Download Swedish Biodiversity Centre

Traditional knowledge, sustainable use,
and conservation
Håkan Tunón
Swedish Biodiversity Centre
Uppsala
Convention on biological diversity
• article 1
The objectives of this Convention, … , are the
conservation of biological diversity, the
sustainable use of its components and the fair
and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out
of the utilization of genetic resources, …
Convention on biological diversity
article 8(j):
”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”
Indigenous communities?
Traditional
knowledge?
Modernt fiske?
Why preserve traditional
knowledge?
• Preserve cultural diversity and local cultural
identity
• Create traditional innovations for a sustainable
society
• Promote local products (traditional and traditional
innovations) to ensure rural development
• Conserve biodiversity through the preservation of
traditional landuse pattern
Man, plants and animals:
ethnobiology in Sweden
• Present the relationship between man and
animals and plants i Sweden
• Suggest future uses for a sustainable society
• Motivate conservation of biodiversity by
mentioning the use
– conservation of both wild and domesticated
biodiversity
Man, plants, and animals
• Annual ethnobiological symposia
• Periodical: Studia ethnobiologica
• Three volume encyclopedia
These books show:
• the traditional use of biodiversity as well as the
diversity of traditional knowledge
(ethnobiodiversity)
• the necessity of and potential of biodiversity
• the diversity of our cultural heritage and our
common cultural identity
• the close connection between culture and nature
A national programme
• Preserve and document traditional
knowledge
• Maintain traditional knowledge
• Promote a wider application of traditional
knowledge
• Promote research on traditional knowledge
• Take part in the international discussions
Håkan Tunón
CBM, Box 7007
SE-750 07 Uppsala
Sweden
[email protected]
www.cbm.slu.se/etnobio/etnobiologi.htm