Monitori ng, docume ntation, pr otection, and edu cation There is an urgent need to upscale activities of identifying species, and the ecosystems, in which they are partners, and learning how to use local species sustainably. All regions of the world ought to conserve and sustainably use local biodiversity. Because of the very fast decline of both global and local biodiversity, funding should be provided for licensed, regional NatureGate servers worldwide. Capacities and capabilities required include an understanding of the basic fact that humans are part of the biosphere and totally dependent on it for their survival. Then, simple scientific observations and reasoning will lead to the conclusion that it is necessary to learn local species and to use them sustainably. Compared to other current options, NatureGate is the easiest, most rapid way for identification of local species and getting information about which species can be used for food, which are toxic, and which need special protection. (Alppi, A. & Åhlberg, M. 2012.) It is always wise to eat local food, sustainably gathered from natural ecosystems. This is how the use of pesticides and herbicides is kept at a minimum. It has been shown that decline of pollinating insects is greatest where these kinds of toxic substances are used. Pollination is necessary for getting healthy fruits and berries. Locally it would be good if the distribution of edible plants could be monitored and sustainably used. Local use of NatureGate helps towards this objective. In addition, it has great value for home economies. Nationally, NatureGate helps whole nations to eat more wild herbs, berries, mushrooms and more since people can more easily identify what species are edible and how these can be prepared and used for food. Internationally there is an urgent need to create NatureGate online services for all regions to promote sustainable use of their local biodiversity. There are many reasons why biodiversity ought to have great policy relevance locally, nationally and internationally. Internationally and nationally, there has been from 1992 global agreements on biodiversity conservation. However, biodiversity has declined continually at alarming rate. This is one reason why UN declared a special UN Decade on Biodiversity (2011 – 2020). On the website of the Annual Congress 2012 of The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the following illustration is presented (Fig. 3). 88 12 Figure 3 Biodiversity (and ecosystems) linked to some of the other main elements of sustainable development. Taking care of biodiversity and to it connected food are the most central elements, because lack of them means that no other elements would be needed. In many parts of the world, too much attention has been focused on faraway rainforests and coral reefs, tigers and sharks. Far too little attention has focused on monitoring and promoting local biodiversity and taking care of local ecosystem services. Globally, there are real local needs for free, easy to use, interactive, relevant, valid, reliable tools for identification of local and regional species and ecosystems. Local and regional NatureGate servers and their networks would create necessary preconditions for a green economy, nature tourism, organic farming, picking sustainably medicinal herbs, and avoiding toxic plants. References Åhlberg, M., 1997. Jatkuva laadunparantaminen korkealaatuisena oppimisena. (Continual Quality Improvement as High Quality Learning) University of Joensuu. Research Reports of the Faculty of Education, No 68. Åhlberg, M., 2005. Integrating Education for Sustainable Development. In Leal Filho, W. ed. Handbook of Sustainability Research. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang. pp.477-504. Åhlberg, M., Äänismaa, P. & Dillon, P. 2005. Education for Sustainable Living: Integrating Theory, Practice, Design and Development. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 49(2):167-186. Alppi, A. & Åhlberg, M., 2012. Learning from Local and Global Collaborations. In Murray, J., Cawthorne, G., Dey, C. & Andrew, C. (Eds.). Enough for All Forever. Champaign, IL: Common Ground Publishing LLC. pp.305-317. Evans, I. & al., 1971. The Possible Human Hazard of the Naturally Occurring Bracken Carcinogen”. Proceedings of the Biochemical Society 124 (2): 28-39. The Finnish National Core Curricula. 2004. http://www.oph.fi/english/ publications/2009/national_core_curricula_for_basic_education Accessed 20 Mar 2012.
Traditional Knowledge and Biodiversity
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