IK Monitor 2(3) Networks

COMMUNICATIONS - NETWORKS

Pacificland
The Pacificland Network is a collaborative research network established by the International Board for Soil Research and Management (IBSRAM) and the Pacific Island Countries. The Network is funded by ADB, AIDAB and UK ODA.
In the Pacific, shifting smallholder agriculture on sloping lands is widespread and has long been practised on the basis of traditional systems and knowledge. Suitable arable lowlands are in short supply as a result of population growth, factors of land tenure, and the introduction of cash crops of trees. This leads to more use of steeper lands, and to intensification of existing land use.
Elsewhere, the practice of continuously encroaching on steeper and forested land has been found to be largely unsustainable. The Pacific is not immune to these problems. In fact, small island ecosystems may be especially vulnerable to these problems of land degradation. The challenge is to assess the magnitude of the problems of land degradation and to develop technologies for sustainable agriculture that are economically, socially and environmentally viable. Such technologies should be based on the existing systems and on local technical knowledge in the region.
With this challenge in mind, the Network has as its goal 'the development of sustainable farming systems for sloping lands in the South Pacific'. There are three immediate objectives:

to develop and maintain a network for collaborative research on the management of sloping lands and soils, and to facilitate a system for the exchange of information on soil and land management;
to improve the capability of national research agencies for undertaking research in this field, particularly regarding the promotion of sustainable management which is both economical and acceptable to farmers; and
to test and validate current knowledge, and to assist in the development of appropriate technologies for the management of sloping lands.

With these objectives in mind, the Network has developed three groups of activities:

national research projects in Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and Western Samoa;
exchange of information through a Network Newsletter and annual meetings; and
training and capacity-building through technical assistance and training workshops.

The national projects compare different practices for managing land in terms of the yields of staple Pacific crops (taro, sweet potato, yam and cassava), and in terms of soil fertility, erosion and surface runoff. The practices that are examined include farmers' traditional practices, and the use of vegetative barriers and agroforestry to reduce soil erosion and maintain soil fertility. To make these comparisons it is essential in the Pacific environment to have the full cooperation of farmers. The Network is developing participatory research methods in order to achieve this.
The Network is coordinated by the International Board for Soil Research and Management (IBSRAM) through a regional office in Fiji. The Network circulates a newsletter that links researchers and other interested parties, publishes proceedings and papers from meetings and workshops, and provides information about IBSRAM publications and other networks. IBSRAM also coordinates five other research networks in Asia and Africa.
Contact:
for PACIFICLAND Network: Mr David Howlett, Network Coordinator, IBSRAM Pacific Regional Office, P.O. Box 13707, Suva, Fiji. Tel/Fax: +679-477770.
for other Networks: IBSRAM, P.O. Box 9-109, Bangkhen, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Tel: +66-2- 5797590. Fax: +66-2-5611230.

SEARICE
SEARICE aims to help create a just and democratic society that supports popular initiatives for using the earth's resources in a creative and sustainable way. SEARICE helps popular organizations and NGOs in the Southeast Asian region to develop their own capabilities in the fields of community development, community education, and sustainable agriculture.
Its objectives are:

to foster linkages between relevant organizations in Southeast Asia and to facilitate North- South and South-South exchanges among the persons and organizations who are working towards the establishment of civil society;
to facilitate the establishment of self-reliant grassroots organizations through education, training and linkages;
to help local development workers to establish alternative means for disseminating and exchanging information, through training in popular communication;
to enable Southeast Asian farmers to have control over their own planting materials through a programme for developing and conserving genetic resources; and
to promote the recognition and protection of the rights of Southeast Asian indigenous communities through information, exchange, advocacy, education and training programmes.

