The cultural context of biodiversity conservation - Oapen

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The cultural context of biodiversity conservation
One of the major outcomes in underlining the role of indigenous and local communities
in in situ conservation is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). 16 As the most
broadly supported legally binding international agreement in world history (Posey
2000a), the CBD has three general objectives: it aims at the conservation of biological
diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of
benefits arising from the use of genetic resources. The convention incorporates a
comprehensive framework aimed at a global conservation strategy and proposes an integral
approach recognising that people and their social and economic needs are to be
seen as an essential part of ecological systems. 17 It includes a 23-paragraph introduction
outlining its major motivations, 42 articles and several annexes addressing vital issues
such as protection measures, conservation, investigation, incentives, access to genetic
resources, technology transfer and biosecurity. It presupposes that sustainable
development is only possible if economic, ecological and social aspects are reconciled.
In its course, a concept of biodiversity conservation has evolved that appreciates the
world's biological richness as having coevolved with human societies and that conservation
must contribute to sustainable development by sustaining livelihoods, providing
ecological services and ensuring the sharing of benefits (Oviedo & Brown 1999). 18
The UNCED has been described as a »global turn« marking a moment of growing
awareness of the global dimension of the ›ecological crisis‹ (Hajer & Fischer 1999: 1).
Since the conference in Rio, the CBD became one of the most widely ratified international
treaties on any environmental issue and has contributed in establishing a political
climate where biodiversity is seen as a key issue in environmental as well as in developmental
terms (Walls et al. 1999: 2). 19 It is undergoing a continuous process of
development and adjustment and has been followed up by succeeding conferences of
global scope such as the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 in Johannesburg,
South Africa. 20
16 In situ conservation implies the protection of ecosystems and the maintenance of species in their
specific natural surroundings and, in the case of domesticated or cultivated species, in the surroundings
where they have developed their distinctive properties. In contrast, ex situ conservation refers to
the protection of components of biodiversity outside of their natural habitats, for instance in gene
banks or botanical gardens.
17 In the present context, the term ecology is used as a conceptual referent for human-earth interactions,
rather than as a scientific discipline studying the interrelationships of organisms in ecosystems.
18 The CBD also aims to promote the networking among the various institutions involved in the
ambit of environmental conservation. These embrace different sectors including research initiatives
acting on global to local levels. Article 12 calls its members to establish and maintain programmes
for scientific and technical education and training devoted to the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and its components. At a national level, academic institutions should encourage research
activities concerned with issues related to global environmental change. In doing so, particular account
is to be taken of the special needs of developing countries.
19 By January 2007, 190 parties have acceded to the CBD (168 signatures). For a current state of ratifications,
see www.biodiv.org/world/parties.asp
20 Since it only marks a starting point, the CBD will not be discussed in detail in the present context.
For an anthropological perspective on the proceedings and outcomes of the UNCED, see Ritual,
Power and Ethnography at the Rio Earth Summit by Little (1995). In particular, the relevance of power
structures underlying the CBD negotiations has been approached critically by social scientists. For