(2009) the modern hegemonic discourse of economic development has fallen short of exploring the potential of diverse knowledge systems, considering these as an impediment to development. A key challenge for stakeholders who are striving to promote the concept of SD is to find appropriate tools to convey the spearheading roles that cultural knowledge, norms and values play in achieving SD. Contemporary Policy Context The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) calls for the need to: respect, preserve and maintain traditional cultures; encourage customary custodial use of biological resources in line with principles of sustainable use and conservation; and ensure equitable sharing of benefits among holders while accessing biological resources and related knowledge in line with national legislation. By drawing attention to preserving local innovations and practices of ‘indigenous and local communities following traditional lifestyles’ it alerts the need for promoting awareness of the importance of biodiversity through various educational interventions, designing suitable educational curricula, and strengthening multilateral cooperation for education for conservation and sustainable use. Recent developments like the Aichi targets have completely recognised the importance of education awareness (particularly through Strategic Goal E, Box 2), which highlights the import of strengthening capacities and learning interventions of various stakeholders. Box 2 Aichi Biodiversity Targets Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use Strategic Goal C: T o improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building 10 The World Heritage Convention of UNESCO is an important instrument for the protection of cultural and natural heritage. The Convention on Cultural Diversity, yet another multilateral policy instrument of UNESCO , recognises the significance of cultural knowledge ‘as a source of intangible and material wealth’ especially in indigenous communities. By pointing to their constructive role in SD, it emphasises that “cultural diversity widens the range of options open to everyone; it is one of the roots of development, understood not simply in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence” (UNESCO 2001: 13). Avowing the need for appropriate policies to strengthen the developmental role of traditional communities, UNESCO calls for cultural pluralism and free circulation of ideas. The importance of culture and development is fittingly underlined in the Convention by calling for national and international action that recognises the link in all countries, specifically in developing regions that still have rich repositories of this diversity. It says that there is a need to create a favourable atmosphere for production and propagation of varied cultural goods and services that have the strength to influence local as well as global levels (UNESCO 2005). By emphasising the central role of culture and complementary nature of economic and cultural dimensions of development the Convention highlights individuals’ and communities’ ‘fundamental right to participate and enjoy.’ As a core principle, protection, maintenance and promotion of bio-cultural diversity are vital requirements of SD for present and future generations, while equitable access to varied expressions and principle of openness and balance towards other cultures are equally important. The Convention on Cultural Diversity (UNESCO 2001) calls upon parties to “endeavour to integrate culture in their development policies at all levels for the creation of conditions conducive to SD and, within this framework, foster aspects relating to the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions” (UNESCO 2005:13). EDITO RIAL
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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