SEARICE is carrying out three programmes: the Community Organizing Programme, the Popular Communication Programme, and the Seeds Programme. For more information about the specific objectives of these programmes please contact:
Elenita C. Da¤o, Southeast Asian Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE), Unit 332 Eagle Court Condo, 26 Matalino St., Diliman, Quezon City, The Philippines. Tel:
+63-2-9215432/9217544. Fax: +63-2-9215432. E-mail: searice@phil.gn.apc.org

CSERGE
The Centre for Social and Economic Research in the Global Environment (CSERGE) is based at the University of East Anglia and University College London (UK). Founded in October 1991, the Centre receives its basic funding from the UK Economic and Social Research Council. The broad aim of the Centre is to undertake academic and policy-related research on socio/economic and interdisciplinary aspects of global environmental change. This goal reflects growing recognition, in the UK and many other countries, of the fact that social science research is essential if the human causes of, and responses to, fundamental changes in the global environment are to be understood.
The research programme is grouped under three main headings: climate change, biodiversity and institutional adaption. A wide range of research projects are undertaken, in collaboration with researchers in the UK and elsewhere, international agencies, and various institutions.
The role of indigenous knowledge has been examined in a number of research projects within the biodiversity programme. The aim of this programme is to increase our understanding of the fundamental causes and driving forces behind the loss of global biodiversity, the complex and numerous different values associated with biodiversity, and the use of such information in the formulation of policy. The topics of research projects include: the role of cultural values in the use and conservation of medicinal plants, the communal use of biomass materials from protected areas in Southern Nepal, and the benefits of forest conservation in Mexico.
CSERGE has a policy of disseminating its research findings as widely as possible. In addition to publishing in conventional academic journals, CSERGE produces a series of in-house working papers. CSERGE also convenes the UK Biodiversity Forum, BIOFORUM, an interdisciplinary academic discussion group which aims to facilitate the cross-disciplinary dissemination of research findings and to inform researchers about different aspects of biodiversity.
For more information please contact:
Dr Katrina Brown, Senior Research Associate, CSERGE, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
For information about CSERGE publications, please contact Mrs Alex Howe at the above address.

GERNA
The relationship between women and environment, especially in the South where most women are poor but at the same time the primary users of natural resources, is now widely recognized. It is difficult to identify aspects of this relationship that would make suitable research topics, however, the problem is that there is no mechanism in the South for exchanging information and sharing experiences. GERNA (Gender and Environment Research Network) was established in response to this perceived need.
GERNA is a regional network which aims to serve as an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural forum for researchers and organizations in the field of gender and environment. It aims to build an Asian community of colleagues that will share research findings, and information about various approaches and methodologies as well as about researchers and organizations in the field.
The GERNA project has been underway since mid-1993. Two surveys have been carried out; one questionnaire was aimed at the various organizations involved in the fields of gender/women or environment, or both; and the other was aimed at individuals working in these fields. Recent literature on women or gender relations and/or environment is being examined in order to identify the present focus and gaps in research. The output of GERNA is expected to be published in two volumes. One will include a paper on GERNA and abstracts of published and unpublished articles, books, book chapters, reports, student papers and other manuscripts. The second volume will consist of two directories: one of organizations and one of individuals. So far 150 manuscripts have been abstracted, and information on the same number of organizations and individuals has been entered into a computerized database. The GERNA publications are expected in early 1995.
Contact: Govind Kelkar or Seema Saeed, Gender and Development Studies, SERD AIT, P.O. Box 2754, Bangkok 10501, Thailand. Tel: +66-2-5245671/5673/5668. Fax: +66-2- 5162126. E-mail: hs5240@rccvax.ait.ac.th

IPBN
The Indigenous Peoples Biodiversity Network (IPBN) is a growing global network of indigenous peoples' organizations that are working to conserve and develop biodiversity, and to protect biogenetic materials and indigenous knowledge. The IPBN was established by indigenous peoples who acted as observers at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity (ICCBD), held in Switzerland in October 1993.
The IPBN's work focuses on the formulation of policies, laws and programmes relating to biodiversity protection. The IPBN works for the ratification and implementation of the Biodiversity Convention, and supports a range of indigenous peoples' biodiversity initiatives around the world. The IPBN's core members are indigenous peoples, however, at a second level of support, members are representives of key international organizations, scientists, and individuals working on biodiversity conservation.
Specific objectives of the IPBN are:

to disseminate key information on issues of biodiversity conservation among members and supporters;
to support indigenous peoples' initiatives to conserve biological diversity and to protect traditional resources and knowledge;
to encourage joint positions and initiatives among members;
to establish or improve communication on biodiversity issues, and to publicize these issues among indigenous peoples and advocacy groups, as well as in other sectors, including science, government and industry;
to help ensure that indigenous peoples take part in the intergovernmental meetings of the Biodiversity Convention and in other domestic and international policy-making relating to biodiversity; and
to foster use of the new electronic superhighway, thereby using computer networking to enhance biodiversity conservation and cultural survival.

