JustGreen Initiatives

ORGANIZERS:   Association ANDE; International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE); Regional Government of Cusco; Municipality of Cusco; CONAM; the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad;  and others

 

Description:        The overarching theme of the Congress is “Local Livelihoods and Collective Bio-cultural Heritage”. Taken as a whole, the theme forms an overall conceptual framework for the interactions between nature and culture as well as allows focus on the role of Ethnobiology in maintaining biocultural diversity and ensuring rights and equity through participatory research approaches. The ICE 2008 will include both academic presentations and alternative formats of interaction designed to facilitate multidisciplinary content, bridging epistemologies, and intercultural discussion, and organized around a key topic; formats will include video, theatre, music, dance, exhibits. We therefore invite the submission, in any of these formats, of new and significant experiences in the Congress themes that have particularly bridged epistemologies and scales and utilized emancipatory and learning and action methodologies. Video submissions authored by indigenous peoples are especially invited. This Congress’ format will aim to create an environment which combines formal presentations with face-to-face discussions and information exchanges among participants, thereby engaging a very diverse group of ISE membership. The Congress itself is being planned as a five day event in Cusco, with a series of conference workshops prior to and following the Congress. The organizing committee will make all possible efforts to encourage and ensure the involvement of indigenous peoples and local communities around the world in ICE 2008 in order to ensure that indigenous voices, ideas and opinions are included in the content and outcomes of the conference. We envision three days of traditional and non-traditional presentations, information exchanges, and panel discussions built around workshop themes outlined above. One half day will be dedicated to the opening and closing of the event. Another half day will be devoted to visit nearby biocultural projects and indigenous communities.

 

The 11th Congress will be preceded by a number of pre-congress events including an iconic cultural festival focused on the Potato, celebrating Cusco’s people, culture and environment. A couple of special exhibits with theme of the Potato are being organized in collaboration with a recently formed Norwegian Arts Institute and a French NGO. Congress delegates and the general public will have the opportunity to experience an eclectic program of events including art, music, heritage cuisine, an indigenous film festival, and recreation that reflect the biocultural diversity and passions of the indigenous people of Cusco.  Through these pre Congress events we plan to plan to engage several community groups around the world in discussions aiming to broaden our understanding of the relevant issues. We will then work to incorporate results from these interactions into the content and proceedings of the Congress in Cusco. In order to facilitate the process of engaging communities globally, we will work with existing indigenous peoples’ networks and community groups.  Live or recorded webcasts (video and podcast) from the Congress will be made available online in the ICE 2008 Web Page. Such technology will also enable related events held in other regions of the world to be posted online.  The web based Congress and parallel events in various regions of the world will expand the symposium’s reach beyond its physical location.

 

Sessions:

Session 1: “Traditional Agricultural Landscapes and Community Conserved Areas”

This session will explore indigenous systems of conservation of landscapes shaped by agrobiodiversity and local food systems. Concurrent, poster, video and plenary sessions will be designed to facilitate multidisciplinary content, bridging epistemologies, and intercultural discussion, and organized around the key topic: safeguarding local rights and livelihoods and enhancing food systems and native agrobiodiversity at the landscape level. We encourage indigenous peoples and local communities to present working examples of their approaches to conservation on traditional agricultural systems at landscape or watershed scales. A one-day hands-on workshop in the Potato Park will be designed to foster dialogue between session participants and members of the six communities of the Park on the conservation and sustainable use of traditional landscapes and indigenous collective biocultural heritage. Session co-chairs will be responsible for presenting a synthesis of the presentations and leading discussion in each concurrent session. A background paper and accompanying video will be commissioned for presentation during the plenary sessions, and respondents from communities and academia will be identified to stimulate discussion among participants.

Session 2: “Ethnoecology, Climate Change and Adaptation”

This session will explore climate change impacts and implications for indigenous and traditional communities, as well as their unique adaptation strategies, particularly crop adaptation and adaptation to marginal areas and ecosystem boundaries. Concurrent, poster, video and plenary sessions will be designed to foster dialogue, networking and collaborative research and action between researchers, students, policy makers, etc and members of communities already facing the worst consequences of global warming. Session topics will include:

(i) protecting ecosystem buffers that provide livelihoods, sacred spaces, and pathways for indigenous peoples and local communities;

(ii) the role of collective biocultural heritage in maintaining and strengthening the resilience of healthy ecosystems;

(iii) building bridges among indigenous peoples, scientists and policymakers to develop adaptation strategies; and,

(iv) incorporating biocultural diversity in international climate change fora.

We invite indigenous peoples and local communities to present case studies in video and other formats. A one day visit to archeological and project sites, which show how indigenous peoples have in the past and are currently applying traditional knowledge to create strategies for climate adaptation and lessening the impacts of natural disasters, is being organized. Session co-chairs will be responsible for presenting a synthesis of the presentations and leading discussion in each concurrent session. A background paper and accompanying video will be commissioned for presentation during the plenary sessions, and respondents from communities and academia will be identified to stimulate discussion among participants.

