This workshop centered around the fact that fish conservation and resource sustainability are at a crossroads in the current century, and that it is therefore necessary to engage broad societal participation. The session engaged with academia, fishers, NGOs, governmental agencies and others, as Fishers’ Ecological Knowledge (FEK) application is universal to different social sectors. From this basis, the workshop developed a cross-sectoral network of experts who can identify FEK related goals for the next IUCN strategy cycle and work together to build public and political awareness for these goals and to achieve them. Thus, the workshop promoted interactive participation and therefore represents an important opportunity to integrate experiences and knowledge from the marine and freshwater sectors and from a range of different partners.

The goal of this workshop was to:

a) contribute to promoting and consolidating international experiences that show successful examples on FEK application benefits for fish and fisheries conservation;

b) inspire people to follow successful examples where FEK has benefited fish resources conservation and management;

c) consider FEK as a challenge and an opportunity for contributing to developing better conservation practices; and

d) help embed FEK in fisheries conservation and resources management by initiating the development of “how to” guidelines and film.

Key Themes:

Livelihoods, Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Climate & Environmental Changes, Wildlife & Fisheries

Presenters:

Winston Cowie (Environment Agency Abu Dhabi)

Mohsin Al Ameri (Assistant Scientist, Fisheries. Environment Agency Abu Dhabi)

Shaelene Kamakaʻala (Community Based Fisheries Area Coordinator, Hawaii)

Christiana Louwa (El Molo Forum)

Kevin Chang (Executive Director, Kua’āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawaii)

Video & Presentations:

Lawaiʻa pono means to fish righteously, in ways that honor the time-tested values and sustainable practices of our kūpuna (ancestors).  Mālama ʻāina (to care for that which feeds; biocultural resources) is a challenge shared by island nations and indigenous and local communities worldwide. Traditional natural resource management practices in Hawai’i drew upon the place-based knowledge, observations, and experiences of community members and local experts known as “konohiki.” Hawaiians once used these konohiki systems and traditions to ensure an abundance of resources from the mountains to the sea.

Through short film presentations and discussions, this session touched on some of the experiences of communities from around Hawaiʻi who work with state and federal government, conservation partners, researchers and landowners, to implement community-based management solutions for their places.  Presenters shared insight about the role of Community-Based biocultural management in Hawaiʻi in the nearshore environment and the place-based fishing practices and stewardship efforts they have implemented to pass on traditional fishing knowledge and values to perpetuate the practice of “lawaiʻa pono.”  Representatives shared how the collective efforts of grassroots communities empowers community conservation, enhances community health and well-being, and ensures a future of healthy abundant resources for generations to come.

Key Themes:

Indigenous Issues, Livelihoods, Governance, Rights & Conflict, Climate & Environmental Changes

Films presented:

THE HOAʻĀINA OF HĀʻENA – In 2015, a group of lineal families on the north coast of Kauaʻi successfully worked with the State of Hawaiʻi to establish Hawaiʻi’s first Community-based Subsistence Fishing Area (CBSFA). This short film tells the inspirational story of a rural Hawaiian community’s journey to perpetuate the traditional and customary practices of their ancestors and the collective effort it took to make it happen.

HANAI KO’A: CULTURE KEEPERS – A short produce by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs on the ʻōpelu fishing families of Hoʻokena, Hawaiʻi.

Presenters:

Kevin Chang (Kua ʻĀina Ulu ʻAuamo (KUA))

Mehana Vaughan (University of Hawaiʻi)

Shaelene Kamaka’ala (State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources Community-based Fisheries Planner; Kahana Kilo Kai; E Alu Pu Council (O’ahu Island))

Charles Young (Kama’aina United to Protect the ‘Aina (KUPA); Kai Kuleana Network, West Hawai’i Fisheries Council; E Alu Pu Council (Hawai’i Island))

Solomon Kaho’ohalahala (Maunalei Ahupuaʻa Community Mauka-Makai Managed Area (Maunalei Ahupuaʻa CMMMA), E Alu Pu Council (Lana’i island))

The integration of indigenous knowledge and social science into conservation is essential for addressing 21^st century challenges for conservation and the sustainable management of natural resources. This integration requires, in many cases, organizational transformation for effective conservation science, policy, and practice, and this begins with better understanding of recipes for success and lessons learned by early adopters. While research has discussed barriers to integration and disconnects between social and natural scientists, as well as between scientists and knowledge producers, it has rarely addressed how to support individuals in pioneering positions to overcome challenges, particularly with regard to integrating indigenous peoples and local communities and their traditional knowledge. Connections between scientists, practitioners and community members are essential, as different types of knowledge can learn from each other. We are exploring building a community of practice and sharing insights learned in this session as a starting point. Community members can benefit from understanding how their knowledge can inform research and conservation action and their voice and participation in this conversation is invaluable.