Contact: IPBN general coordinating office: Alejandro Argumedo, Interim Coordinator, Cultural Survival (Canada), Suite 620, 1 Nicholas Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 7B7.
Tel: +1-613-241 4500.
Fax: +1-613-241 2292.

WEDNET
The Women, Environment and Development Network (WEDNET) is an innovative research and information-sharing project launched in 1989 by the Environment Liaison Centre International (ELCI), with financial support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The project was formally launched with a meeting in Nyeri (Kenya) in June 1989, which brought together researchers and specialists in information systems and communication for the purpose of working out common research methods and modalities for networking. The primary purpose of WEDNET's activities will be to document and gain recognition for women's indigenous knowledge, in both traditional and contemporary contexts, as part of the search for strategies which will halt Africa's environmental degradation and bring about sustainable development. The project leader for WEDNET is Dr Shimwaayi Muntemba, Executive Director of ELCI.
Contact: Ms Rosemary Jommo, WEDNET ECLI Coordinator, Environment Liaison Centre, P.O. Box 72461, Nairobi, Kenya
or:
Dr Bonnie Kettel, Canadian Coordinator for WEDNET, Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University, North York, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3.

CIESIN Information Cooperative
The CIESIN Information Cooperative is an electronic data and information archive created by sharing the capabilities of a network of organizations around the world. Partner organizations include multilateral and non-government organizations, scientific research centres, and governmental agencies.
The Information Cooperative is premised on the need to identify important collections of data relevant to global environmental change research, sustainable development, and natural disaster research and reduction. Through a common infrastructure, partner organizations collaborate to provide easy access to data and information resources.
The long-term goal of developing the Information Cooperative is to achieve a self-sustaining, worldwide network of partner organizations committed to sharing their data and information resources with a broad user community.
CIESIN, the Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network, has been identifying major collections of socio-economic and environmental data relevant to global environmental change research and sustainable development. It has also been providing mechanisms for accessibility. In addition, CIESIN is working cooperatively with other national and international efforts to assemble a network of information networks for sharing data and information about an ever-changing world.
To learn more about the CIESIN Information Cooperative, please contact:
Dr Vincent J. Abreu, Director, CIESIN Information Cooperative, University Center, MI 48710, USA. Tel: +1-517-797 2685. Fax: +1-517-797 2622. E-mail: vabreu@ciesin.org

Indigenous women's network
The Indigenous Women's Network (IWN) is a continental and Pacific network of women who are actively involved in work in their own communities. IWN emerged from a meeting of around 200 indigenous women in 1985. Women came from the Americas and the Pacific to tell their stories, present testimony as to conditions, and to look for strategies and alternatives in order to make a better future for their families and communities. Issues of political prisoners, land rights, environmental degradation, domestic violence, health problems and other pressing issues of concern to the communites were discussed. This event was very stimulating.
Four years later, the Indigenous Women's Network was formally set up by a group of women who are committed to keeping up the links that were established between the women at the meeting and others like them, and to finding a way to strengthen these women in the work they do in their communities. The philosophy is to 'work within the framework of the vision of the elders', and through this process, to rebuild families, communities and nations.
The Indigenous Women's Network is a membership organization comprised of indigenous women (voting members) and others who are interested (supporting members). The membership fee is US$15 a year for a voting member and US$25 a year for a supporting member, which can be either an organization or an individual. Both types of members receive periodic updates as well as the publication Indigenous Women, which is intended to appear at least two times a year. (Devel-L)
Membership information can be obtained from:
Indigenous Women's Network, P.O. Box 174, Lake Elmo, MN 55042, USA. Tel: +1-612-777 3629.

