•Biocultural conservation addresses loss of biological and cultural diversity.•These approaches sustain dynamic and interdependent social-ecological systems.•Biocultural conservation can lead to ...just, legal, and effective outcomes.•We outline eight principles of successful biocultural conservation initiatives.
We contend that biocultural approaches to conservation can achieve effective and just conservation outcomes while addressing erosion of both cultural and biological diversity. Here, we propose a set of guidelines for the adoption of biocultural approaches to conservation. First, we draw lessons from work on biocultural diversity and heritage, social–ecological systems theory, integrated conservation and development, co-management, and community-based conservation to define biocultural approaches to conservation. Second, we describe eight principles that characterize such approaches. Third, we discuss reasons for adopting biocultural approaches and challenges. If used well, biocultural approaches to conservation can be a powerful tool for reducing the global loss of both biological and cultural diversity.
Biodiversity loss undermines the long-term maintenance of ecosystem functions and the well-being of human populations. Global-scale policy initiatives, including the Convention on Biological ...Diversity, have failed to curb the loss of biodiversity. This failure has led to contentious debates over alternative solutions that represent opposing visions of value-orientations and policy tools at the heart of conservation action. We review these debates and argue that they impede conservation progress by wasting time and resources, overlooking common goals, failing to recognize the need for diverse solutions, and ignoring the central question of who should be involved in the conservation process. Breaking with the polarizing debates, we argue that biocultural approaches to conservation can guide progress toward just and sustainable conservation solutions. We provide examples of the central principles of biocultural conservation, which emphasize the need for pluralistic, partnership-based, and dynamic approaches to conservation.
A controversy at the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress on the topic of closing domestic ivory markets (the 007, or so-called James Bond, motion) has given rise to a debate on IUCN's value ...proposition. A cross-section of authors who are engaged in IUCN but not employed by the organization, and with diverse perspectives and opinions, here argue for the importance of safeguarding and strengthening the unique technical and convening roles of IUCN, providing examples of what has and has not worked. Recommendations for protecting and enhancing IUCN's contribution to global conservation debates and policy formulation are given.
Gene editing is arguably the most significant recent addition to the modern biotechnology toolbox, bringing both profoundly challenging and enabling opportunities. From a technical point of view the ...specificity and relative simplicity of these new tools has broadened the potential applications. However, from an ethical point of view it has re-ignited the debates generated by earlier forms of genetic modification. In New Zealand gene editing is currently considered genetic modification and is subject to approval processes under the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA). This process requires decision makers to take into account Māori perspectives. This article outlines previously articulated Māori perspectives on genetic modification and considers the continuing influence of those cultural and ethical arguments within the new context of gene editing. It also explores the range of ways cultural values might be used to analyse the risks and benefits of gene editing in the Aotearoa New Zealand context. Methods used to obtain these perspectives consisted of (a) review of relevant literature regarding lessons learned from the responses of Maori to genetic modification, (b) interviews of selected 'key Maori informants' and (c) surveys of self-selected individuals from groups with interests in either genetics or environmental management. The outcomes of this pilot study identified that while Māori informants were not categorically opposed to new and emerging gene editing technologies
, they suggest a dynamic approach to regulation is required where specific uses or types of uses are approved on a case by case basis. This study demonstrates how the cultural cues that Māori referenced in the genetic modification debate continue to be relevant in the context of gene editing but that further work is required to characterize the strength of various positions across the broader community.
•Nature and its contributions to people’s quality of life are associated with a wide diversity of values.•IPBES embraces this diversity of values, as well as the need to integrate and bridge them in ...its assessments.•Uncovering the values of nature’s contributions to people (NCP) can bridge notions of nature and a good quality of life.•Transformation towards sustainability requires addressing power relations among different perspectives on the values of NCP.•Intrinsic, instrumental and relational values need to be acknowledged and promoted.
Nature is perceived and valued in starkly different and often conflicting ways. This paper presents the rationale for the inclusive valuation of nature’s contributions to people (NCP) in decision making, as well as broad methodological steps for doing so. While developed within the context of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), this approach is more widely applicable to initiatives at the knowledge–policy interface, which require a pluralistic approach to recognizing the diversity of values. We argue that transformative practices aiming at sustainable futures would benefit from embracing such diversity, which require recognizing and addressing power relationships across stakeholder groups that hold different values on human nature-relations and NCP.
