International meeting on biodiversity, indigenous and local communities and traditional knowledge opens Monday in Montreal

Montreal 4 October 2013 – The important contribution of traditional knowledge held by indigenous and local communities to biodiversity protection and sustainable development will take centre stage at the meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) being held 7-11 October 2013 in Montreal.

The meeting will explore ways that traditional knowledge and practices can contribute to scientific monitoring and assessment of biodiversity, to sustainable use, and contribute to the global dialogue for sustainable development.

A special dialogue on the relationship of traditional knowledge and science, in light of the newly formed Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will also take place. The international network of Indigenous and Local Community Land and Sea Managers known as– the World Indigenous Network (WIN) – has found a home with the Equator Initiative of the United Nations Development Programme. In partnership with Conservation International and the CBD they will host an opening reception on 7 October 2013. Two indigenous Australian youth Ambassadors and representatives of First Nations of Canada will highlight at the reception the value of knowledge sharing and conservation efforts epitomised by the story of the “Magic Canoe”.

The working group will discuss:
· A plan of action on customary sustainable use, which could potentially contribute to poverty alleviation, the recognition of the value of ecosystems services and to discussions on sustainable development within the framework of the post 2015 development agenda
· Tasks 7, 10 and 12 of the CBD programme of work, which may assist in the effective implementation of the Convention, particularly as a complement to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization. This work includes guidelines to report and prevent the unlawful appropriation of traditional knowledge and guidelines to ensure that traditional knowledge is used based on prior informed consent and equitable sharing of benefits.

The Working Group is also invited to consider task 15 on repatriation of traditional knowledge, on the basis of the practical draft guidelines provided in the documentation for the meeting aimed at knowledge restoration for biodiversity.
What: Eighth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
When: 7 -11 October 2013
Where: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), 999 University Street (between Viger and St- Antoine streets), Montreal, QC, Canada
Meeting documents: www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=WG8J-08
For information on Article 8(j) - Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices:
www.cbd.int/traditional/
For additional information, please contact: David Ainsworth on +1 514 287 7025 or at
david.ainsworth@cbd.int; or Johan Hedlund on +1 514 287 6670 or at johan.hedlund@cbd.int.

Images by Mike Leveille, Ottawa