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Session 2

Session 2. Group 1: role of IK, use and what is it. Defined as oral tradition, historical practice, unwritten ‘How to’ information – agric. plus other info….rural communities Self-validating in farmer communities Need to validate IK – much ‘old wives’ knowledge which needs assessment

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Session 2

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  1. Session 2

  2. Group 1: role of IK, use and what is it • Defined as oral tradition, historical practice, unwritten • ‘How to’ information – agric. plus other info….rural communities • Self-validating in farmer communities • Need to validate IK – much ‘old wives’ knowledge which needs assessment • Cultural function of IK (protection and control functions) • Validation of IK by scientists – in situ expts • Loss of IK increasing problem in DC as in developed world • Need to record the IK (e.g. of AI project promoting linkage with IK)

  3. Group 2: differing needs of information between countries, social groups, etc. • Not imposing information • Depends on needs • Can the user get by without the information • Resources in libraries in DC : shortage of materials, resources, etc. • Communications by various means • Expertise – external (consultancies vs. local expertise in-country) perception of greater value with externals • Language problems with external consultants • Partnerships • Pace of information development

  4. Group 3: what can be done to faciliate 2-way info flow - payment • Mediators in flow: extension workers, anthropologists, facilitators in flow of info (multiple flow mechanisms and directions) • Original information collectors included IK, period of loss, rediscovery • IK can be influenced by people collecting it • Some IK has been totally lost • How to pay for this???? • How to value IK so that funding is provided? • Cost of NOT using the IK

  5. Group 4: How does technology impact upon area • Digital technologies driving force – positive influence • Improved access to information • Opportunities for publishers to reduce costs – improve outreach • Increased use of mobile phones (overtaking Internet use) • Greater effort needed in synthesis of vast amount of information • High tech solutions often looked at (google-is-god) • Undervaluing of sources that are difficult to find and transfer • Paper remains an important medium

  6. Group 5: what sort of info is needed by different stakeholders • Same information may be appropriate but needs different dissemination methods/pathways • Libraries cater for researchers in general, but no such ‘body’ caters for other information users/stakeholders

  7. Panel comments • IK vs. scientific – is there a ‘versus’ in this question? A great deal to learn from two interacting and breaking down barriers; collaborative process for mutual benefit • Peer-reviewed material vs. grey material: how reliable is peer-reviewed literature? How relevant and reliable? Quality differences between peer-reviewed jls are also great. • Digital divide exists on different frontiers, not just between DC and developed world • Wise use of variety of media for communicating in local contexts

  8. General comments • ‘versus’ is a clear issue. Much scientific information is not useful in some land management problems. Need to retain much IK (also in western situations) before traditional communities disappear with their IK. • These problems can be addressed with digital solutions : capturing IK and making it availale, where relevant, more widely • Oral histories – problems of classifying, etc. but can we propose solutions? • Access to information has limited anthropologists working with IK. Information can be considered ‘state’ property, etc. How to promote access, which is needed to further promote this information • (IUFRO conference – Florence 2006) • Local people can be suspicious of scientific interest in their knowledge. Sensitivity required • With two-way flow being promoted, Govt. may feel more comfortable with sharing ‘state’ knowledge/information • Information divide between local ownership and common good. Contradictory roles of two communities perception. • Examples of good practice for bridging these two communities • Benefits to local community as custodians of IK, Needs laws to protect and preserve • Large amounts of IK which is not available through Internet. Problem perceived as that of the local communities who have generated it. Is it our problem in resource-rich countries, institutions? • Need for dialogue with the local communities who have and generate information • Communication chain from high-level Govt. down to (or up from) farmers: good practice examples and projects which have reduced Govt. input. How important is this high-level input? • Are we losing the art of good writing? Important in new technology communication as well as traditional communication media • Bypassing paper view vs. paper industry projection of paper use increases • IUFRO taskforces: science policy interface; science/public interface • Greater understanding of how media work for communicating science • Untapped traditional information • Evidence-based research – how can we do this in forestry?

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