POLLINATORS POLLINATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION

THE ASSESSMENT REPORT ON POLLINATORS, POLLINATION AND FOOD PRODUCTION
strengthening ILK through networks. Table 5-5 summarizes
the examples of knowledge of co-production presented in
this sub-section.
Scientists and traditional beekeepers in Nepal worked
together to identify the advantages and disadvantages of
traditional and modern beehives, and to promote codesign
that maximizes advantages of both (Joshi, 2000).
Recovery of traditional knowledge in some communities of
Andean countries in South America, and concerns about
conservation of pollinators, is evident through different
programmes of environmental education and conservation
of biodiversity of ecosystems in which different members of
the communities participate (Ferrufino and Aguilera, 2006;
Meriggi et al., 2008; Pérez and Salas, 2008; Chicchón,
2010; Gómez, 2012; Ferrufino, 2013; Perichon, 2013;
Rosso-Londoño, 2013). Although no mention is given
directly and specifically to pollinators and pollination, the
importance of keeping healthy environments to keep food
diversity and to respect nature is emphasized.
Co-production between science and traditional ecological
knowledge in the Western Ghats of India was found to fill
gaps in both regarding the ecology of mistletoe infections
adversely affecting harvests of amla (Phyllanthus emblica
and P. indofischeri), an important source of local income
(Rist et al., 2010). Kayapo people and entomologists
working together in 1977-78 collected stingless bees
that included 56 species recognized by the Kayapo; the
entomologists identified 66 species, of which 11 were
unknown or not yet described in science, thus adding to
the knowledge of both ILK and science (Posey, 1983b, a).
Community ethnoentomological collections are proving
an effective means of empowering traditional knowledge
of insects, including of how to foster pollinators, and
building synergies with science in both indigenous and local
communities (Aldasoro, 2003; Aldasoro and Argueto, 2013).
Participatory evaluation of pollinator-friendly farming
practices in local communities has been developed by
the FAO into an effective framework for co-producing
knowledge between scientists and farmers for ecological
intensification of farming to support improved livelihoods
(Grieg-Gran and Gemmill-Herren, 2012). Knowledge
co-production is critical for sustainable and ecological
intensification of food production in diverse small-holder
farming systems, as this type of development is knowledgeintensive
(FAO, 2014b).
TABLE 5-5
Knowledge co-production examples presented here and their contributions to responding to risks and opportunities
associated with pollinators and pollination
Knowledge co-production activity
Investigating advantages and disadvantages of
traditional and modern beehives
Environmental education that involves recovery of
traditional knowledge
TEK-science about the ecology of mistletoe
infections leading to decline harvests of amla fruit
Community ethnoentomological collections in
partnerships with scientists
Participatory evaluation of pollinator-friendly farming
practices
Sharing of traditional and agro-ecological
knowledge through networks of peasant farmers
Indonesian Forest Honey Network
Environmental impact assessments incorporating
ILK
Beekeepers and scientists coproducing knowledge
about the risks posed by neonicotinoids to bees
Indigenous peoples and local communities
engagement in environmental monitoring
partnerships
Community indicators
Two-voices story telling about ethnobiology of bees
Promoting monarch butterfly as a boundary object,
bringing in multiple knowledge
Knowledge contribution to responses to risks and opportunities associated with
pollinators and pollination (chapter 5 and chapter 6)
Pollinator management and beekeeping: maximising hive design for healthy bees
Monitoring and evaluating pollinators: learning about healthy environments and respect
for nature
Habitat management: relevant to increasing health of important pollination resource
(amla flowers) for bird pollinators
Pollinator management and beekeeping; monitoring and evaluating pollinators:
identifying insects that are new to both science and ILK, empowering traditional
knowledge of fostering pollinators
Diversified farming systems: replacement of traditional shade coffee plantations with
sun coffee leading to large declines in migratory bird pollinators
Food sovereignty and ecological intensification and diversify farming systems:
promoting pollinator-friendly farming
Livelihoods and beekeeping; pollinator management and beekeeping: improving
economic returns from forest honey as an incentive to protect forests
Pesticides, pollutants and GMOs; landscape planning: pesticides taken up into
medicinal plants
Pesticides: Moratorium on use of neonicotinoids based on precautionary approach in
favour of pollinator protection
Monitoring and evaluating pollinators: providing baselines for analysis of future trends
Monitoring and evaluating pollinators: baselines for analysis of trends in biocultural
diversity
Biocultural conservation; monitoring and evaluating pollinators; livelihoods and
beekeeping
Integrated social and behavioural response; Values and frames approach to
conservation
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5. BIOCULTURAL DIVERSITY, POLLINATORS AND
THEIR SOCIO-CULTURAL VALUES