Webinar: Indigenous and local knowledge in the IPBES assessments of sustainable use and values of nature

30 August 2022, 2.00pm – 4.00pm Paris time (CEST) 

Organized by the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB), the Network of the Centers of Distinction on Indigenous and Local Knowledge, the Indigenous Women's Biodiversity Network and IPBES

This webinar explored the key messages relating to indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) from the two recently completed IPBES assessments:

• Sustainable use of wild species (starts around 0:31:00 in the video)
• Values of nature (starts around 1:11:00 in the video)

English recording

French recording

Spanish recording

Background to the assessments

Both assessments followed a rigorous approach to working with indigenous and local knowledge (ILK), including a series of dialogue workshops with IPLCs and contributions from authors across a range of disciplines and knowledge systems. You can read more about IPBES work with ILK here.

This has resulted in messages highlighting the importance of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and the participation of IPLCs in managing the sustainable use of wild species, and on the ways that indigenous and local knowledge can contribute to valuation and decision-making about nature. These messages have now been approved by the 139 member countries of IPBES.

In this webinar, authors from the two assessments presented these messages, and IPLCs reflected on their importance, and next steps at local, national and global levels. 

Sustainable use of wild species

The objective of the sustainable use assessment is to consider approaches that enhance the sustainable use of wild flora, fauna, and fungi within the ecosystems they inhabit and strengthen practices, measures, capacities and tools for their conservation. It is solution-oriented, with the overall aim of identifying challenges and opportunities to ensure and promote the sustainable use of wild species. You can read more here.

Values of nature

The objective of the values assessment is to assess the diverse conceptualizations of values of nature and their contributions to human-nature well-being, including diverse valuation methodologies and approaches, and the roles of institutions, rules and power relations. It also explores how to embed diverse values of nature into decision-making and policymaking. You can read more here. 

Indigenous and local knowledge

Indigenous and local knowledge is central to the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems. This knowledge is formed through the direct dependence of IPLCs on their local ecosystems, and observations and interpretations of change generated and passed down over many generations, and yet adapted and enriched over time. IPLCs from around the world often live in remote areas, interacting with nature and managing resources that contribute to society at large. They also suffer directly from the pressures of expanding agriculture frontiers and commodity production, such as mining, logging, and energy. They are often better placed than scientists to provide detailed information on local biodiversity and environmental change, and are important contributors to the governance of biodiversity from local to global levels.

Agenda

Webinar partner websites:

• International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity (IIFB)
• Network of the Centers of Distinction on Indigenous and Local Knowledge
• Indigenous Women's Biodiversity Network