Key discussion topics:

• Experiences integrating indigenous and local knowledge and social sciences into conservation science, organizations and projects,
• What happens after research or projects are designed and undertaken; who owns or gets to use data? How are results shared? How to deal with data repatriation?
• Sharing success stories: what projects or organizations are already integrating indigenous knowledge and social sciences into conservation and what can we learn from them?

Key Themes:

Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Indigenous Issues, Livelihoods, Engagement, Education & Empowerment

Presented Material:

Speakers:

Seline Meijer (IUCN), Kathleen E Halvorsen (Michigan Technological University), Erin Pischke (Michigan Technological University), Pasang Dolma Sherpa (CIPRED), Osvaldo Munguia (MOPAWI)

The resources found on this page share a focus on the importance of sacred natural sites and the cultures, religions and/or communities to whom they are significant. These natural places, recognized as sacred by indigenous and local communities, provide a sense of deep connection between people and nature. Dating back hundreds of years in many cases, these locations serve as sites of remembrance and spirituality, and are often home to rich and diverse flora and fauna.

Information regarding the protection and preservation of these sites, comparative governance systems, conflict arising through competition for resource use and/or authority over resource management, as well as the social-cultural values imbued within these landscapes is presented with perspectives from sites in Mozambique, Brazil, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Mexico and Canada. Traditional use and access rights are emphasized through several of the cases shared on this page, along with numerous local accounts, observations and perceptions gathered through interviews and collaboration with traditional leaders and community members.

Key Themes:

Governance, Rights & Conflict, Places & Spaces, Indigenous Issues, Engagement, Education & Empowerment

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Here, four Nova Scotia communities are highlighted in a celebration of community level governance, traditions, and culture. At the first plenary event of the 2018 Communities, Conservation and Livelihoods conference, speakers shared insight, experience and reflections from their respective communities.

Bear River First Nation was presented by Christiana Louwa (an indigenous woman from Kenya, director of the El Molo Forum, and co-chair of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples) on behalf of Dr. Sherry Pictou, a Mi’kmaw woman from L’sɨtkuk (water cuts through high rocks) who works in Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. She has served the broader Mi’kmaw community in several capacities including being elected Chief for her community and as a former co-chair of the World Forum of Fisher People.

Sheet Harbour was showcased by Sandra Moser, Executive Director, Sheet Harbour Chamber of Commerce & Civic Affairs. She described local work taking place in community development and in developing Eastern Shore-wide sustainable tourism through the Wild Islands Tourism Advancement Partnership.

The entrepreneurial cultural work of the Eskasoni First Nation was detailed by Stan Johnson, who spoke about environmentally sustainable promotion, development of ecotourism businesses such as guided walks on Goat Island Trail, and work with fisheries. Stan is a Mi’kmaq from Eskasoni, in Cape Breton, with 10 years’ experience at the Eskasoni Economic Development Corporation.

Spryfield (a neighbourhood of Halifax) was presented by Bruce Holland, founding member of the Spryfield Business Association and Parkview newspaper. He provided insight regarding how business development and community spirit go hand-in-hand.

Key Themes:

Governance, Rights & Conflict,  Indigenous Issues,  Engagement, Education & Empowerment,  Places & Spaces

Video and presented material:

Note that the video is ‘audio only’ for the first 7 minutes. Below the video is a visual PowerPoint that opens in a new tab when clicked.

