10th Global RCE Conference, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

1. RCEs and Biocultural Diversity
RCE Global Service Centre, UNU-IAS

2. Achievements so far
• Several field projects on biodiversity and traditional
knowledge - over 50 RCEs working in the thematic
area
• Side events in COP-10, COP-11 of Convention on
biological diversity, CEPA side events
• Engagement with IPBES in areas like traditional
knowledge
• Capacity development module on health

3. Research and Capacity Development
• Since 2008 several efforts to strengthen TK in the context of
health and nutrition
• Regional and International TK holders exchange programs,
capacity building workshops
• Research – Collaborative projects ongoing – e.g. Food
traditions of Asia, Traditional knowledge and community
health

4. Publications
• Publication on TK and BD (2013)
• African heritage knowledge publication (2013)
• Policy reports and briefs on TK and community
health
• CBD-WHO Technical series on Biodiversity and
Health

6. Africa region
• RCE Makana - Situated social learning – several examples such as
water, biomass energy, health and nutrition, agriculture,
biodiversity, sewage, waste, sustainability partnership project and a
curriculum framework for social learning research. These are
aligned with Africa learning resource approach of the region.
• RCE Roma Lesotho - Lesotho highlands knowledge and
incorporation in school curriculum
• RCE Kano – Revitalizing local knowledge, health, malaria
• RCE Mao Complex – Traditional knowledge, health, and nutrition
• RCE Mbarara – Traditional knowledge and health………etc….

7. Europe
• RCE Espoo - Encounters -for sustainable lifestyle
project
• RCE Porto – biodiversity project
Americas
• RCE Guatemala - Incorporation of Mayan culture
in university curriculum, programs related to
Nagoya protocol
• RCE Jalisco, Lima, Bogota, Saskatchewan,
Portland
• Several other projects in both regions

8. Asia region
• RCE Cairo – Traditional health practices
• RCE Kyrgyzstan – Jethiata project, medicinal plants, traditional
handicrafts
• RCE Chubu – Online platforms, COP 10 /11 processes
• RCE Northern Mindanao - School curriculum - Experience of
integrating mother tongue education
• RCE Cebu – Traditional health systems
• RCE Greater Phnom Penh – Organic farming
• RCE Penang – Traditional healers and community health, nutrition
• RCE Kalimantan – Home gardens program
• RCE Jogjakarta – Traditional foods project, community enterprises
and livelihoods (Pandanus cultivation)
• Health Food Traditions of Asia (ProSPER.Net)

9. Contd.
• RCE Kodagu – Sacred groves conservation
• RCE Srinagar – Agro biodiversity, Medicinal plant
conservation
• RCE Bangalore – Health, endogenous development,
integration in university curriculum
• RCE Goa – Community knowledge and biodiversity
• RCE Greater Dhaka (Bangladesh) - Organic farming,
Biomass recycling, and on tribal culture of
Bangladesh, community conservation
• RCE East Arunachal Pradesh – Heritage Education

10. RCE Approaches/Methodologies of TK
• Situated social learning processes
• Learner led mediation processes
• Revitalizing traditional knowledge in life situations
through a see-judge-act approach
• Integration of mother tongue education and
reinforcing identity
• Bridging research
• Developing learning case modules for capacity
development based on good practices

11. Recent Developments
• Health Food Traditions of Asia – ProSPER.Net project –
concluding – excellent documentation of food practices
related to health
• Discussion with GIZ, Manila office, possibility of support
for a regional project, working already in the Mindanao
region
• Linking with IPBES – capacity building and Indigenous and
local knowledge task force
• UNU-International Institute for Global Health – support
health related capacity building
• Youth involvement in Biodiversity and TK

12. • What are the policy linkages that your RCE is
working with (local, national, regional,
international) ?
• How do we collectively strengthen these
linkages ?
• Your views on linking and getting involved
with multilateral policies like CBD, IPBES, etc.

13. Thank You !