Sun- Kee HONG The Ecological Society of Korea

1. Workshop related to the 5th World Conservation Congress Strengthening Biocultural Diversity and Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Asia-Pacific Island Regions Island Biocultural Diversity Initiative Necessity and Goal Sun-Kee HONG The Ecological Society of Korea Institution for Marine and Island Cultures, Mokpo National University, Republic of KOREA

2. Grazing is one of traditional landscape management in Mediterranean islands. How to sustain the balance of resource use and ecosystem, especially in small islands, is common question to ecologists (PaleaKameni near Santorini, Greece. This islet was created by eruptions of 46-47AD and 726. Photo by SK Hong).

3. Contents Background 1 Goals Methods 5 2 Plan Expected Effects 3 6 Strategies 4

4. GLOBAL, REGIONAL & NATIONAL LEVEL CORRELATIONS BIODIVERSITY CULTURAL DIVERSITY Languages and cultures Ecosystem, species & genetic richness CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL BIODIVERSITYLOCAL CULTURES Ecosystem, species & genetic richness Ecological knowledge, Cultural values and practices, Institutions, language Relationship between biological diversity and cultural diversity. Interaction of biocultural diversity from local to global levels (Adopted from Maffi and Woodley 2010)

5. International Conference on Biological and Cultural Diversity: Diversity for Development- Development for Diversity (8-10 June 2010, Montreal, Canada) Working Document A PROPOSED JOINT PROGRAMME OF WORK ON BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY LEAD BY THE SECRETARIAT OF THE CONVENTION ON BIODIVERSITY AND UNESCO Definitions of Biocultural diversity The inextricable link between biological diversity and cultural diversity received international recognition through the Declaration of Belem (1988). Loh and Harmon (2005) define Biocultural diversity as the total sum of the world’s differences, no matter what their origin. This concept encompasses biological diversity at all its levels and cultural diversity in all its manifestations. Biocultural diversity is derived from the myriad ways in which humans have interacted with their natural surroundings. Their co-evolution has generated local ecological knowledge and practices: a vital reservoir of experience, methods and skills that help different societies to manage their resources. Diverse worldviews and ethical approaches to life have emerged in tandem with this co-evolution of nature and culture. The biocultural concept is critical to making progress on building mutual understanding and support between these two diversities. 1 Convention on Biological Diversity http://www.cbd.int/ 2 UNESCO Declaration on Cultural Diversity http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001271/127160m.pdflink 3 Loh, J. and Harmon, D., 2005. A global index of biocultural diversity. Ecol. Indic. 5(3):231–41.

6. Major reasons of disappearing Biocultural diversity • Human impact (human history and land use) • Socioeconomic reasons are important driving force • Unstable cultural diversity like biodiversity • Losing indigenous knowledge • Urbanization

7. Understanding of mechanism for biocultural dynamics Interaction Man Climate change Nature Society Economy Culture Biodiversity Natural process Land use Landscape change Changing interaction Cultural diversity Man Changing Biocultural diversity Loss of balance and interaction Nature Ecological diversity

8. 1.Background Ecosystem+ Natural Resource + Adaptation = Culture IUCNand UNESCO ‘Biocultural diversity’ The attention of international organizations on biodiversity The UN declared 2010 to the International Year of Biodiversity and International Year of Rapprochement of Cultures Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held the international conferences in Montréal, Canada (8-10, June, 2010) Biocultural diversity

9. Beyond the natural resource, biocultural diversity is daily life and education fields for transferring traditional ecological knowledge Ecological knowledge is driving force and stimulus to create bioculturaldiversity Cultural diversity with ecosystems become extinct in human history accompanied with biodiversity loss Global changes on seascape are threatening biological-cultural linking heritages

10. Ecological knowledge of forest use

11. UNESCO Biosphere Reserve: Experimental laboratory of ecological knowledge and biocultural diversity “Blue-Green-HumanNetwork”

12. Goals 1 2 • Suggesting proposal of motion development in WCC • Propagating the agenda regarding to biocultural diversity to the world • 2. Goals • Discussing the development of biodultural diversity and its mechanisms for maintaining ecocultural integrity • Research and policy work for sustainability of island-coastal regions Agenda and Networking

13. 3. Plan Regional cooperation A. Case study areas B. Contents Other regions • Study range • Asia-Pacific island-coastal countries • (Korea, Japan, China, Micronesia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, USA etc.) • South America and Africa • Greece, Italia, Spain and North Europe • Getting information of ecological knowledge of biodiversity, vegetation, and resource management in international island-coastal areas • Organizing of national and international organization and research network of Asia-Pacific island-coastal areas • Holding international symposium titled “vegetation resources and ecological knowledge in island-coastal regions” during in IAVS2012 (International Association for Vegetation Science, Mokpo, 23-28 July 2012) in conjunction with WCC • Model development of “sustainability of island-coastal regions” in cooperative with international organizations (IUCN, UNESCO, FAO, and all related subjects by experts)

14. 4. Strategies Discussing about theoretical basis on “Island-coastal vegetation resources and ecological knowledge in Asia-Pacific regions” during IAVS2012 • Establishing “Island-Coastal Biocultural Diversity Initiative” in conjunction with international organizations such as IUCN, UNESCO, FAO, INTECOL, EAFES etc. • Organizing workshop with institutions as well as researchers of IUCN, UNESCO, FAO, INTECOL and initiating agenda • Submitting agenda • International networking

15. ABCD (Asia-Pacific Biocultural Diversity) ABCD(Asia-Pacific Biocultural Diversity) Group in INTECOL, Brisbane 2009

16. 5. Methods A. Understanding ecological knowledge for natural resource use in island-coastal regions B. Strengthening of national and international network • Strengthening the network through mutual visits of the main spots • Holding the international symposium as a “Island-coastal vegetation resources and ecological knowledge” during the IAVS2012 • Proposal the motion during WCC • Propagation of integrity and excellence of ecological knowledge and biocultural diversity through international network • Finding researchers on biocultural diversity in island-coastal regions • Collecting literature data through national and international network • Obtaining information of ecological knowledge of resource management and biodiversity C. Literature utilization and workshop programming • Literature review progress • Organizing of national and international workshops • Publishing by papers and books

17. 6. Expected Effects • Promotion of Initiative on biocultural diversity in Asia-Pacific island regions • International networking for research development on biocultural diversity • Developing effective strategies for conservation and development on island sustainability (ecosystem conservation, quality economy related to local activity and life standard, and eco-welfare) • Model development of sustainable island-coastal regions • Expanding our action to local to global level 55th IAVS 2012 (www.iavs2012.org)

18. Thank you