Session 3: “Ethnobiology and Traditional Resource Rights: Darrell Posey’s Legacy”

This session will celebrate Darrell Posey´s many contributions and influences in the field of ethnobiology over the past several decades, both direct and indirect. These could be on the topics of ethnoecology, ethnoentomology, intellectual property and biocultural rights and responsibilities, etc., in diverse presentation formats. As a celebration of 20 years of the International Society of Ethnobiology, we especially encourage young ethnobiologists to contribute their ideas on how their work draws upon and furthers the vision of biocultural diversity as politically, socially, and historically situated. These will be diverse contributions but all should identify a link to Darrell Posey´s life work.

Special Session: Food Sovereignty and Centers of Origin: Celebrating the International Year of the Potato

Peru, one of twelve megadiverse countries where 70% of the world’s biodiversity resides, is the center of origin of the potato. Cusco, home to over 2,000 varieties of potato developed and nurtured by indigenous peoples over millennia, along with other important plant species for agriculture and medicine, is the natural place to celebrate the 2008 UN International Year of the Potato (www.potato2008.org). The potato forms part of the collective biocultural heritage of Andean indigenous peoples and is a critical food crop for the global food security and sovereignty of peoples and communities around the world. To celebrate the UN International Year of the Potato and the biological and cultural diversity that sustains food sovereignty ICE 2008 is organizing a special session on the potato. This session will bring together indigenous and traditional potato farming communities from the Andean region for an interactive dialogue, networking and collaborative analysis to promote emancipatory research and action. Potato farmers will interact through a series of markets and exhibits, artistic presentations, and poster, video and plenary sessions. Session topics will include (i) protecting the collective biocultural heritage and traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous peoples, local communities and smallholder peasant farmers; (ii) Collective action against the spread of Genetically Modified Organisms and other technologies such as the Terminator which is attacking indigenous food crops, agricultural systems and cultural survival; (iii) Food Sovereignty and the right of Peoples to define their own policies and strategies for the sustainable production, distribution, and consumption of food, with respect for their own cultures and their own systems of managing natural resources and landscapes; (iv) Factors impacting traditional food systems and cultural relationships to traditional food related practices of Indigenous peoples; (v) Programs, initiatives and projects for the restoration, protection and continuation of potato diversity and traditional farming practices.

Pre-Congress Workshop: Malaria and the Health and Well-being of Indigenous Peoples

This ancient and neglected disease continues to strike indigenous populations worldwide at a higher rate than other population groups. In Latin America, indigenous people are more likely to lose their lives from malaria, among other neglected diseases and conditions, than their counterparts because of lack of access to appropriate health services. Although malaria transmission is falling in the Americas, it remains a public health problem in 21 countries. Between 2000 and 2004, the incidence of malaria increased in six countries (Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela), many of which have a considerable indigenous population. This session will bring together shamans and traditional health practitioners from the Americas and other regions of the world and public and private health professionals, researchers, students and policymakers for an intercultural analysis, exchange of experiences and discussion around the key topic: Malaria and the Health and Well-being of Indigenous Peoples. Session topics will include:

(i) The role of indigenous knowledge and health systems, which are closer to the reality and resources of indigenous peoples and rural communities, in combating Malaria;

(ii) Ways of combining traditional and Western heath systems, and necessary conditions;

(iii) Building capacity in indigenous communities and forming local partnerships to sustain heath services; and

(iv), Policies to support R&D in neglected diseases. This session will take place at a Research Center on Traditional Medicines in Tarapoto City, Peru and will include a special workshop on communicating with plants.

ICE 2008 World Cultures Festival

The Festival of World Cultures will be an international arts and culture festival celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of indigenous artistic traditions. The Festival program will feature innovative artistic practices and representations of biocultural diversity from around the world. It aims to develop local and international audiences’ experience of the arts, challenging their perceptions of cultural and biological diversity through a dynamic program of video festival, concerts & club nights, theatre and dance performances, markets & exhibitions, and workshops for children. This Festival will work closely with communities, groups, organizations and individuals on many levels from performances to volunteers. The Festival aims to build a positive public response to current issues related to biological and cultural diversity, nurture tolerance, respect and understanding among cultures through the arts and entertainment, and enhance cultural expression and integration by providing a platform for inter-cultural creative exchange. The Festival program will be closely linked to the ICE program and open to the public as part of our campaign that focuses on developing new community audiences on biocultural diversity.

Pre- and Post-Congress Training Sessions

Optional educational courses and workshops will take place Pre and Post Congress and will be offered at an additional fee by the organizers. These intensive workshops will consist of a combination of training and demonstrations on tools and resources for biocultural related research and action. Activities in the workshops will be hands-on. ICE 2008 delegates will have an opportunity to interact in an outdoor environment, learning about practical aspects of biocultural diversity. There are no formal prerequisites, but prior exposure to the theme is highly recommended. Topics that will be covered during these workshops will, among others, include:

• Participatory video making

• Production of natural medicines, shampoos, soaps and other natural products

• Understanding Ayahuasca

Awards:

The International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) will award a student prize at the 11th

ICE. Check the ISE website (www.ethnobiology.net) for details after September.

The International Society of Ethnobiology will award the Ebi Kimanani Fellowship at the

11th ICE to a promising African ethnobiologist working in Sub-Saharan Africa.