Biocultural Rights, Indigenous Peoples And Local Communities

Abstract

This is a timely, comprehensive contribution to the literature and practice at the nexus of international environmental law and human rights, that boldly addresses critical questions on the sovereignty and stewardship of biodiversity across a broad range of regional perspectives."

The conflict between Rights of Nature and mining in Ecuador: Implications of the Los Cedros Cloud Forest case for biodiversity conservation

“…The effectiveness of citizen science initiatives is influenced by various elements (Fraisl et al., 2022), including motivation (Chase & Levine, 2016; Schmiedel et al., 2016), although it might be anticipated that a programme aiding community efforts against existential threats such as mining risks would likely exhibit high levels of participation and enthusiasm. It should be noted, however, that such programmes must integrate respect for biocultural rights (Girard et al., 2022) and consider risk to participants (Menton & Le Billon, 2021) in the light of the fact that four environmental defenders are murdered weekly defending the environment (Bille Larsen et al., 2021). There are already emerging initiatives to build networks between scientists, lawyers and communities in Ecuador to address the lack of biological and ecological information.…”

“…Indigenous science that integrates knowledge about a place for the purpose of living there in a sustainable way must also be recognized in RoN cases. Indigenous science combines generational environmental knowledge with a ‘high context’ relational worldview, focusing on observation and lived experiences, that includes values of spirituality and harmony, to understand nature (Agrawal, 1995; Girard et al., 2022; Kealiikanakaoleohaililani & Giardina, 2016). Unfortunately, ITEK often fails to be recognized within environmental management processes due to factors including rigid state frameworks (Vaughan et al., 2017) that often overlook community concerns, and the historical subordination of Indigenous knowledge to Western science (Diver, 2017).…”

Embracing eco‐cultural restoration

“…Considering the scale of global restoration needed, the enhancement of cultural diversity includes but necessarily extends beyond IPLCs, countering a problematic tendency toward social and ecological monocultures through diverse cultural continuity and renewal (Higgs 2003; Garver 2023). We understand eco‐cultural restoration not as the return of cultures to a previous or fixed state, but instead in terms of the restoration of “a communities' right to evolve and adapt its culture to external pressures … at its own pace, and retain traditional elements of its culture (such as values or beliefs) wherever it sees fit” (Pretty et al 2009 p 107; see also Girard et al 2022). This approach is one of co‐evolution, linking ecology and culture through ecological history and cultural memory, toward emerging ecological futures (Higgs 2003).…”

The origin story of rapamycin: systemic bias in biomedical research and cold war politics

“…Moreover, the concept of bioprospecting (or biopiracy as it has sometimes been dubbed) typically concerns commercialization of resources already recognized by an indigenous people, for example, the use of medicinal plants ( Rose et al. , 2012 ; Girard et al. , 2022 ).…”

“…Importantly, a shift in behavior of pharmaceutical companies is taking place as some have pledged to contribute more to improving conditions in underserved regions in the world and to adhere to UN treaties regarding bioprospecting ( Rose et al. , 2012 ; Girard et al. , 2022 ).…”