Ana Persic - COHAB Initiative

Enhancing the links between
cultural and biological diversity
for human health and well-being
Ana Persic
UNESCO, Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences,
Man and the Biosphere Programme
Second International Conference on Health & Biodiversity
25 February 2008

Diversity of Life
Biological diversity -diversity
within species, between species, and
of ecosystems
cultural practices depend
upon specific elements of
biodiversity for their
existence and expression
ensembles of biodiversity
are developed, maintained
and managed by cultural
groups
Cultural diversity - diversity of
practices, ways of living together, value
systems, languages, g artistic
expressions – means to achieve
emotional, moral, spiritual existence

Biological - Cultural Diversity
Language and linguistic diversity (terms, concepts)
Material culture (objects created from bd, reflecting
spiritual and religious beliefs)
Knowledge and technology
Technology and techniques (practice using natural
materials)
Traditional and local knowledge
Transmission of knowledge and skills
Modes of subsistence
Natural resource use and management
Plant/animal domestication and selective breeding
(e.g. creation and maintenance of genetic
diversity)
Economic relations (partnerships based on trading natural resources, going beyond eco borders)
Social relations (e.g. social roles relating to differential resource use)
Attachment to place (e.g. cultural identity inscribed in natural places)
Gender (e.g. gender specific environmental knowledge)
Political relations (e.g. control over differential resource access)
Legal institutions (e.g. customary law governing resource/land access)
Belief systems
Rites and rituals (e.g. those celebrating seasonal events)
Sacred sites (e.g. the conservation of sacred forests)
Mythology, worldview, cosmology and spirituality
Constructing identity with/through the natural world (e.g. totemism, nagualism, tonalism)

Loss of Diversity
Diversity is being lost at
unprecedented rates
Reduced diversity makes the
world increasingly vulnerable to
change posing a threat to global
stability
Cultural diversity together with maintenance of biodiversity is essential
to the quality of life and human well-being.
Diversity loss needs to be dealt with in holistic, more comprehensive
ways that t recognize the links between components of diversity it and
address them together.

Diversity in UNESCO
UNESCO - unique position to mainstream
the links between biological and cultural
diversity in research, political dialogue
and action
UNESCO/UNEP - High Level Round Table
on ‘Cultural Diversity for Sustainable
Development” World Summit on
Sustainable
Development,
Johannesburg, 2002.
The objective: to underline the importance of
respecting and integrating the diversity of
nature and culture as a prerequisite for
sustainable development.
The main recommendation was to add
cultural diversity as the forth pillar to
achieve sustainable development

Diversity in UNESCO
Since 2002 - “Enhancing the linkages between biodiversity
and cultural diversity as a key basis for sustainable
development“
A number of activities have been developed and
implemented:
• local, traditional and indigenous
knowledge (LINKS, MAB);
• languages (indicators IBCD, CBD);
• tangible and intangible heritage;
• sustainable management of
natural resources
Main goal - to enhance the linkages between biological and
cultural diversity and use them to promote environmental and
human well-being from international to site specific levels.

UNESCO sites and Diversity
World Heritage Sites
conservation of cultural, natural and
mixed sites (cultural landscapes) of
outstanding universal value
Biosphere reserves
testing approaches to sustainable
development based on science and
local community efforts

Addressing biological and cultural
diversity it in tandem – examples form in
Biosphere Reserve
MAB Programme - Intergovernmental programme aiming at laying
scientific basis for the improvement of people - environment
relationships.
Biosphere reserve concept designed as field tool for
interdisciplinary MAB work
‣ Conserve natural and cultural diversity
‣ Models of land management and of
approaches to sustainable development
‣ Research, monitoring, education and
training
i

Knowledge and technology
Uluru-Kata Tjuta Biosphere Reserve, Australia
Aboriginal traditional practices of landscape
management, including burning, are included d in the
management plan of the site.
The fire-management regime integrates aspects of
traditional burning practices with a scientifically
based approach to:
- maintain the site’s biodiversity
- protect life, property and culturally
significant sites and mitigate the effects of
wildfire
Traditional practices coupled with scientific
knowledge provide innovative tools that sustain
both biological and cultural diversity.

Linguistic diversity
Bosawas Biosphere Reserve, Nicaragua
The indigenous Mayangna are knowledgeable about
human-nature nature interactions, and put into practice
lifestyles that conserve biological diversity.
LINKS Programme documents this knowledge in a
bilingual pedagogical tool:
- to transfer Mayangna knowledge and know-how
on the aquatic system, freshwater fishes & turtles.
- to serve as a dialogue base between managers,
scientists & traditional knowledge holders
By maintaining their language and the vitality of
indigenous knowledge, the Mayangna can
continue informing the development of
culturally-appropriate ll t and sustainable
biodiversity management options.

