GLOSS 201 2011 - SECOND GLOBAL SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY (GLOSS 2011)

The forest dwelling communities of the world have preserved traditional forest knowledge and innovative forest management practices since centuries. They have contributed significantly towards preservation of world’s natural and cultural heritage. Traditional forestry knowledge and its associated knowledge about forest and ecosystem management are key to development of sustainable biodiversity policies and practices. The application of traditional knowledge in management of natural resources and agricultural ecosystems for food, forest products and environment services has been overlooked. These issues have been reflected in deliberations of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Convention to combat Desertification (UNCCD).

The relevance of traditional knowledge in development of policies and practices that support sustainable management of natural resources has been debated in many international forums. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recognized indigenous people and local knowledge as key factors towards meeting the challenges of climate change. It has been recognized that incorporation of indigenous knowledge in to climate change policies contributes to development of effective participatory, sustainable and cost-effective adaptation strategies towards climate change. The Bali climate change conference has strongly recommended the full and effective participation of indigenous people and civil society in all UN processes for climate change. This recommendation has been endorsed by the delegates participated at Indigenous Peoples’ Global Summit on Climate Change (April 2009, Anchorage), International Expert Group Meeting on Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, (April 2008, Darwin), International Public Forum on Indigenous People and Climate Change (April 2008, Darwin),Global Indigenous Peoples Consultation on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD) (November 2008, Baguio City), South-East Asian Indigenous Peoples Regional Consultation on REDD (November 2008, Baguio City), Indigenous Issues and Climate Change Stream at the 11th International Congress of Ethnobiology (June 2008, Cusco), Planning meetings for the Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Assessment project (June 2008, Cusco and September 2008, Palo Alto) and the first meeting of the Interim Steering Committee (October 2008, Spain).