Indigenous knowledge, biodiversity conservation and development

Global awareness of the crisis concerning the conservation of biodiversity is assured following the United Nation's Conference on Environment and Development. This conference was held in June 1992 in Rio de Janiero. This presentation provided an overview of recent studies that show the active role that rural communities throughout the world have played in three major areas. They have helped to generate knowledge based on an understanding of their environment. They have devised mechanisms to conserve and sustain their natural resources. Lastly, they have established community-based organizations that serve as forums for identifying problems and dealing with them through local level experimentation, innovation, and exchange information with other societies. This active role that they are playing will help to preserve their resources well into the future.