18 RCE Cha-am is involved in a biodiversity study “Education for Sustainable Development Center (ESDC)” in the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park. The focal areas have been: environmental and natural resources conservation (e.g. restoration of mangrove ecosystem, soil erosion and coastal erosion protection, deforestation, soil and water management, green energy); eco-tourism; fisheries and agriculture; community uniqueness and indigenous knowledge; and general understanding of sustainability by following a “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy”. The methods used are Environmental Education Curricula for students, Natural and Environmental Camp, Volunteer Development Camp and Other Camps. For encouraging partnership between business and communities for biodiversity and to showcase best practices, RCE Cha-am has also participated in the activities related to the multistakeholder forum on biodiversity. RCE Chandigarh is focused on understanding wetland ecosystems and the importance of wetlands, as well as providing opportunity for learning by doing, field experiences and hands on training by exploring wetlands. The project described in this publication aims to reach out to local communities from a grassroots level by inspiring students, educators and district level officers of state government to protect and conserve wetlands. It works on preserving wetland ecosystems so as to preserve the important repository of biodiversity and sustainable exploitation of resources for environmental protection. The RCE partners hope this project helps improve public recognition of wetlands, encourages exploration into associated livelihood benefits and creates sustainable development. For its involvement in the Biodiversity Cyber Dialogue Project, RCE Chubu is using a Social Networking Service (SNS). This is to develop a deeper common understanding of stakeholders in different world regions on the importance of biodiversity, need for changing lifestyle choices and socio-economic institutions. The major impact of this initiative was cross-boundary, national and international mutual-learning among the members of civil society (especially among the members of Japanese NGOs who have an interest in biodiversity ranging from a particular ecological issue to different social and economic aspects). The cyber dialogue project, and related collaborative projects with Japanese NGOs, gave the RCE an opportunity to expand its network to promote ESD with the concept of biodiversity as an entry point. Topics such as “Indigenous Peoples and Biodiversity,” “Gender and Biodiversity,” “Local Community Life and Biodiversity”, as well as “Traditional Wisdom and Biodiversity” have been crucial in the cyber discussions. Knowledge of edible plants kept communities of Finland supplied with food at the difficult time during the war and postwar periods. Such knowledge, while remaining relevant for the resilience of the society, has recently become of importance due to immigration from countries that are not familiar with various species of plants in Finland and, as a result, suffer from consumption of poisonous varieties. In one of its projects, RCE Espoo aspires to educate the population about ways of using herbs, fruits and mushrooms in a manner that enhances their well-being and, at the same time, protects biodiversity. Expertise of different partners in biodiversity, techniques of species identification, ability to visually present them as well as understanding of the impact of various plants on health and ecosystems are reflected in the teaching materials. These materials deal with questions of integration of ecologically, economically and socially sustainable development. They are going to be further used for creating new applications for NatureGate – an online learning platform used by schools and other partners in Finland. RCE Kyrgyzstan is engaged in a programme that aims at documenting and sustaining traditional knowledge related to local ecosystems. Such practices are particularly critical for maintaining the health of communities as well as biodiversity, which suffers from exploitation from local and foreign users. As the first step of the programme, the RCE partners have undertaken research to map the extent and type of TK holders in the area, the methods they use, the extent of success of their practices and awareness of the local population of these traditional activities. The knowledge obtained through the research, as well as contacts established in a process, will be used for creating awareness about TK practices as well as for developing enabling conditions for the TK practitioners. EDITO RIAL
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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