At a Side Event at the ongoing 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)on 15 October 2012 at Hyderabad, India, organized by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF), the United Nations University and the ICCA Consortium, the spotlight was turned to issues concerning traditional knowledge and area-based management measures in marine and coastal ecosystems.
Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend, ICCA Consortium, reported on the creation of the first community conserved area for coastal ecosystems in Senegal. She outlined the traditional governance institutions and management zoning, including no-take zones corresponding to sacred sites. On ways forward, she highlighted how best practices are being shared with neighboring communities.
Robert Panipilla, Researcher, India, discussed the contribution of traditional knowledge to scientific understanding of reefs and coastlines, including fish population dynamics, food chains, and the mapping of underwater areas in Kerala. He explained how trawlers had damaged reefs, and how indigenous fishers responded by creating artificial reefs.
Bona Beding, Lamalera community, Indonesia, spoke on the customary law that governs fish harvesting among his people. He also discussed linkages between customary fishing practices and the spiritual practices on land.
Jorge Andreve, Researcher, Foundation for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge, Panama, presented on traditional knowledge and practices of Kuna people. He noted that the area is being managed according to traditional knowledge and community laws and rules. He highlighted how western knowledge is being used in conjunction with traditional knowledge to preserve land, coastal and marine ecological biodiversity.
Ron Vave, University of South Pacific, Fiji, highlighted locally managed marine area networks (LMMAs) in the South Pacific, which empowers local communities to manage natural resources. He emphasized: building on local knowledge and culture; the importance of community trust and ownership; using existing local governance structures; partnership between indigenous and non indigenous communities; and local community empowerment for managing their projects.
Anne Mc Donald, Sophia University, Japan, presented on women Ama free divers in Japan. She highlighted a traditional approach to resources management use and conservation, existing within a western system, passed down through matriarchal lineage for over 1000 years. She highlighted the problems facing the divers due to changes in the marine environment attributed to climate change, to which traditional knowledge is struggling to adapt.
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)