The ISE Code of Ethics

(1) ISE Code of Ethics (questions and discussion about the principles and practices; plans for future revisions),

(2) Ethics Discussions (an on-line meeting ground for discussion of pressing issues and needs, sharing experiences, etc.), and

(3) Development of the ISE Code of Ethics Toolkit.

ISE Contacts: Kelly Bannister, ISE Ethics Chair or Natasha Duarte, ISE Coordinator

The ISE Code of Ethics is intended as a living document that will be reviewed every four years and revised it as needed. Beginning in Autumn of 2009, the ISE Ethics Committee will be inviting feedback on the Principles and Practices. In the meantime, please feel free to share your feedback:

• Are you using the Code of Ethics in your work?

• Would you like to share your thoughts or experiences on a particular principal or practice that is found in the Code of Ethics?

• Are there additional principles or practices that you think should be included?

• Do you have any other comments on the ISE Code of Ethics?

ISE Contacts: Sarah Laird, Director ISE Global Coalition or Natasha Duarte, ISE Coordinator

The ISE aims to support and strengthen a wide network of people addressing ethical issues in a biocultural context by creating an on-line meeting space for discussion of pressing issues and needs, and sharing experiences, ideas and resources. The discussions will inform the ISE's work regarding the ISE Code of Ethics and related Toolkit. 

• What are the most pressing ethical issues for ethnobiology today?

• What specific issues are faced by you or your organization as related to biological and cultural diversity and biocultural heritage and how are they being addressed?

• How can the ISE and other organisations work more collaboratively in
  promoting and supporting ethical practices in ethnobiology?

ISE Contacts: Kelly Bannister, Ethics Chair or Natasha Duarte, ISE Coordinator

At the special pre-Congress Ethics Workshop held in Chiang Rai, Thailand in 2006, workshop participants emphasized the need for complementary materials such as a "toolkit" to facilitate effective implementation of the principles and practices comprising the ISE Code of Ethics. Initial funding for developing the Code of Ethics Toolkit was committed by The Christensen Fund for 2008-2011. The vision for the toolkit is an internet-based multifaceted, multicultural, and multilingual information clearing-house containing supporting material for implementing the ISE Code of Ethics to help people and organizations transform the Code into action.

The first year of toolkit development (2008-09) was led by Jeanine Pfeiffer in collaboration with Yih-Ren Lin, Rainer Bussmann and Will McClatchey. The second year (2009-10) is led by Kelly Bannister in collaboration with Yih-Ren Lin and Sarah Laird. 

The ISE invites initial contributions to the Code of Ethics Toolkit

• Do you feel confident in your understanding of the ISE Code of Ethics and ability to apply it in your work? Are there aspects that could be more fully explained or better illustrated with examples?

• Do you or your organization have lessons, challenges or success stories to share related to your efforts to apply the ISE Code of Ethics in your work? What aspects do you struggle with and what kinds of tools or resources would you find helpful?

• Do you have materials to share (with permission, as appropriate) related to your experience in implementing the ISE Code of Ethics, such as: video clips, case study documentation, examples of research agreements or MOUs with local communities, university course syllabi that incorporate the Code of Ethics, or articles that discuss the Code of Ethics (e.g., scientific publications, news articles)?

• Are you interested in assisting with translation of the Code of Ethics Toolkit into different languages?

There will be Code of Ethics (COE) Toolkit sessions at the following events. These will be moved to the Events section once more details are available.  In the meantime, keep the following dates on your calendars!

• 2009 meetings of the Society of Economic Botany, Society of Ethnobiology, Society of Conservation Biology, and the Ecological Society of America

The Declaration of Belém

In 1988 the First International Congress of Ethnobiology met in Belém, Brazil, Indigenous and traditional peoples from various parts of the world met with scientists and environmentalists to discuss a common strategy to stop the rapid decrease in the planet's biological and cultural diversity.

The congress resulted in The Declaration of Belém, which outlined explicitly the responsibilities of scientists and environmentalists in  addressing the needs of local communities and acknowledged the central role of Indigenous peoples in all aspects of global planning. It was the first time that an international scientific organization recognized that a basic obligation exists to compensate Indigenous peoples for the utilization of their knowledge and their biological resources. Since 1988, many other institutions, professional societies, and organizations have followed suit and the issue is forefront for national governments to address as part of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) initiative of the Convention of Biological Diversity.

Read The Declaration of Belém

The ISE Code of Ethics

The ISE Code of Ethics has its origins in the Declaration of Belém, agreed upon in 1988 at the founding of the ISE (in Belém, Brazil). The Code of Ethics was initiated in 1996 and completed in 2006. The final version, adopted by the ISE membership at the 10th International Congress of Ethnobiology (ICE) in November 2006, supersedes all previous draft versions. An Executive Summary and Glossary of Terms were added at the 11th ICE in June 2008. The Code of Ethics is currently available in English, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Bahasa Indonesia.

Download the ISE Code of Ethics