Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge, RCE Global Conference 2016

RCEs and Biocultural Diversity

RCE Global Service Centre, UNU-IAS

Achievements so far

• Several field projects on biodiversity and traditional knowledge - over 50 RCEs working in the thematic area

• Side events in COP-10, COP-11 of Convention on biological diversity, CEPA side events

• Engagement with IPBES in areas like traditional knowledge

• Capacity development module on health

Research and Capacity Development

• Since 2008 several efforts to strengthen TK in the context of health and nutrition

• Regional and International TK holders exchange programs, capacity building workshops

• Research – Collaborative projects ongoing – e.g. Food traditions of Asia, Traditional knowledge and community health

Publications

• Publication on TK and BD (2013)

• African heritage knowledge publication (2013)

• Policy reports and briefs on TK and community health

• CBD-WHO Technical series on Biodiversity and Health

• Other reports (COHAB)

Africa region• RCE Makana - Situated social learning – several examples such as

water, biomass energy, health and nutrition, agriculture, biodiversity, sewage, waste, sustainability partnership project and a curriculum framework for social learning research. These are aligned with Africa learning resource approach of the region.

• RCE Roma Lesotho - Lesotho highlands knowledge and incorporation in school curriculum

• RCE Kano – Revitalizing local knowledge, health, malaria

• RCE Mao Complex – Traditional knowledge, health, and nutrition

• RCE Mbarara – Traditional knowledge and health………etc….

Europe• RCE Espoo - Encounters -for sustainable lifestyle

project• RCE Porto – biodiversity project

Americas• RCE Guatemala - Incorporation of Mayan culture in

university curriculum, programs related to Nagoya protocol

• RCE Jalisco, Lima, Bogota, Saskatchewan, Portland • Several other projects in both regions

Asia region

• RCE Cairo – Traditional health practices• RCE Kyrgyzstan – Jethiata project, medicinal plants, traditional

handicrafts• RCE Chubu – Online platforms, COP 10 /11 processes• RCE Northern Mindanao - School curriculum - Experience of

integrating mother tongue education• RCE Cebu – Traditional health systems• RCE Greater Phnom Penh – Organic farming• RCE Penang – Traditional healers and community health, nutrition• RCE Kalimantan – Home gardens program• RCE Jogjakarta – Traditional foods project, community enterprises

and livelihoods (Pandanus cultivation)• Health Food Traditions of Asia (ProSPER.Net)

Contd.

• RCE Kodagu – Sacred groves conservation• RCE Srinagar – Agro biodiversity, Medicinal plant

conservation• RCE Bangalore – Health, endogenous development,

integration in university curriculum• RCE Goa – Community knowledge and biodiversity• RCE Greater Dhaka (Bangladesh) - Organic farming,

Biomass recycling, and on tribal culture of Bangladesh, community conservation

• RCE East Arunachal Pradesh – Heritage Education

RCE Approaches/Methodologies of TK

• Situated social learning processes• Learner led mediation processes • Revitalizing traditional knowledge in life situations

through a see-judge-act approach• Integration of mother tongue education and

reinforcing identity• Bridging research• Developing learning case modules for capacity

development based on good practices

Recent Developments• Health Food Traditions of Asia – ProSPER.Net project –

concluding – excellent documentation of food practices related to health

• Discussion with GIZ, Manila office, possibility of support for a regional project, working already in the Mindanao region

• Linking with IPBES – capacity building and Indigenous and local knowledge task force

• UNU-International Institute for Global Health – support health related capacity building

• Youth involvement in Biodiversity and TK

• What are the policy linkages that your RCE is working with (local, national, regional, international) ?

• How do we collectively strengthen these linkages ?

• Your views on linking and getting involved with multilateral policies like CBD, IPBES, etc.

Thank You !