COMMUNICATIONS - CALLS
for cooperation:
Discussion paper on indigenous peoples and
environmental assessment
The Centre for Traditional Knowledge is working with the World
Council of Indigenous Peoples, the International Study of the
Effectiveness of Environmental Assessment (Effectiveness
Study) and the Canadian Environment Assessment Agency (CEAA)
to prepare a discussion paper to generate and enhance dialogue
on indigenous peoples and environment assessment (EA). This
work is being done as part of a programme of activities
contributing to the Effectiveness Study.
The discussion paper will identify trends, issues, lessons
learned and challenges related to the following two themes:
- participation of indigenous communities in EA--for example
planning and execution of studies and research, validation of
information and analysis, participation in panel reviews,
formulation of recommendations, project implementation and
monitoring; and
- the role of traditional (indigenous) ecological knowledge
in the EA process: the complementary nature of traditional
knowledge management systems and western-based science.
The purpose of the discussion paper is to examine these themes
in depth; to elicit examples of current practice, barriers or
obstacles; and to identify the needs of both indigenous
peoples and donor communities, as well as approaches that show
promise for addressing these needs. The document will be
distributed for review at the 1995 IAIA Conference being held
in Durban (South Africa) in June 1995, and will be used
extensively in a series of inter-regional workshops and
meetings that will be held between June 1995 and May 1996.
Anyone who is interested may participate in all three steps to
prepare the discussion paper;
- the preparation of a draft outline for
the discussion paper by 31 March 1995;
- contributions relevant to the outline of the discussion
paper by 31 May 1995; and
- compilation and editing of the discussion paper under the
leadership of the Centre for Traditional Knowledge.
The discussion paper, anticipated to be about 50 pages, will
contain proposals and recommendations for follow-up action.
Contributors are requested to keep their contributions short
and concise to allow for a wider range of perspectives. For
anyone wishing to make a contribution of any kind, a set of
guidelines is available upon request.
Contact: CTK: P.O. Box 3443 Stn D, Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada K1P 6P4. Tel: +1-613-566 4750. Fax: +1-613-952 9693. E-
mail: jtinglis@magi.com
Back to: top of the page | Contents IK Monitor 3(1) | IK
Homepage
Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl
(c) copyright Nuffic-CIRAN
and
contributors 1995.