Strengthening Indigenous Knowledge for Sustainable Livelihoods, Resource and Social Change XU Jianchu, PhD & Executive Director Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge (CBIK) or

Outline Introduction Why IK Matters? The roles of IK Constraints Creating space for IK

Why IK? Cultural Diversity Human Rights Social Capital

What is CBIK? CBIK is Chinese NGO, registered in 1995 with more than 25 staff CBIK is dedicated to Applying IK and technical innovations for resource governance Access to biodiversity for sustainable livelihood Intercultural dialogue and communication

CBIK Structure IAB + Local board Executive directors Watershed governance program Community livelihood program IK and education program Capacity building Communication Institutional development

Yunnan: the Roof of MMSEA FTA: China + ASEAN Elevation Zones

Yunnan: the Poor in the Paradise Yi

Introduction of Issues Know-How: Dynamics, diversity and complexity as human-ecology processes Indigenous people: objects or citizens in mountain regions? Social justice: common earth but uneven ground CBIK: What roles are there for NGOs and civil society? CBIK as a learning institution growing with civil society

What is IK? Comovision (world views)– indigenous ways of understanding the universe Linguistic knowledge and technical practices Knowledge transfer and adaptation mechanisms Customary institutions Hani’s comovision about ‘community’ CBIK Issue: How to understand other ways of seeing and doing? CBIK Action: Small Grants Program for indigenous researchers

Why IK Matters (1): Adaptation IK: Complexity of upland resource dynamics and livelihoods Importance of subjective understandings in explaining why people do, what they do, how they do Different ways of knowing relate to different ecological and social niches CBIK concerned Issue: What other options for promoting sustainable livelihoods can we see? CBIK Action: Promoting organic farming in upland communities

Why IK Matters (2): Social and Environmental Justice IK is largely collective IK is culturally embedded Dialogue with IK systems can help to avoid socially undesirable outcomes, toward socially desirable outcomes (local sanction, equitable access, etc.) CBIK Issue: How can we promote social inclusion? CBIK Action: Developing community-led eco-tourism models Workshop on Dams and Sustainable Development, Oct.9-10, 2003

Why IK Matters (3): Efficiency Sustainable Livelihoods depend on: Biodiversity (natural capital) Indigenous Knowledge (social capital) Technical innovations (re-adaptation) Knowledge transfer mechanisms (learning process) Values and Consent, and (local governance) Enabling environment (policies and markets) CBIK Issue: What is the contemporary relevance of IK? CBIK Action: Participatory technology development with indigenous community members, e.g. rattan cultivation

Globalization is not new Local: upland vs. lowland Regional: the “Southern Silk Road” in 122 B.C. International: Zhen He, Voyages in A.D. Trade, Migration (e.g.: MMSEA), Expedition What is new? Global scale of interactions and their impacts The prospect of irreversible changes Global governance systems (unfair trade & partnership) Why IK Matters (4): Linking local and global CBIK Action: Training program on International Trade Law, Environment and Sustainable Development (IISD, IUCN, CBIK in collaboration with SEPA) Translating IDRC Book “Beyond Property Rights” Traditional Resource Rights Network (China, MMSEA)

The Roles of IK: local level Customary Authorities Indigenous experts>> (usually old) actor>>power>>decision- making for local accountability Statutory Authorities (state nomination or local election) “Educated” >>(young) actor>>power>> decision-making for outside accountability Can they work together? CBIK Issue: How does knowledge link to power structures & decision-makings? CBIK Action: Research on village elections and resource governance

The Roles of IK: Local - Outside interaction Competing knowledge systems or conflicting objectives? People’s actions are driven by their objectives Knowledge is brought to bear on the implementation of those objectives CBIK Issue: How to facilitate effective dialogues? CBIK Action: Providing training in participatory methods for dialogue, e.g. Xishuangbanna Vocation Training School

What prevents IK from being exercised? IK linked to local objectives Local objectives conflict with outside objectives Conservation vs development Capacity of the state (state lacks of knowledge, skills and interest) Spatial scale conflicts (small v.s big) Fine scale of knowledge in mosaic landscapes and mountain ecosystems Temporal scale conflicts of interests Profit maximization versus sustainable livelihoods (e.g. “Upland Conversion Program” in China) CBIK Action: Official and Vernacular Identifications in the Making of the Modern World

Uneven Playing Field Who make the laws? Who has powers? Who make the decisions? Whose agenda accounted? Nationality “Autonomy” Law in China: rhetoric or practice? CBIK Issue: How can NGOs help address macro-level constraints? CBIK Action: Policy research, e.g. YEDP-PRICA

Creating Space for IK Representation: powers, capacities, accountability relations Resilience, re-adaptation and ‘invisible hand’ mechanisms Leveling the playing field IPRs of indigenous knowledge Traditional resource rights Eco-and-fair trade CBNRM>>>Community-based education CBIK Action: Agro-Pastoralist Livelihoods Project

Agro-pastoralist Livelihoods Improving understanding of agro-pastoralist livelihoods Participatory Technology Development Institutional innovation, and Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation

Major Events by CBIK “Yunnan Initiative”: Version and actions for enhancing cultural and biological diversity, from Culture and Biodiversity Congress 2000 III MMSEA Conference: Mountain festival with more 150 indigenous peoples For policy document: Yunnan Initiative and III MMSEA proceedings, please download from website:

Shangri-La: The Way Ahead Thanks!