Conservación, Uso y Gestión de los Sistemas Forestales

and clearly recognised component of biological diversity). So, people have helped shape the existing
biodiversity and biodiversity plays a major role in shaping cultural “memory” - especially through the
medium of language – what I have called in another paper – “the linguasphere” (Bridgewater and Bridgewater,
1999).
The whole issue of genetic resources requires considerably more attention. While there are
issues relating to food/pharmaceutical potential, there are additional fundamental issues, including
management plans, relating to genetic stocks of species harvested for other commercial purposes.
The issue of genetic resources is closely related to the question of sustainable use of wildlife and, in
some instances, to rights of indigenous peoples (see, for example, Lynge, 1993). Here again, the role
of language in maintaining sustainable community living and resource use is exemplified.
There are a range of matters which fall under the heading of management, everything from recovery
programs for endangered species to the management of protected areas. These, and other
management challenges, offer opportunity for involvement of local communities such as that suggested
in the Seville Strategy – the action plan for UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves (Bridgewater and
Cresswell, 1998) - as now updated by the recent meeting in Pamplona, Spain.
In fact, Goal I of the Seville Strategy reads as follows:
Use Biosphere Reserves to Conserve Natural and Cultural Diversity.
Goal 2 tells us to:
Utilize Biosphere Reserves as Models of Land Management and of Approaches to Sustainable
Development.
Goal 4 deals with Education and Public Awareness, key to implementing an understanding
among not only local people but the wider community.
In Pamplona several recommendations were made dealing with these following issues:
• Site and national authorities should develop mechanisms to increase awareness of biosphere
reserves.
• Site and national authorities should utilise new technologies to publish success stories.
• Site and national activities should increase NGO participation to assist in fund raising and in
establishing links among biosphere reserves.
• Site and national authorities should strengthen the involvement and participation of local
people in sustainable resource management and development through training, participatory
rural appraisals and community workshops. Only when the local communities and NGOs
become active partners in planning, management and decision making within biosphere reserves,
can it be said that support from local people has been truly secured.
• Biosphere reserves should be connected by information webs and should exchange information
about education and public awareness through the regional networks and the world
network.
• Educational and public awareness programs and campaigns should always be implemented
through two-way communication. Such programs should be implemented at site and national
level and should include inter alia efforts to popularise scientific information by producing television
programs, films and suitable illustrated books and brochures. An environmental education
manual for use at all levels of education should be developed to assist biosphere reserve
co-ordinators.
• A diversity of education and public awareness methods should be applied and methods and
contents should be adapted to different target groups and their different needs.
• Biosphere reserve status offers opportunities to develop environmental awareness and promote
equitable sharing of current and potential economical or social benefits. This awareness
and these benefits should be promoted.
• It was suggested that biosphere reserve co-ordinators, national committees and the MABsecretariat
should:
– develop on-line and hardcopy tutorials on the concept of biosphere reserves and the Seville
Strategy and disseminate through appropriate processes such as workshops, favouring
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