INDISCO
After the completion of an ILO needs-assessment and fact-finding survey on tribals in India in 1992 and an ILO/UNDP programming mission to The Philippines in 1993 focusing on indigenous peoples, it was felt that a new inter-regional programme was needed to put into practice the various alternative approaches to the development of these communities. Such a programme, which is also a practical response to ILO Convention No. 169, is expected to promote sustainable development among indigenous peoples, while taking into account the following criteria in setting up its activities:

better targeting of the distinct indigenous communities, to allay fears about assimilation and exploitation. This will help to safeguard the values and traditional systems of these communities;
concentrating efforts on human resource development within these communities, which will allow them to manage their own development more efficiently;
using the growing worldwide interest in indigenous and tribal peoples' demands and rights, and channelling development funds in a more targeted way, in order to meet the needs of these peoples;
assisting and encouraging the local-level development efforts of indigenous communities through mutual self-help;
helping to reorient the existing plans and programmes of governments, in order to meet the needs and demands of these communities, and making known local success stories;
helping to create a more favourable national and international climate for the development of indigenous and tribal peoples, by networking and strengthening their own organizations and institutions; and
promoting awareness of ILO Convention No. 169 among these communities and ILO member States, and working for its ratification and application.

The Cooperative Branch of the ILO, with DANIDA funding, created the Inter-Regional Programme to Support the Self-Reliance of Indigenous and Tribal Communities through Cooperatives, and other self-help organizations (the INDISCO Programme). INDISCO started its activities in June 1993 by documenting the existing programmes for indigenous peoples, assisting in setting up pilot projects on a country and regional level, and establishing contacts with interested donors for the funding of these projects.
At the moment INDISCO has pilot projects in India (four) as well as in The Philippines (four). A pre- census survey has been undertaken in Sri Lanka. Baseline surveys on indigenous knowledge systems and practices, as well as technical workshops to discuss the results of these surveys, will be completed during 1994 and 1995 in The Philippines, West Africa and Central America.
The results of the project in India and The Philippines will be reviewed and the work plans for the year 1995 will be discussed during a technical meeting at Chiang Mai (Thailand). (A report will be published in the next issue of the Monitor.)
One of the target groups addressed by the INDISCO Programme consists of indigenous and tribal women and cooperating partners, since these women are usually the group most affected by the loss of ancestral land, displacement and environmental degradation.
Case studies of the indigenous women of the Cordilleras (The Philippines) have been published in Marginalized by development: Indigenous Women of the Cordilleras, The Philippines, edited by H. Polat. Published by ILO, CH-1211, Geneva 22, Switzerland.
For more information, please contact:
Mr H. Polat, Programme Coordinator, INDISCO, Cooperative Branch, ILO, CH-1211, Geneva 22, Switzerland. Tel: +41-22-7996111. Fax: +41-22-7998572.

UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development
Addresses gender concerns across many sectors, including education, agriculture, employment, environment, and energy. An in-depth paper has been prepared, which examines the interface between sceince and technology systems, local knowledge systems and gender. It addresses such current concerns as biodiversity and intellectual property rights from a gender perspective.
Contact: UN Commission on Science and Technology for Development, c/o Geoff Oldham, Chair, President's Office IDRC, P.O. Box 8500, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Tel: +613-236- 6163.

Working Group on Indigenous Populations
While there is no particular gender focus within the Working Group, it has been suggested that 1996 be dedicated to indigenous women. The Working Group has acted as the focal point for the efforts of indigenous peoples working for international legal recognition of their human rights. It has drawn up a draft declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (1993).
Contact: Mr Julian Burger, Centre for Human Rights, United Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland. Tel: +41 22-917-3413. Fax: + 41-22-9170123

The International Labour Organization
The ILO was the first UN organization to deal with the concerns of indigenous peoples, having first developed Convention 107 in the 1950s and more recently, Convention 169 Concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries (1989). An important aspect of Convention 169 is that it recognizes the collective aspects of indigenous cultures and values.
Contact: Manuella Tomei, Office 8-1064, Route de Morillons, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Tel: +41-22-7300361. Fax: +41-22-7300111.

