khasi hills of Northeast India from which nothing can be removed, or an Ethiopian gudo boulder surrounded by forest where shamans can summon or stop the rain, sacred areas are not only rich in biodiversity but vital to keeping communities intact. Granting recognition to these natural sites that have long been identified by communities as sacred may also help build trust between the conservation community and indigenous people who often feel like their needs and desires are overlooked, said representatives from Asia and Africa attending the conference. In addition, it would help legitimize TK in the modern arena, and bring young tribal members back to their own cultures. Read the post … |
This week in review … UNGA Third Committee hears report on rights of indigenous children Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:10 AM PDT Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK: On 17 October 2012, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly was presented with the Secretary-General's report on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. This report has a thematic focus on the rights of indigenous children. Among other issues, the report notes that the implementation of the right to education is of crucial importance to indigenous children, being an essential means of their achieving individual empowerment and self-determination, as well as of enjoying, maintaining and respecting indigenous cultures, languages, traditions and traditional knowledge. Research has shown that children attain better results in education if they receive instruction in their mother tongue. The importance and complementarity of traditional education and formal education is highlighted, as traditional education is a lifelong pedagogic process encompassing an intergenerational transfer of knowledge aimed at maintaining a flourishing and harmonious society or community. The report further notes that the right to health is to be understood within the context of indigenous peoples' concept of health, "which extends beyond the physical and mental well-being of an individual to the spiritual balance and well-being of the community as a whole". In order to improve the health situation of indigenous peoples, it is essential that a "fundamental shift" take place "in the concept of health so that it incorporates the cultures and world views of indigenous peoples as central to the design and management of State health systems". Download the report [pdf] … |
Meeting prep: 8th Ministerial Conference on intangible cultural heritage in South-East Europe Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:08 AM PDT 8th Ministerial Conference on Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe: Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development Within the framework of UNESCO's global initiative "Culture: a Bridge to Development", and following the recent inauguration, in February 2012, of the Sofia Regional Centre for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in South-East Europe, placed under the auspices of UNESCO, the main theme for this ministerial conference is "Intangible Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development". The conference aims to reinforce regional cooperation on capacity building and the exchange of knowledge and good practices, as well as on the safeguarding of the elements of intangible cultural heritage that are shared by more countries and/or local communities in the region. In addition, the conference will offer the opportunity to discuss on the way to streamline the different cultural cooperation platforms at the ministerial level existing in the South-East European region, in order to improve their coordination and to devise possible forms of convergence. This theme is proposed as main focus for the meeting of the International Working Group, convened on 24 October and formed by experts in representation of the participating ministries of culture. Read UNESCO's release … |
This week in review … Planning begins for World Indigenous Conference Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:06 AM PDT Organizers Begin Planning for World Indigenous Conference; UN General Assembly to Host CHIANG MAI, THAILAND: The Indigenous Global Coordinating Group met on 4-5 October 2012, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, to begin planning for the 2014 World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The Indigenous Global Coordinating Group, a stand-alone body created by indigenous representatives to coordinate indigenous participation in the lead-up to the World Conference, is comprised of indigenous representatives from seven regions around the world and two other groups advocating for the rights of women and youth. Read the article … |
This week in review … Aboriginal elders share traditional ecological knowledge Posted: 24 Oct 2012 01:05 AM PDT Elders share traditional ecological knowledge QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: The knowledge of Aboriginal elders from 17 traditional owner groups across Queensland, Australia, has been recorded in a new project, entitled One Step Back, Two Steps Forward. The project focuses on digitally recording traditional ecological knowledge on land management and biodiversity. Read the article … |
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