Commercialization of indigenous traditional knowledge

Indigenous knowledge belonged to indigenous peoples and any exploitation of indigenous knowledge should only be made with their free, prior and informed consent.

Indigenous communities are also involved in developing indigenous traditional knowledge policies.

Indigenous traditional knowledge is an essential part of indigenous health systems.

Use of indigenous knowledge in poverty reduction strategies.

IFAD also assists communities in (a) documenting, enhancing and protecting their indigenous traditional knowledge (b) revitalizing indigenous traditional knowledge systems and, where needed, blending them with modern technologies and (c) strengthening traditional knowledge for enhancing the livelihoods of indigenous peoples.

Protection of indigenous and local knowledge systems and cultures

An indigenous expert from Papua New Guinea argued that culture and indigenous traditional knowledge were heritage.

Universities and the academic community should support indigenous research and the promotion of indigenous traditional knowledge.

Maximum use should be made of mentorship and indigenous knowledge.

Report of the International Technical Workshop on Indigenous Traditional Knowledge

The Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems project (LINKS) aims at fostering dialogue and understanding between indigenous knowledge holders and scientists, to empower local communities in biodiversity conservation.

Lack of coherent and informed national governmental policies towards indigenous peoples, and indigenous traditional knowledge in particular

The Forum should appeal for increased resources to enhance the activities and programmes of relevant international agencies related to indigenous traditional knowledge and for inter agency cooperation on indigenous traditional knowledge, including the development of joint indigenous traditional knowledge projects, especially local or community projects.

2005 at the Working Group on Indigenous Populations will be Indigenous peoples and the protection of traditional knowledge .

One expert raised the issue of applying IPR concepts to indigenous knowledge.

Reluctance by some young people to learn and maintain indigenous traditional knowledge

Greater attention should be given to indigenous knowledge, aspirations and capacity needs.

Many countries have special indigenous education programmes that aim to respect indigenous cultures and their languages, traditions, knowledge and lifestyles.

Some presentations demonstrated a resurgent interest in and influence of indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural traditions among indigenous as well as non indigenous societies and cultures.

In order to promote a collaborative and complementary approach to indigenous traditional knowledge, to promote increased participation of indigenous representatives at traditional knowledge related meetings of the United Nations system, an enhanced understanding of indigenous issues and their possible solution regarding traditional knowledge, the Forum recommends convening a United Nations inter agency expert group meeting, with the participation of indigenous experts.

The study should include an analysis of indigenous customary laws as a potential sui generis system for protecting indigenous traditional knowledge.

The central role of education in the promotion and transmission of indigenous traditional knowledge and in advocacy related to it, was also addressed by the experts. This is key because of the often total ignorance of indigenous traditional knowledge within non indigenous communities.

An indigenous expert from the Russian Federation expressed concerns about the lack of indigenous traditional knowledge in current education curricula, and suggested a need for guidelines for Member States on the protection and promotion of indigenous traditional knowledge in education, including traditional pedagogies.

Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

Indigenous knowledge and existing good practices can be built on to maximise benefits.

(h) Protection of the environment, the ozone layer, solar cooking and indigenous knowledge

If so requested by the indigenous communities, United Nations agencies and intergovernmental organizations should provide direct support and assistance to them for their indigenous traditional knowledge related programmes, including for the recording and appropriate protection of indigenous traditional knowledge, taking into account their intellectual property related interests in order to prevent misappropriation of the knowledge.

(b) Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

This included penalties for the illegal appropriation of indigenous knowledge, technology, innovations and customs.

(b) Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

12. The FAO representative stressed the importance of indigenous knowledge and practices in agriculture.

A similar arrangement might be considered for compensation for the use of indigenous knowledge.

Agencies, especially UNESCO and UNICEF, and Governments should cooperate to promote the intergenerational transmission of indigenous traditional knowledge and traditional knowledge based education.

In regard to indigenous traditional knowledge in general and its transmission in particular, the key role of indigenous women was stressed by many participants.

The overall aim of IFAD's work on indigenous traditional knowledge, including culture, is to unleash its great potential for the development of indigenous communities.

(c) Enabling the Forum to develop strategies to fill gaps in indigenous traditional knowledge policies.

Teach and transmit traditional community values and associated local and indigenous knowledge in basic education.

Development in 1995 11. KNOWLEDGE, INNOVATIONS AND PRACTICES OF INDIGENOUS AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES . 79 81

The United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations and Governments should recognize the important role of indigenous women in transmitting, protecting, preserving, developing and promoting indigenous traditional knowledge to the younger generation by ensuring that indigenous women are actively and equitably involved in indigenous traditional knowledge programmes, policies and standard setting at local, national, regional and international levels.

Indigenous observers also reiterated the urgent need for the adoption of the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples as an instrument for the comprehensive protection of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.

FDC prepared the report entitled, quot Indigenous Peoples apos Traditional Knowledge and Management Practices quot , for the International Indigenous Commission, the coalition of indigenous non governmental organizations that participated in the Conference.

Recognizing that organizations of indigenous people have special knowledge and understanding of the current situation of the world's indigenous people and their human rights needs,

UNDP emphasized its policy on indigenous peoples, which specifically addressed free, prior and informed consent in planning and programming, issues of resettlement, and indigenous knowledge.