We are very happy to present you with this special issue of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor. This special issue is devoted to the International Symposium on 'Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development', held in September 1992 at the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang, Cavite, The Philippines. The symposium was funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
The report and proceedings of the symposium were produced by Dr. Evelyn Mathias-Mundy, coordinator of the Regional Programme for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge in Asia (REPPIKA/IIRR), in cooperation with Ms. Gisèle Morin- Labatut (IDRC) and Mr. Shahid Akhtar (IDRC).
The symposium in Silang can be considered as presenting the very latest word on the contribution of indigenous knowledge to sustainable development. Representatives from various disciplines supplied the symposium with data based on recent research. This served as the basis for discussion of the role that indigenous knowledge can play in truly participatory approaches to development.
The symposium was also important in that it demonstrated the need for an active international IK network for sharing information on IK and development. CIRAN accepted responsibility for facilitating the exchange of information, for example by producing the Monitor. We are very happy that IDRC asked CIRAN to publish this special issue on the symposium and to disseminate it throughout the international IK network. We would like to thank Mr. Shahid Akhtar of IDRC for the financial contributions to both the Monitor and the network.
We hope that you find the proceedings useful and that they contribute to stimulating discussion of IK and development as well as your activities in this field.
The first issue of the Monitor has been well received. We
welcome your comments and your contributions. If you wish to
exchange information please send a notice for publication in
the section 'Communications'.