Report of the Workshop for the Development of a National Strategy for Incorporating Traditional Knowledge into Development Practices IUCN- The World Conservation Union Sri Lanka October 2002 Web Published by : IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Sri Lanka Copyright : © 2002 – The World Conservation Union. Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non- commercial purposes is authorized without prior written permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for any commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written permission of the copyright holder. Citation : IUCN (2002) Workshop Report for the Development of a National Strategy for Incorporating Traditional Knowledge into Development Practices. A Stakeholder Workshop organized jointly by IUCN Sri Lanka and the National Science and Technology Commission of Sri Lanka (NASTEC) ISBN : 978-955-0205-29-5 Produced by : IUCN Sri Lanka Office Available from : www.iucn.org/srilanka CONTENTS Background and Rationale ................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Inauguration of the Workshop .............................................................................................................. 2 Workshop Outputs and Objectives ....................................................................................................... 3 Workshop methodology ........................................................................................................................ 4 Workshop Proceedings ........................................................................................................................ 4 (a) Workshop Recommendations .......................................................................... 4 General Recommendations .................................................................................. 4 Identification of Key Components ......................................................................... 5 (b) The Project Planning Matrix ........................................................................................ 6 The Vision, Mission and the Strategy ................................................................... 6 (c) Institutional Arrangements ......................................................................................... 13 Declaration by the Participants ........................................................................................................... 15 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Case Studies: Part I: Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry and Natural Resources ....................................................... 18-25 Part II: Medicine And Animal Health ............................................................................................. 26-30 Part III: Technology and Industry ...................................................................................................31-39 Annexes Annex 1 (List of Participants) .............................................................................................................. 41 Annex 2 (List of World Bank/East African Delegates .......................................................................... 43 Annex 3 (Programme) ........................................................................................................................ 44 Annex 4 (Key Components for a National Strategy) ........................................................................... 45 Annex 5 (Action Plan – for five years) ................................................................................................ 50 Annex 6 (Papers Presented ........................................................................................................ 59-143 Report of the workshop for the Development of a National Strategy for Incorporating Traditional Knowledge into Development Practices This publication, resulting from a Stakeholder Workshop organized jointly by IUCN Sri Lanka and the National Science and Technology Commission of Sri Lanka (NASTEC) in Dambulla is in three parts, as follows: (a) Report of the workshop, including the recommendations; (b) Brief Case Studies of traditional knowledge practices, documented kindly by Mr M A T de Silva (in three parts; Part 1 – Agriculture, Fishery, Forestry and Natural Resources; Part 2 – Medicine and Animal Health; Part 3 – Technology and Industry); (c) Annexes. IUCN Sri Lanka and NASTEC are grateful to all participants for their valuable contributions, and for the World Bank, in particular for the initiative by Mr Sidhartha Prakash for financial assistance to hold the workshop. Annex 6 contains eight papers. The authors of these papers are solely responsible for all opinions expressed in these, and the contents do not imply expressions of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN – The World Conservation Union or the National Science & Technology Commission (NASTEC). Report of the Workshop for the Development of a National Strategy for incorporating traditional knowledge into Development Practices BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE A history of over 2,500 years of large-scale social organisation under successive kingdoms has endowed the island of Sri Lanka with a wealth of knowledge that spans a broad range of sectors. The logistical challenges involved in maintaining such a level of social organisation over several hundred years would have necessitated deep knowledge in a wide range of fields including, but not limited to architecture and construction, irrigation, food production and medication. Written and oral traditions and archaeological evidence have confirmed this knowledge, and many testaments today contribute to national income as tourist interests. Whilst a significant amount of this body of knowledge exists today as documentation and/or practice, only a negligible proportion makes a significant contribution to modern development practices. Even in the case of the better known field of traditional medicine, modern medicines and technologies have eroded its use to such an extent that a World Bank funded project for the conservation of medicinal plants and related knowledge is currently being implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Health and Indigenous Medicine with technical and operational support from IUCN Sri Lanka. At a time when the need for attaining a balance between the advancement of human communities and the preservation of ecological functions for present and future generations, as is stressed through the concept of Sustainable Development, traditional knowledge and practices represent a potentially rich storehouse of options for solving particular developmental problems in more sustainable and equitable manner. Why this knowledge has remained relatively untapped in Sri Lanka may be explained by its marginalisation in the formalised education system and the lack of technical and financial support for its study, dissemination and adoption at the family, community and national levels. Therefore, the purpose of the proposed project is to rally together stakeholders knowledgeable in the subject of traditional knowledge to develop a common vision and strategy for incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into mainstream development planning processes and ground activities at all social strata. A particular emphasis in developing a National Strategy will be placed on the need to facilitate the adoption of traditional knowledge not only through a top-down mechanism, but as much through a bottom-up system where individual families and communities are empowered and assisted in experimenting in adopting traditional knowledge and practices for overcoming present obstacles. It is hoped that such a dual approach will contribute not only to sustainable development, but also to a more equitable distribution of the benefits of such development. This project will consequently support the Government of Sri Lanka fulfil the request made to all Parties by Article 8 (j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to respect, preserve and maintain local and indigenous knowledge, innovations and practices; to promote its wider application with the approval and involvement of local and indigenous people; and to encourage the equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilisation of such knowledge, innovations and practices. The Strategy would also need to take cognisance of Sri Lanka’s obligations as a party to Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights, as well as its rights under Article 27.3 (b) of the same Agreement, which provides for the development of sui generis systems for the protection of such knowledge. INTRODUCTION The National Science and Technology Commission (NASTEC) and IUCN – The World Conservation Union, Sri Lanka with financial support from the World Bank’s Traditional Knowledge Group held a workshop at Dambulla from 17 – 20 September, 2002 to develop a national strategy for incorporating traditional knowledge and practices into mainstream development planning processes in the country. Traditional Knowledge (TK) is often ignored, belittled, rejected or considered irrelevant in development planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes.