Traditional Knowledge Bulletin |
- Resource: 2012 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to the UN General Assembly
- Resource: UNU-IAS TKI article on energy innovation and TK
- Meeting review: Third IPSI Global Conference
- Resource: GWF discussion paper on the cultural politics of transboundary water governance
- Resource: FAO video on seed diversity in Ethiopia
- This week in review … India publishes draft guidelines for patents related to TK and biological material
- Announcement: Call for book proposals on access and benefit-sharing
Resource: 2012 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples to the UN General Assembly Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:30 AM PST Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples In this report, UN Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples James Anaya provides comments on the need to harmonize the myriad UN activities that affect indigenous peoples. Specific UN processes and programmes reviewed include those related to: UNESCO, including the World Heritage Convention and the development of a UNESCO policy on indigenous peoples; FAO, including the Voluntary Guidelines on the responsible governance of tenure of land, fisheries and forests; WIPO, including the IGC negotiations on intellectual property and genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions; CBD, including the Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing; UNFCCC; UNCSD; the World Bank Group, including the currently ongoing review process of all safeguard policies and the revision of the IFC performance standard on environmental and social sustainability; and REDD programmes. The Special Rapporteur notes that the UN system has done important work to promote the rights of indigenous peoples. However, greater efforts are needed to maximize action throughout the UN system to promote the rights of indigenous peoples and to ensure that all actions within the system which affect indigenous peoples are in harmony with their rights, particularly their rights as affirmed by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Download the report [pdf] … |
Resource: UNU-IAS TKI article on energy innovation and TK Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:26 AM PST Energy Innovation and Traditional Knowledge As many countries are looking towards low-carbon and renewable energy sources, the authors of this article note it is important to remember that harvesting alternative energies can have impacts on local and indigenous communities. However, many indigenous territories have access to tremendous wind, solar, biomass and geothermal resources, and this can provide access to energy sovereignty through innovative solutions by local communities. The article points to research suggesting that problems can arise when indigenous peoples are not involved or consulted in the development and implementation of energy alternatives, and presents examples to that regard. However, if instituted appropriately, renewable energy projects can enhance and maintain traditional livelihoods and also foster local employment. Furthermore, several examples indicate that indigenous communities are very active in spearheading renewable energy initiatives in both developing and developed countries as a means of achieving energy self-sufficiency on their lands and territories. Read the article … Read all the guest articles published under the Traditional Knowledge Bulletin publication programme … |
Meeting review: Third IPSI Global Conference Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:23 AM PST Third IPSI Global Conference The third Global Conference of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative was held back-to-back with the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 11) under the theme "Contribution to Achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets". In addition to the IPSI Assembly and the Public Forum, held from 6-7 October 2012, a series of IPSI-related events were held from 9-12 October 2012 over the course of CBD COP 11. The Assembly heard a report of Steering Committee (SC) activities delivered by its Chair, Prof. Alfred Oteng-Yeboah and welcomed new SC members, including the International Tropical Timer Organization (ITTO), MS Swaminathan Research Foundation Community Agrobiodiversity Research Centre, University of Sarajevo Faculty of Science, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Representatives of Japan's Fukui Prefecture made a formal offer to host the Fourth IPSI Global Conference in September 2013. The Public Forum held three working group sessions on: indicators of resilience in socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes; creating synergy between traditional knowledge and modern science; and multi-stakeholder collaboration towards sustainable production and consumption. Each working group discussion was linked to corresponding Aichi biodiversity targets. On 9 October, the "IPSI Evening" convened under the theme "Achievement and further development of the International Partnership for the Satoyama Initiative." A keynote address was delivered by Prof. Kazuhiko Takeuchi, UNU Vice-Rector, under the theme "IPSI: Perspectives on Sustainable Socio-Ecological Production Landscapes and Seascapes". During a subsequent short session, several IPSI members delivered messages. Read the report, including links to presentations … |
Resource: GWF discussion paper on the cultural politics of transboundary water governance Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:17 AM PST Indigenous space, citizenry, and the cultural politics of transboundary water governance This paper explores the cultural politics of water governance through the analysis of a new governing body created by indigenous leaders in the Pacific Northwest of North America – the Coast Salish Aboriginal Council, an example involving transboundary environmental governance for, and by, 70 tribes spanning the US-Canadian border. The paper outlines some of the outcomes of the creation of the Council, including pairing with federal agencies to collect water quality data, and presenting a unified voice on issues such as management of anadromous salmon. The author argues that inclusion of cultural politics in the understanding of environmental resources will provide a more nuanced approach to the study of transboundary environmental governance. Such considerations have important implications for the study of natural resource management and indigenous communities, whose traditional homelands are often bifurcated by contemporary border constructions. The paper finds that the aggregation of historically connected tribes and bands for the shared benefit of environmental protection and cultural reunification is a first step in reclaiming space and reconstructing traditional governance mechanisms. Download the paper [pdf] … |
Resource: FAO video on seed diversity in Ethiopia Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:14 AM PST Seeds of Diversity This short film documents the ways Ethiopian smallholder farmers recognize and use seed diversity in their local farming practices to build resilience into their fields. The FAO documentary presents cases on the kinds of seeds that farmers prefer and helps to create a greater understanding on the importance of preserving genetic diversity in seeds. View the documentary … |
This week in review … India publishes draft guidelines for patents related to TK and biological material Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:11 AM PST India Publishes Draft Guidelines for Patenting of TK and Biological Material GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: The government of India has released a set of draft guidelines to be followed in the case of patent applications involving traditional knowledge and biological material. Following a review of relevant provisions of Indian law on protection of TK and biological resources, the guidelines seek to ensure that all patent applications relating to TK are identified, screened and classified as such, and all provisions related to the protection of TK and/or biological material are fully complied with. Read the article … Download the public notice by the government of India [pdf] … Download the draft guidelines [pdf] … |
Announcement: Call for book proposals on access and benefit-sharing Posted: 14 Nov 2012 04:09 AM PST Legal Studies on Access and Benefit-sharing Brill/Martinus Nijhoff is launching a new book series on legal questions related to access and benefit-sharing. The series will include international (public and private) law studies as well as national/comparative/transnational law studies on innovative ways to foster access and benefit-sharing arrangements between governments, between governments and local or indigenous communities, as well as with private individuals or entities. The series will include publications on the 2010 Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS) under the Convention on Biological Diversity, and studies on other ABS instruments and processes concerning genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples. The series will also explore other areas of law where regulatory questions related to access (access to biological resources, access to land or natural resources) and to benefit-sharing have emerged or may be emerging, including human rights, climate change, forests, law of the sea etc. Interested authors may contact the series editors: Elisa Morgera, elisa.morgera (at) ed.ac.uk; Matthias Buck, matthias.buck (at) gmx.com; Elsa Tsioumani, elsa (at) iisd.org. Further information … |
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