sustainable use of biological diversity.pdf - India Environment Portal

Customary sustainable use of biodiversity by indigenous peoples
is threatened by the introduction of firearms, another
destructive method. With the use of firearms,
the hunt also loses its cultural aspect and becomes
a purely economic pursuit. The Baka do not own
any firearms themselves but are paid to hunt for the
owners of the weapons. Other unsustainable practices
that are taken over from non-Baka neighbours
include line and poison fishing.
Since the early 20th century Wapichan people
have adapted to new institutions like churches and
schools in their communities. These institutions
have brought changes in the settlement pattern as
the villages have become larger and more permanent.
Such institutions undoubtedly brought some
cultural impacts. Some churches, for example, have
sought to forbid their congregations from using traditional
shamanic healing services, which has undermined
the public role of the marunao (shaman)
in some communities. In Suriname, the religions
that have been introduced in the villages have also
impacted on traditional knowledge. Similar to the
Wapichan, traditional beliefs and practices were
forbidden for long, and many people who became
Christians no longer know or uphold traditional rituals
and practices. Moreover, the growing influence
of the monetary economy (everything costs money
nowadays) is also playing a role in the decline of traditional
knowledge and culture as youth increasingly
look for jobs to earn a fixed income.
The Karen have also seen many trends of so-called
“development” from outsiders, who view tribal people
as “backward, lazy, or generally underdeveloped”.
All of these policies share a common objective: to
change the lives of highland communities to conform
to the expectations of outsiders. An important
“solution” proposed by outsiders is the cultivation
of only a few cash crops. As a result, great changes
to the Karen way of life and methods of production
have occurred. These modern agricultural practices
are known to be ecologically harmful and are not
in line with traditional agricultural practices. The
introduction of religions different from people’s traditional
beliefs has also had an impact on the communities’
customary use and traditional practices.
Some villages have been influenced by Christianity,
which has resulted in discontinuation or an initial
devaluing of the communities’ traditions beliefs and
practices, although over time, many groups adapted
their new beliefs to the traditional beliefs of the communities.
9. conclusion: recommendations to enhance
customary sustainable use
The community researchers involved in these studies
have elaborated the following recommendations
to enhance customary use of biodiversity and the
implementation of Article 10(c):
1. Take measures to recognise and respect indigenous
peoples’ rights to their lands and resources.
2. Recognise the role of customary law and traditional
institutions and freedom to use customary
laws related to biodiversity use rather than rules or
laws imposed by others.
3. Recognise the right of indigenous and local communities
to fully and effectively participate in natural
resource management and decision-making.
4. Take concrete actions to acknowledge the value
of customary practices and traditional knowledge
in relation to biodiversity conservation and sustainable
use, for example by reviewing and reforming
national policies and laws to make them compatible
with, and to support, the protection of customary
use and traditional knowledge.
5. Ensure that free, prior and informed consent
(FPIC) becomes a well-understood and generally
applied principle in all matters affecting indigenous
peoples’ lands and territories.
6. Address all cases where protected areas have adversely
affected indigenous peoples’ customary sustainable
use.
7. Educational policies and programmes should be
culturally appropriate and should promote the use
and revitalisation of indigenous languages and traditional
knowledge.
8. Use the United Nations Declaration on the Rights
on Indigenous Peoples as the basis for the full and
effective implementation of Article 10 (c) of the
Convention. It provides a framework for respecting
the fundamental human rights of indigenous
peoples, and provides a legal and environmental
basis for protecting and encouraging customary
sustainable use.
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