Tropical ecosystems are home to a stunning array of plants and animals, and provide vital benefits including water provision, climate regulation, and carbon storage. They also provide direct life support for some of the planet’s most vulnerable human populations–some fighting for their very survival in lawless regions. The two social groups featured during this panel discussion were an indigenous tribe in the Brazilian Amazon protecting a huge tract of rainforest from illegal logging and gold mining, and pastoralists in the deserts of Mali taking control of resource management and countering poachers to protect a threatened elephant population.  In both cases, powerful outside forces threaten to destroy an ancient way of life and vital natural ecosystems.

These two large and long-term projects have many commonalities despite their different settings (African drylands and Amazonian forest) and cultures (pastoral people and indigenous people).  Both projects are succeeding in challenging circumstances. Thoughts on why this is the case were presented and discussed during this session.

Key Themes: 

Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Livelihoods, Places & Spaces, Conserved Areas

Authors:

Molly Bartlett (International Conservation Fund of Canada)

Barbara Zimmerman (International Conservation Fund of Canada and Environmental Defense Fund)

Susan Canney (Oxford University, Wild Foundation and International Conservation Fund of Canada)

Anne Lambert (International Conservation Fund of Canada)

Our worldviews shape how we interact with each other, our environments, and other species with whom we share the Earth. Indigenous peoples all over the Earth have maintained harmony with nature for many thousands of years with worldviews, ways of thinking, values, practices, and actions that are tied with the land. There is no separation between humans and nature.

For nature, including humans, to thrive into the future, we must all understand this truth deep within ourselves – we are nature. However, while many of us experience, benefit from, and care for nature, studies show that others, be it through lifestyle, opportunity, or circumstance, face barriers to experiencing and connecting with the natural world. In an effort to help people re-integrate nature back into their lives, and in doing so, create increased support and action for conservation globally, the IUCN launched #NatureForAll in 2016.

#NatureForAll is a global movement to inspire and nurture love of nature, with a growing list of over 200 partner organisations. These partners aim to increase support and action for nature conservation across the world by scaling up efforts that help people from all walks of life explore and deepen their connections with the natural world.  #NatureForAll is based on the knowledge that personal connections with nature are a key foundation for the development of sustainable values, attitudes, beliefs, and actions. When we love nature, we love ourselves.

Key Themes:

Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Wildlife & Fisheries, Places & Spaces

Presented Material:

Today, as indigenous populations are increasing and their forest territories are shrinking due to land grabbing and development, it is becoming increasingly important for communities to go beyond subsistence. Securing new streams of income by developing community-based enterprises can increase economic benefits while maintaining sustainable local resource management and preserving traditional knowledge and values. Sale of non-timber forest products with market potential can protect significant biodiversity and fulfill economic needs of forest-dependent communities.

Often, however, indigenous populations are in isolated areas with limited access and interaction with consumers and markets. Understanding what consumers need is an important precondition to the saleability of local products and the sustainability of community enterprises. Market rules are also not always fair, and biased towards a focus centered around profit – which has high social and ecological costs. Creating fair market space for indigenous communities products emphasizes sustainability and the three “E’s” of environment, economy, and equity.

Key Themes:

Indigenous Issues, Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Livelihoods, Climate & Environmental Changes

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Local and traditional knowledge refers to the “understandings, skills and philosophies developed by societies with long histories of interaction with their natural surroundings” (UNESCO, 2017)*. This system of knowledge is generally passed down through generations, encompassing place-based wisdom related to language, spirituality, and resource use practices which can be integrated with western knowledge to provide a foundation for site-specific policy, locally appropriate resource management, and sustainable development.

The resources found on this page present perspectives from communities in Tajikistan, Nepal, and northern Canada which demonstrate the advantages offered through the integration of local and traditional knowledge in community conservation plans. Potential benefits of including this knowledge in science curriculums is discussed, as findings suggest it can facilitate student engagement through the sharing of local examples, while helping students develop a sense of connection to (and responsibility for) the natural environment around them.

Emphasized as a vital feature of effective community conservation, the sharing of knowledge between locals, scientists, land developers, and governments can be a catalyst for trust and cooperation within a community.

Key Themes:

Factors of Success in Community Conservation, Indigenous Issues, Engagement, Education & Empowerment, Places & Spaces

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* United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), (2017). What is Local and Indigenous Knowledge?
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/natural-sciences/priority-areas/links/related-information/what-is-local-and-indigenous-knowledge