Forests and Cultures. Joe Cobbinah Coordinator-Forestry Research Network of Sub-Saharan Africa (FORNESSA)

Transcription

1 Forests and Cultures Joe Cobbinah Coordinator-Forestry Research Network of Sub-Saharan Africa (FORNESSA)

2 Forests under siege Since Rio, we have seen some success stories but overall degradation of the tropical forests continues. SFM is underpinned by three pillarseconomic, environment and socio-cultural To a large extent the socio-cultural aspect has been downplayed Without the third leg (pillar) the table falls over

3 Forests, People and TK It is estimated that about 1.6 billion people depend on forests for sustenance. TK and cultural practices passed on from generation to generation have ensured their sustenance and survival and played vital roles managing their forests biodiversity conservation livelihoods health care climate change adaptation

4 Traditional knowledge and Forest Management (Ethno-forestry) TK of forest management is an essential part of cultures. Living from nature and depending on technologies that do not dominate their environment they rely on renewable benefits the forest provides. Traditional management practices conform to the C&I of SFM: Traditional conservation practices-plant worship, sacred and water forests taboos, are important for conservation of diversity, soil and water resources - (C1,4,5) harvesting and management practices e.g. seasonal collection, collection methods, and regulations on collection; home gardens, wild cultivation and intercropping - Maintenance of forest Productivity, health and vitality (C2,3) knowledge of plant use for food, fodder, fuel, medicine, construction, weapons, relate to Long-term multiple socioeconomic benefits (C6)

5 Traditional Knowledge and Climate change Indigenous communities have lived in changing climate for hundreds of years. They make their living in vulnerable environment and thus the first to discern and suffer the effects of climate change However, these people are not just victims of climate change. They use diverse tools/signals/cues to forecast weather changes and have developed and implemented resilience strategies based on historical experience and impacts

6 Climate change and indigenous communities

7 Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Medicine In Africa, Asia and Latin America, estimated 80 per cent of the population depends on medicinal plants and associated TK for their primary health care needs (WHO) Est. 50 per cent of the population in industrialized world have used natural remedies (Complementary/Alternative medicine) The global market of plant medicine is growing steadily and currently stand over US$60 billion. Many plant-based modern medicines are used for the same purposes for which the local/indigenous communities use them. Reinforces the importance of TK

8 Traditional medicine practice Herbal garden Herbal products Debarked medicinal tree

9 TK, Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing Despite contributions of TK to SFM, TK and practices are not sufficiently respected, promoted and protected. Institutions to safeguard the rights of TK holders are weak. There are also weak links between formal R&D institutions and local communities that hold and use the knowledge Consequently biodiversity-rich communities and holders of the TK are not accessing a fair share of the benefits.

10 Gathering information from Community Leaders

11 TK, SFM and the MDGs Forest Management MDG 1-7 Livelihoods MDG 1, 2, 3 TK Health Care Climate Change Adaptation MDG 4, 5, 6 MDG 7 Biodiversity Conservation MDG 1-7 Forest Growth & Productivity MDG 7

12 TK and forest-based livelihoods

13 Recommendations National Governments TK should be documented in close partnership with holders and users of this knowledge system using ethically appropriate best practices. TK should be mainstreamed into national forest plans and programs and the education curriculum with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders including local and indigenous communities. Local and indigenous people should be provided with adequate training and technical assistance to adapt their traditional land use systems to modern economic conditions.

14 Recommendations The Scientific Community The scientific community should recognize, appreciate and respect knowledge systems different from their own that contribute to the sustainability of the forest ecosystems - (IUFRO Task Force on TFRK) Gaps between traditional and modern science systems should be identified and traditional indicators for sustainable forest management should be researched. Interventions by the scientific community to help indigenous communities adjust to future climate challenges should not overlook the traditional adaptive strategies

15 Recommendations The International Community Equitable benefit sharing regime should be developed for the use of traditional forest-related knowledge. A legal system making it mandatory to disclose the source of or country of origin of genetic resources and the associated TK be developed to prevent attempts at patenting existing TK and curb biopiracy. KEY MESSAGE The recognition of the role of socio-culture ( including TK) is imperative if we are going to see any change in forest degradation We need to fix the third leg of the table.

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