* PachamamaA Traditional Knowledge Newsletter of the Convention on Biological Diversity Volume 4 | Issue 4 April – September 2010 Recognizing the Crucial Role of Indigenous People and Local Communities Foreword by Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity elcome to the fourth edition of the Pachamama Wand its focus on the Latin American and Caribbean region, one of the world’s richest areas of biologi- cal and cultural diversity. In this issue you will dis- cover, through the eyes of indigenous and local communities, what is being achieved in Latin America and the Caribbean, from their initiatives and experiences in the implementation of Article 8 (j) and other articles of the Convention on Biological Members of the Kuna people fishing, Kuna Yala, Panama (Photo courtesy of Hortencia Hidalgo Cáceres) Diversity (CBD). They are an inspiration for other initiatives in our mutual efforts Negotiating an international regime on ABS local communities on biological resources to save Earth’s biodiversity and celebrate One of the most critical issues this year for since the conception of this international the 2010 International Year of Biodiversity indigenous and local communities, and instrument. and its sister year — the International Year indeed for the citizens of the world, is the for the Rapprochement of Cultures. These negotiation of an international regime The Convention has three objectives. The stories take us on our journey to the tenth on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) of most notable advance within the frame- meeting of the Conference of the Parties genetic resources, and associated tradi- work of the Convention, relevant to devel- (COP 10) to the Convention, to be held tional knowledge. The international com- opment, comes from the commitment of the in Nagoya, Japan, in October 2010, and munity has recognized the close and Parties to implement the third objective of beyond. traditional dependence of indigenous and the CBD—the fair and equitable sharing of In This Issue Recognizing the Crucial Role of Indigenous People and Local Communities, Better Cooperation Needed between Scientists and Indigenous Foreword by Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary, Convention on Peoples, interview with Professor Teodora Zamudio, Chair in Indigenous Biological Diversity ...................................................................... 1 Peoples’ Law, Law Department of the University of Buenos Aires ................ 10 Protecting the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Andes, interview with Respect Essential Ingredient for Indigenous Tourism Initiative, Rodrigo de la Cruz, indigenous delegate for Llamado de la Tierra, member interview with Cecilio Solís Librado, President of RITA, the Indigenous of the Kichwa indigenous people of Imbabura Province, Ecuador, master’s Tourism Network of Mexico............................................................ 12 degree candidate in intellectual property at the Universidad de las Américas .. 3 Engaging the Private Sector in Dialogue on Biodiversity, interview with Defending the Interests of Peru’s Indigenous People, interview with Aurora Elisa Canqui Mollo, Project Coordinator, Establishment of Quality of Life Ortega Pillman, Executive, Department of Inventions and New Technology of Indicators, Ministry of Development Planning, Bolivia; and, Vice-President, the National Institute for the Defence of Competition and Protection of UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues ........................................ 13 Intellectual Property, Lima, Peru ....................................................... 7 The Legend of Coquena, by Alejandra Arganaraz ............................... 14 Empowerment through Education, interview with Florina López Miro, Workshop on Forest Ecosystems ................................................... 15 Coordinator, Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity Network for the Latin American and Caribbean Region ..................................................... 10 2010 Indigenous Tourism and Biodiversity Website Award ................... 16 Let’s save paper! Please consider reading on-screen. Page 2 | Volume 4 | Issue 4 April – September 2010 the benefits arising out of the utilization of related to traditional knowledge associ- Biodiversity, providing a unique opportu- genetic resources—through the adoption ated with genetic resources and the inter- nity for highlighting the role of indigenous and implementation of the international national access and benefit-sharing regime, and local communities and their traditional regime on access to genetic resources and which was held in December 2008, and the knowledge in achieving the goals of the benefit-sharing, at COP 10. Vilm workshop on matters related to tradi- Convention, which I often paraphrase as tional knowledge associated with genetic “saving life on Earth,” or perhaps as indige- The most important aspect for indige- resources and the international regime on nous and local communities may say, “sav- nous and local communities with regards access and benefit-sharing, which was spon- ing Mother Earth – or Pachamama.” to an international regime is the protec- sored by the Government of Germany and tion of their knowledge, innovations and held on the Isle of Vilm in June 2009. The In particular, the Secretariat is working practices associated with genetic resources Government of Spain has also generously with indigenous and local communities through a requirement that such knowl- funded a meeting of indigenous negoti- to develop alternative community educa- edge is accessed with their prior informed ators, facilitated by the Secretariat in Cali, tion and public awareness products. These consent or approval. Secondly and of equal Colombia, just prior to the 9th and final meet- include materials to assist indigenous and importance, is that when such knowledge is ing of the Working Group on ABS. local communities improve their knowl- accessed, it gives rise to the equitable shar- edge of Convention processes and products ing of benefits. To further support the participation of indig- geared towards the general public high- enous and local communities in Convention lighting the important role that indigenous The role of traditional knowledge associ- processes, the Secretariat, with the assistance and local communities and their traditional ated with genetic resources is a fundamen- of the Government of Spain, signed a long- knowledge play in promoting biologi- tal aspect in negotiating the international term capacity-building strategy in early 2009 cal and cultural diversity. These materials regime. The effective participation of indig- and entered into a three-year memorandum include: a short film on traditional know- enous and local community representatives of understanding with the Fundación para ledge in the South Pacific that looks at coral in these important negotiations has been a la Promoción del Conocimiento Indígena, gardening, strengthening traditional fish unique feature of this process. They have acting on behalf of the Latin American and traps and reef restoration; an animated film participated in all relevant meetings, includ- Caribbean Indigenous Women’s Biodiversity with a North American indigenous flavour ing three expert meetings dealing respec- Network, to provide capacity-building for that draws attention to the crucial role trad- tively with “concepts, terms, functional indigenous women and men, to assist them itional knowledge plays in saving our divers- definitions and sectoral approaches,” “com- in effectively participating in meetings held ity is being made for children of all ages; a pliance,” and “traditional knowledge associ- under the Convention and specifically to photography exhibition will be launched ated to genetic resources.” assist their participation in the ABS negoti- at the Ninth Session of the United Nations ations and in the preparations for COP 10. Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at To ensure that traditional knowledge issues These workshops are assisting to the devel- UN Headquarters in April 2010. The exhibi- and indigenous peoples rights are fully opment of an indigenous and local commu- tion draws attention to both international addressed in the development of an inter- nity participation guide for meetings held years and the crucial role of indigenous national regime on ABS, some Parties and under the Convention. and local communities as custodians of the regional groupings, in collaboration with World’s biological and cultural diversity. the Secretariat, have pursued their own The International Year of Biodiversity initiatives, such as the European Union- The United Nations General Assembly The Secretariat is also working with the sponsored Vienna workshop on matters declared 2010 the International Year of United Nations Educational, Scientific Participants to the Mesoamerican Capacity Building Workshop for Indigenous and Local Community Latin American and Caribbean Indigenous and Local Community Capacity Building Workshop on the Convention on of Guatemala, 2-6 March 2010, with the Vice-Minister of Natural Resources of Guatemala, Emma Biological Diversity, including issues relevant to Article 8(j) Traditional Knowledge and Access and Benefit-Sharing. Díaz Larra (Photo courtesy of Onel Masardule Arias) Third Workshop, South Cone Region, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 4-6 February 2010 (Photo courtesy of Onel Masardule Arias) Let’s save paper! Please consider reading on-screen. April – September 2010 Volume 4 | Issue 4 | Page 3 and Cultural Organization