Concrete steps must be taken to integrate the traditional scientific, technical and technological knowledge of indigenous and local communities, at all stages of the process of identifying and describing ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs), an international meeting was told.
This plea was made in a Statement by the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) at the 16th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific,Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), held at the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in Montreal, Canada, 30 April – 5 May 2012.
The Statement noted that it is well recognized, including in several decisions of the CBD, that traditional scientific, technical, and technological knowledge of indigenous and local communities, consistent with Article 8(j) of CBD should be considered at par with, and as relevant as, other forms of scientific knowledge.
Parties should further ensure that training manuals and modules prepared to offer guidance on describing EBSAs necessarily include guidance on integrating the traditional, scientific, technical and technological knowledge of indigenous and local communities as well as social and cultural criteria for the identification and description of EBSAs, the Statement noted.
The Statement drew attention to the fact that initial workshops organized by the CBD related to developing the concept and criteria for EBSAs focused primarily on open-ocean waters and deep-sea habitats, and on areas beyond national jurisdiction. Parties are no doubt aware that there are important sociocultural and institutional aspects that need to be considered in the context of waters within national jurisdiction, which are distinct from the context of waters beyond national jurisdiction.
The Statement suggested that EBSA-related processes, for waters within national jurisdiction, must ensure the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, particularly fishing communities, and must draw on their traditional knowledge systems.
Noting that environmental impact assessment(EIA) processes for waters within national jurisdiction must integrate some other essential aspects, the Statement called on Parties to seek additional elaboration of the guidelines for coastal and marine areas within national jurisdiction, with the full and effective participation of indigenous people and local communities in the process, and drawing on their traditional knowledge systems.
The Statement urged that the proposed Guidelines fully integrate principles from two important guidelines of the CBD — the The Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct and the Akwé: Kon Voluntary Guidelines.
The full text of the Statement can be accessed at http://www.icsf.net/en/statements.html?radio=I
2012 ICSF