As Aotearoa New Zealand grapples with developing solutions to complex issues surrounding its unique freshwater and marine biological heritage, there is a growing recognition that mātauranga Māori can ...be 'unlocked' and used with great effect alongside western science. Examples where appropriate consideration and development of robust methodologies for the application of mātauranga Māori coexisting alongside western science are increasing. Unfortunately, despite the benefits that can be derived from this collaboration, the quality of engagement is not always satisfactory often due to poor interpersonal relationships and misidentification of the knowledge holders. By providing an appropriately historical context, this article is able to consider the critical issues now facing mātauranga and the Māori knowledge holders today, and fundamental requirements that will empower application of this knowledge within bio-heritage management. We consider how the development of a methodology between mātauranga Māori holders and potential end-users might contribute to improved outcomes for Aotearoa's biological heritage.
New approaches for sustainable development in rural indigenous and local communities have emerged that are rooted in their distinct cultural identities and claims for greater control over land, ...development and identity. One such approach is that of biocultural heritage, which emerged out of work to document biocultural diversity undertaken in part by members of the Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). CEESP members have developed this work over the past twenty-five years, both through work with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and other policy forums, but also through the operationalization of rural development policies and programs. One area that has not been fully examined, however, is the contribution of biocultural heritage to local processes of innovation that can explicitly meet communities’ contemporary needs and objectives. This paper presents a new approach called ‘biocultural design’ and seeks to open a conversation about how endogenous innovation could support sustainable development in rural indigenous and local communities. By introducing design thinking to the field of biocultural heritage conservation, biocultural design offers a process for indigenous and local communities to pursue aspirations of self-determination and endogenous development through product/service innovation. It is an approach that may enhance communities’ adaptive capacity in responding to dynamic and changing environments and IUCN’s goal to deploy nature-based solutions to global challenges in the next quadrennial period.
In the Deed of Settlement, the Crown acknowledged that the ancestral lands and resources alienated from Ngati Awa had made a significant contribution to the wealth and development of the nation while ...Ngati Awa had been alienated from and deprived of the benefits of those lands and resources. The Crown also acknowledged that this loss of control over land prejudiced Ngati Awa and hindered its economic, social, and cultural development and impeded the ability of Ngati Awa to exercise control over its taonga (treasured things) and waahi tapu and maintain and foster spiritual connections with those ancestral lands. As such, the Crown formally apologized to Ngati Awa in its November 2002 Settlement Offer to Ngati Awa:(2) In June 2003 the New Zealand Court of Appeals, in its judgment in the Marlborough Sounds foreshore and seabed case, decided that the Maori Land Court had jurisdiction to consider Maori claims based on customary rights in the foreshore and seabed. The announcement of this decision resulted in mass hysteria from surprising quarters of New Zealand society. The opposition party launched a national Web site proclaiming that New Zealand beaches "belong to everyone," denouncing any contemplation of a Maori customary right to the foreshore and seabed and leaping to the conclusion that recognition of a customary right would automatically mean Maori would prevent public access. In its prime, the Web site (www.beachesforall.co.nz) drew opinion from the dregs of society -- those who cast judgment without being fully informed of the facts, and used the issue to incite racial hostility toward Maori. "A poll taken since the explosive question of Maori claims to the foreshore became a major public concern showed that 55% of people think race relations are getting worse" reported the National Business Review August 1, 2003. It did not take long for Maori to observe that the acronym for government's proposed principles of legislation was CRAP. A news headline in the Dominion Post on September 27, 2003, read, "Ten Hui meetings later, the answer is still no" summed up the situation -- despite hours and hours of talking between Maori and government, Maori objections remained. Since that time, it has been revealed that a third of New Zealand's coastline is already effectively privately owned while 37.64 percent is owned by the Crown, and only 10.35 percent is in Maori communal ownership. At press time, this issue was still unresolved.
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