Documenting Traditional Knowledge

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Documenting Traditional Knowledge

• P.Quek

Training Workshop on Forest Biodiversity Conservat
ion and Management of Forest Genetic
Resources Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 5 - 16 June 2006
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Documenting Traditional Knowledge
It is important that the process is not a one
sided approach where TK is studied without gain
to the communities
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The TK Journal Method
Interaction between Farmer and Scientist
Interaction
Formal Journal
A paper by the Scientist about the TK collected
PQuek
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The TK Journal Method
The Farmers Journal
Interaction
Formal Journal
TK Journal
A paper by the Scientist about the TK collected
A paper by the Farmer in Farmers own language
PQuek
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The TK Journal Method
Re-using Knowledge
Interaction
Formal Journal
TK Journal
A paper by the Scientist about the TK collected
A paper by the Farmer in Farmers own language
PQuek
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The TK Journal Method
Merging of Knowledge
citation
time
time
TK Journal
Formal Journal
PQuek
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Oral transmission of Knowledge
Knowledge Holder Recipient Situation/Time Material
Knowledge is embedded in songs, poetry, dances,
practices, skills and more.
Where one component is missing knowledge erosion
results
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A missing component
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SBC TK DOCUMENTATION
ENDORSMENT (POLITICAL/SOCIAL)
Criteria development and community agrees to
awareness visit
Awareness workshop for the community
ACCEPTANCE BY COMMUNITY
Workshop to developvision and mission of the
project and actionplan for year one
CBO MEMBERS APPOINTMENT
Identification of rolesof members and capacity
building touse ICT tools
ACTIONPLANIMPLEMENTATION
FOLLOW-UP
Workshop to build capacity for selected
activities and TK documentation
Evaluation of progress, sharing ofexperiences
and wayforward
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Traditional knowledge of genetic resources and
the K-economy
Useful plants and animals
Livelihoods
Traditional knowledge
Skills and equipments
documentation
Customs and traditions
Resource Rights
Knowledge base for the K-economy
Conservation and use
Animal Genepool
Ethnobotanicalgarden
Local educationsystem
Intellectual Property Rights
Biotechnology
Qualifications/Recognition
Business
Ecotourism
Benefits sharing
Continuing education
Employment
P.Quek
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Local community education curriculum
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Holistic Conservation
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Discussion on the evolving knowledge

• When I was young my father taught me to keep time
  accurate by winding the watch and today I pass
  down the knowledge of keeping time accurate to my
  children to inform them to change the batteries
  in their watches and to their children probably
  the knowledge of keeping time accurate is
  different, they will probably synchronize with an
  atomic clock on the Internet.

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• 50 families
• And about 200 resident

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Developing useful plant inventory
Figures include plants with more than one use
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Members of the Penan community of Mulu learning
about field documentation, use of digital camera
and pressing herbarium specimens as part of the
documentation process on the useful plants used
by the community.
Photos Sarawak Biodiversity Centre
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Ethnobotanical garden
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Community Nursery
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Protecting TK

• For who?

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Impact pathway with globalization

• IPR in relation to TK
• Accessibility of TK

TK University
Education, Research Development infrastructure
TK Village
TK Village
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"Free trade agreements do not recognise the
rights of Indigenous peoples, nor do they protect
our traditional knowledge. Furthermore, they
promote the interests of the market above
collective rights."
IIFB opening statement at the fourth meeting of
the Convention on Biological Diversity ad hoc
open-ended working group on access and benefit
sharing ( Granada, 30 January-3 February 2006).
http//ipcb.org/pipermail/ipcb-net_ipcb.org/
2006-February/000043.html
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Birds eyes
IPR and the community
By P.Quek
After sharing there is possibility that 110,000
plant will have commercial value
You need IPR to protect your valuable knowledge
You need money to protect your rights

TK Solicitors Ltd