Leveraging Indigenous and local knowledge and amplifying the unique voices and perspectives of Indigenous Peoples and local communities to foster more informed and evidence-based decisions for biodiversity conservation
Biodiversity conservation often depends on indigenous peoples and local communities. They are important stewards of nature, occupying and sustainably managing at least 25% of the global land area, including many of the Earth’s remaining areas of high biodiversity. They have been able to protect these areas through sustainable use of resources mediated by in-depth knowledge and traditional governance systems, and through active resistance to encroachment by industry, agriculture and other forms of environmental degradation. However, their contributions to global conservation often go unrecognised and unsupported.
Recognizing the values and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and their knowledge, in 2020, BES-Net established an Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) Support Unit led by UNESCO-LINKS. It facilitates the engagement of Indigenous Peoples and local communities by integrating their views and knowledge in the BES-Net workstreams, including national ecosystem assessments, multistakeholder Trialogue processes and the BES Solution Fund. BES-Net also organizes knowledge-sharing events and develops communication products on Indigenous and local knowledge related to biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Trialogues
Indigenous Peoples and local communities have in-depth knowledge of their environments. They are key actors in biodiversity conservation while also being directly impacted by the degradation of ecosystems. Environmental policies can have direct impacts on their communities and livelihoods. However, these communities and their knowledge are often excluded from decision-making processes. Recognizing that Indigenous and local knowledge can guide biodiversity and ecosystem services policies, BES-Net’s Trialogues create space for dialogue between Indigenous Peoples and local communities, scientists and policymakers to help build inclusive, locally appropriate policies and conservation actions.
Indigenous and Local Knowledge in National Ecosystem Assessments
Indigenous and local knowledge can make significant contributions to national ecosystem assessments. Many Indigenous Peoples and local communities hold detailed and diverse knowledge of biodiversity and ecosystems due to their sustained connection with nature over many generations, including through resource-based livelihoods and spirituality. As they often live in remote and highly biodiverse areas, they can have knowledge of ecosystems that are not extensively studied by science. Indigenous and local knowledge also holds distinct philosophies and spiritual underpinnings that can interpret environmental challenges and solutions in novel ways.
Indigenous and Local Knowledge in the BES Solution Fund
The BES Solution Fund is a catalytic fund aiming to upscale and implement findings and recommendations emerging from the IPBES assessments and national ecosystem assessments. The BES-Net ILK Support Unit provides technical and capacity-building support to recipient countries to promote the uptake and implementation of findings related to Indigenous and local knowledge.
Key Guiding Principles on Working with Indigenous and Local Knowledge
BES-Net promotes inclusive processes for collaborations across knowledge systems, adopting the following approaches:
Gender
BES-Net is committed to upholding gender equality and leaving no one behind in its work. Amplifying women’s voices in the Trialogue process and including gender perspectives in its work, BES-Net also benefits from the wealth of experience that local biodiversity and gender organizations bring to its Network.
Read about one such organization, a women-led CSO called LEAD Tchad, from our Francophone Africa Virtual Trialogue in 2020, working with technology to empower rural women in the Sahel region.