Traditional belief systems
Xishuangbanna Biosphere Reserve, China
Traditional belief in sacred forests has made a great
contribution to biodiversity conservation.
Holly hills set aside by the Dai people and other ethnic
groups as ‘sacred forests’ have preserved islands of
forest biodiversity in mountain and hilly areas.
Protection of forests guarantees water supply, and
provision of animal and plant products to support daily
life and nutrient balance of the local communities.
Conservation of biodiversity based on cultural and
religious values - more sustainable than that based
only on government legislation l or regulation.

Material culture
Al Shouf Biosphere Reserve, Lebanon
Local communities interaction with natural
resources: exploitation of wood & non wood forest
products, food processing, handicrafts, etc.
Mutual influences constitute t the key element for an
integrated management plan aiming at:
- maintaining sustainable practices,
- ensuring biodiversity conservation &
sustainable development
- providing locals with appropriate job
opportunities
The patrimony and traditions of the rural society
is enhanced through the sustainable use of
biodiversity.

Challenges for the future
- to integrate lessons learned from BR
experience on biodiversity - cultural diversity
linkages in management and policy
decisions dealing with sustainable
development, poverty alleviation, health and
well-being,
- to translate the principles of mutual
reinforcement of cultural and biological
diversity at the site-specific level into
proposals for policies and action on the local,
regional and international levels.

Towards tools for policy and action
Progress in raising awareness about the importance of the
links between biological and cultural diversity and the
dangers of addressing them separately.
Academia - ethnoecology, historical ecology, deep ecology…
IGO and fora - UNESCO, UNEP, United Nations Permanent
Forum on Indigenous Issues, International ti Indigenous Forum on
Biodiversity, Tebtebba, Inuit Circumpolar Conference…
NGOs - IUCN, Terralingua, Resilience Alliance, Global Diversity
Foundation…
Intergovernmental processes and policy instruments - explicit
reference to cultural drivers when dealing with biological diversity and
vice versa.
Convention on Biological Diversity
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
World Heritage Convention
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Towards tools for policy and action
The increase in development
and application of
approaches linking biological
and cultural l diversity it raises
the need to clarify key
theoretical and
methodological issues to
ensure a more systematic
ti
consideration of such
approaches and their use as
meaningful tools for policy
and practice.

Links between Biological & Cultural Diversity
Concepts, Methods & Experiences
International workshop organized by UNESCO
with support of The Christensen Fund, September 2007

Main objectives
Elucidate the main concepts related to
biological and cultural diversity that should
be taken into account when addressing
diversity in an integrated manner;
Develop recommendations for:
• a conceptual framework for assessing
the linkages between cultural and
biological diversity
• future integrated research at the
biological-cultural diversity interface
• policy and action

Concepts
Main results
• Common conceptual framework – to be developed on the already
existing reflections (bio-cultural theory, resilience, cultural landscapes…)
and linked with on-the-ground research & practice
• Common methodological framework - to be developed based on
holistic, interdisciplinary, multi-scale, participatory & collaborative
research approaches.
Research
• Principal units and appropriate scale for diversity research
• Dynamics of knowledge
• Processes that reduce, modify and/or produce diversity through
the ‘homogenization - hybridity – diversification’ process
• Impact of demographic shifts and dynamics on diversity
• Development of a value-based system for diversity
Theoretical and conceptual research need to be coupled with on ground
research in collaboration with all the relevant stakeholders, starting with the
local population.

Policy
Main results
At the international level
• Integrate cultural diversity in MEA
• Integrate considerations on biological diversity in
international treaties dealing with cultural diversity
At the regional level
• Include the links between biological and cultural diversity in resource
management and valorization of cultural & natural heritage;
• Revise nature classification schemes and monitoring tools
At the national level
• Identify cultural values in territories, define their significance,
integrity & vulnerability
• Manage the process of data collections and collation
• Monitor and manage the process of transformation
• Ensure research development to gather evidence

For the Future…
UNESCO intends to play an active role with regard to
the further study and the promotion of the relationships
between biological and cultural diversity and their links
to other agendas
Priority will be given to developing systematic
approaches to study these relationships
Attention will be paid to distilling principles of biologicalcultural
diversity interactions that may assist with the
design and implementation of relevant policies.

For the Future…
Analytical and scientific work conducted by UNESCO in
this area is hoped assist with normative work related to
biological and cultural diversity and other cross-cutting
issues
Reinforcing and building bridges between:
• The Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural
Heritage,
• The Convention on the Protection and Promotion of Diversity of
Cultural Expressions,
• The World Heritage Convention,
• The Convention on Biological Diversity,
• The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and other biodiversityrelated
conventions,
• Cross-cutting interdisciplinary initiatives - COHAB
Ultimate goal is to integrate diversity as a key
component of environment, development, health and
poverty reduction agendas to effectively contribute to
enhancement of human well-being and the achievement
of the MDG across the world

Thank you for your attention!