TRAMED
The Department of Pharmacology of the Medical School of Cape Town is developing a Traditional Medicines Programme (TRAMED) in cooperation with several other institutions. These include the Medical Research Council, the National Botanical Institute, the Indigenous Plant Use Forum, and South African traditional healer's associations. The programme started on 1 June 1994 and is being funded by the European Union via Kagiso Trust. TRAMED will also be collaborating with the World Health Organization's Traditional Medicines Programme, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).
The objectives of TRAMED are:

to establish a comprehensive database of medicines for the region of southern Africa, and to make information on traditional medicines accessible to both researchers and traditional healers (see section Communications, Databases);
to produce, in consultation with the Medicines Control Council of South Africa and the Department of Health, a national register ('formulary") of safe and effective basic herbal medicines;
to encourage neighbouring countries to compile similar 'formularies', and to collaborate with them in this effort;
to collaborate with all parties in the southern Africa region who have similar interests and objectives;
to screen plants for antimalarial properties, and to investigate mechanisms of resistance to antimalarial drugs;
to network with laboratories that screen drugs for anti-cancer and anti-HIV properties;
to collaborate with all groups interested in the conservation and sustainable utilization of indigenous medicinal plants;
to participate in the formulation of policies to protect the intellectual property rights of individuals and institutions involved in the research and development of new medicines from traditional remedies;
to participate in the formulation of policies to prevent the exploitation of national genetic resources, using the recommendations of the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), and the World Resources Institute;
to encourage documentation of the use of traditional medicines, so that this knowledge can be preserved for posterity.

TRAMED is collaborating formally with SARCIK in establishing a joint resource centre for traditional medicines, and is encouraging documentation of the use of traditional medicines.
If you are interested in collaborating with this programme or would like further details, please contact:
Dr Nigel Gericke, Director, Information, TRAMED, Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Cape Town, Observatory 7925, South Africa. Tel: +27-21-4066355. Fax: +27-21- 4486181.

CARIKS
The Centre for Advanced Research in Indigenous Knowledge Systems was established in December 1993 in Mysore, India. The Centre is an activity of the Foundation for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge-Based Development (IKDF).
The Centre's objectives are:

to promote and carry out research on indigenous knowledge systems;
to establish a centre for the documentation of indigenous knowledge systems;
to gather data and facilitate the documentation of indigenous knowledge in the areas of rural industries, technologies, management, education, health and agriculture;
to develop a system of storing and retrieving records of indigenous knowledge systems;
to organize seminars and workshops; and
to publish monographs and reports.

At the moment there are three research projects under way: 'World view of the Indian smiths', 'The development needs of rural manufacturers', and 'Indigenous accounting systems'.
More information can be obtained from:
Dr J. Brouwer, Director CARIKS, P.O. Box 1, Saraswathipuram, Mysore 570009, India. Tel: +91- 821-61467. Fax: +91-821-61459.

BEIJING 1995
All over the world, activities are taking place in preparation for the World Women's Conference in Beijing (China). It is of course impossible to mention all of them here. For information on the conference, interested readers might find it useful to contact The International Women's Tribune Centre (IWTC). The Centre has prepared an information packet for Beijing which includes lists of resources for networking, as well as special issues of The Tribune (the newsletter of IWTC) and of the bulletin called '95 Preview. These publications describe the plans and preparations for both the World Women's Conference and the NGO Forum.
Contact: International Womens's Tribune Centre, 777 UN Plaza, New York, NY 10017, USA.
On the way to Beijing a number of organizations are working together under the title 'Once and Future Consortium: Re-envisioning women, science and technology towards 1995 and beyond'. These include the United Nations Development Fund, IWTC, Women's Environment and Development Organization, World Women's Veterinarian Association, Energy and Environment Desk of the YWCA, Third World Organization of Women Scientists, and the International Federation of Inventors. For more information, please contact:
Once and Future Consortium, P.O. Box 20482, Dag Hammarskjold Convenience Centre, New York, NY, USA.

Expertise on gender and IK
Nuffic-CIRAN has produced an overview of the participants in the international network for indigenous knowledge and development, with expertise on gender and indigenous knowledge. It contains the names of more than 70 persons in 17 countries.
If you are interested in a copy of this publication, please write to:
Nuffic-CIRAN, P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel: +31-70-4260321. Fax: +31-70-4260329.

Back to: top of the page | Contents IK Monitor 2(3) | IK Homepage
Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl
(c) copyright Nuffic-CIRAN and contributors 1994.