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The Univer- sity operates through a worldwide network of research and training centres and programmes, and its planning and coordinating centre in Tokyo. Traditional knowledge in policy and practice Traditional knowledge in policy and practice: Approaches to development and human well-being Edited by Suneetha M. Subramanian and Balakrishna Pisupati © United Nations University, 2010 The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not nec- essarily reflect the views of the United Nations University. United Nations University Press United Nations University, 53-70, Jingumae 5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan Tel: +81-3-5467-1212 Fax: +81-3-3406-7345 E-mail: [email protected] general enquiries: [email protected] http://www.unu.edu United Nations University Office at the United Nations, New York 2 United Nations Plaza, Room DC2-2062, New York, NY 10017, USA Tel: +1-212-963-6387 Fax: +1-212-371-9454 E-mail: [email protected] United Nations University Press is the publishing division of the United Nations University. Cover design by Mea Rhee Printed in Hong Kong ISBN 978-92-808-1191-9 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Traditional knowledge in policy and practice : approaches to development and human well-being / edited by Suneetha M. Subramanian and Balakrishna Pisupati. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-9280811919 (pbk.) 1. Traditional ecological knowledge. 2. Indigenous peoples—Ecology. 3. Sustainable development. 4. Community development. I. Subramanian, Suneetha M. II. Pisupati, Balakrishna. GN476.7.T727 2010 577—dc22 2010032035 Endorsement “International debates on traditional knowledge (TK) protection are on- going. However, negotiations are not always informed by any clear un- derstanding of the various ways that TK is so essential to sustainable development and to the livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people. This collection, which comprises chapters by experts from a wide range of backgrounds, including traditional knowledge-holding communities, should leave policy makers in no doubt that protecting TK is not only vital for indigenous peoples but for the common future of all of humanity.” Graham Dutfield, Professor of International Governance, School of Law, University of Leeds v Contents Tables, figures and boxes . ix Contributors . xi Acknowledgements . xix Foreword . xxi Ahmed Djoghlaf Abbreviations . xxiii Introduction . 1 Suneetha M. Subramanian and Balakrishna Pisupati 1 Diversities of knowledge communities, their worldviews and sciences: On the challenges of their co-evolution . 12 Bertus Haverkort and Coen Reijntjes 2 Indigenous knowledge and indigenous peoples’ education . 31 Marie Battiste 3 Indigenous institutions and contemporary development in Ghana: Potentials and challenges . 52 Stephen B. Kendie and Bernard Y. Guri CONTENTS vii 4 Gender and traditional knowledge: Seeing blind spots, redressing inequities for women . 72 Fatima Alvarez Castillo and Maria Nadja A. Castillo 5 Traditional knowledge, indigenous communities and ethical values . 97 Doris Schroeder Supplementary feature Fostering “mindfulness” in traditional knowledge research: The Code of Ethics of the International Society of Ethnobiology . 121 Kelly Bannister, Sarah A. Laird and Maui Solomon 6 Making space for grandma: The emancipation of traditional knowledge and the dominance of western-style intellectual property rights regimes . 130 Ikechi Mgbeoji 7 Characteristics, current relevance and retention of traditional knowledge in agriculture . 147 R. Rengalakshmi Supplementary feature Traditional land management techniques for climate change mitigation . 171 Oladimeji Idowu Oladele and Ademola K. Braimoh 8 Traditional knowledge and health . 181 Gerard Bodeker Supplementary feature Knowledge and practitioners: Is there a promotional bias? . 194 Unnikrishnan Payyappalli 9 Traditional knowledge: From environmental management to territorial development . 208 Guillen Calvo Valderrama and Salvatore Arico 10 Traditional knowledge and biodiversity: Can the co-evolution of natural and social systems continue? . 226 Suneetha M. Subramanian viii CONTENTS Supplementary feature 1 The complex rite of passage from invisible subjects to “subjects of rights” to attain benefit sharing in the implementation of the CBD: The case of the babassu breaker women in Brazil . 240 Joaquim Shiraishi Neto, Noemi Miyasaka Porro and José Antonio Puppim de Oliveira Supplementary feature 2 Hoodia and the San . 248 Rachel Wynberg 11 Bridging formal and informal governance regimes for effective water management: The role of traditional knowledge . 252 Alphonse Kambu Supplementary feature Cultural rehydration: Toward sustainable water governance alternatives . 266 Ameyali Ramos Castillo 12 Integrating traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation . 272 Agni Klintuni Boedhihartono 13 Traditional knowledge and economic development: The biocultural dimension . 294 Kabir Bavikatte, Harry Jonas and Johanna von Braun 14 A practical approach to traditional knowledge and indigenous heritage management: A case study of Moriori heritage management practice . 327 Tom Lanauze, Susan Forbes and Maui Solomon 15 Conclusion . 344 Suneetha M. Subramanian and Balakrishna Pisupati Glossary . 348 Index . 350 Tables, figures and boxes Table 1.1 Typology of relations between different forms of knowledge 22 Figures 1.1 In the real world, the social, natural and spiritual worlds interact . 19 4.1 Knowledge systems in the world. 79 Boxes 4.1 Violence against women a barrier to their political participation. 83 4.2 The Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development . 85 4.3 The Kani tribe and plant royalties: An example of women’s involvement and benefit. 87 5.1 Exploitation . 100 5.2 The San-Hoodia benefit sharing case . 107 5.3 The Chiapas case. 110 5.4 Synopsis of the International Society of Ethnobiology Code of Ethics . 124 7.1 Social construction of traditional knowledge on soil fertility management in an agricultural community, Tamil Nadu . 150 7.2 Specialized knowledge of women in small millet cultivation and utilization. 152 ix x Tables, figures and boxes 7.3 Rituals and cultural practices associated with small millet diversity management in Kolli Hills among Malayali tribals. 155 7.4 Institutionalization of traditional knowledge and practices about seeds. 156 7.5 Harmonizing traditional and scientific knowledge systems in rainfall prediction and utilization: The experience of a farming community, Tamil Nadu. 159 7.6 Participatory plant breeding in traditional paddy landraces, Orissa, India. 160 7.7 Integrating scientific and traditional knowledge in coffee berry borer management under an organic farming system in Tamil Nadu. 162 8.1 Revitalizing Local Healing Traditions in India . 204 9.1 Traditional environmental management and the worldview of the James Bay Cree People. 212 9.2 The intercontinental biosphere reserve of the Mediterranean, Morocco and Spain. 219 9.3 Traditional perceptions of marine issues, related knowledge systems and implications for management. 222 10.1 Some examples of best practice community partnerships. 236 11.1 A working definition of water governance. 254 11.2 Case study 1: Water clarification and purification in Singida District, Tanzania. 258 11.3 Case study 2: Water collection in the Sundergarh district of India. 259 11.4 Case study 3: Irrigation and water allocation in Bali, Indonesia. 259 12.1 A story from the Ecuadorian Andes. 274 12.2 A Nepalese story. 276 12.3 An Ethiopia watershed story. 279 12.4 A Nicaragua story. 282 12.5 Harnessing traditional knowledge and modern science. 289 12.6 Tuvalu stories. 290 13.1 Indigenous peoples declarations. 300 13.2 The relational self . 303 13.3 African model legislation for the protection of the rights of local communities, farmers and breeders, and for the regulation of access to biological resources. 305 13.4 Raika Biocultural Community Protocol. 320 13.5 Impacts of biocultural community protocols. 322 14.1 Kopi. 335 Contributors Fatima Alvarez Castillo is professor of assessments and the science-policy Politics and Social Research at the nexus. His current area of scientific University of the Philippines, interest and specialization is Manila. She conducts biodiversity and the sustainable multidisciplinary studies on issues development dimensions of climate relevant to human rights and justice. change and in this regard he has Women’s rights and gender inequity acted as an invited expert of the are consistent themes in her IPCC AR5 Scoping Meeting (2009). research and advocacy. Her current He is affiliated to several