Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor, December 1998

Contents IK Monitor 6(3) | IKDM Homepage | Suggestions to: ikdm@nuffic.nl | (c) copyright Nuffic-CIRAN and contributors 1999.

Calls

Calls for information
Calls for papers / abstracts
Calls for participants and papers
Calls for contributions to a 'toolkit'
Calls for nominations

Calls for information

IK for wildlife conservation and the wise use of wetlands
I am an Ethiopian who has worked as a wildlife manager and conservation biologist in Ethiopia for the past 18 years. My working experience is with protected area management, environmental education, the identification of biodiversity 'hot spots', and bird study. At present I work as a regional programme officer for wetlands with the World Conservation Union IUCN in Nairobi (Kenya).
I plan to do a Ph.D. on wetlands in relation to their conservation and wise use, which will involve collecting indigenous knowledge (IK) on this subject. I will be particularly interested in natural resource management, community conservation, and collaborative management--all in relation to IK. I would also like to investigate the lore that communities possess regarding wildlife, and to examine traditional values and practices which have affected birds and other wildlife either negatively or positively. I intend to argue that traditional patterns of use are realistic and should be incorporated into national or regional planning programmes for the management of natural resources. A section on wildlife lore will be part of the study. I expect to show that indigenous knowledge regarding wildlife management can play an important role in helping to conserve the remaining populations of wild species.
The envisaged study will have relevance for sustainable development activities. Water is an all-important issue for developing countries. In a country like Ethiopia, which has been devastated by droughts in the past, measures have to be taken to raise awareness on the issue of water. Wetlands are an important source of water for humans as well as for other animal life. Wetlands are also home to various species of wildlife. The economic life of of thousands of Ethiopians is directly linked to some water source. Many make their living in these areas using their own traditional knowledge.
My call to Monitor readers is for information about methods for collecting and documenting IK pertaining to ethno-zoology and natural resource protection in wetland regions. Case studies and descriptions of methods for actually incorporating IK into national planning programmes would also be welcome.
Please send reactions to: Yilma Dellelegn Abebe, IUCN-EARO Wetlands Programme Officer, P.O. Box 68200 Nairobi, Kenya. Tel.: +254-2-890 605 / 12. Fax: +254-2-890 515. E-mail: yda@iucn.unon.org or: yilma.abebe@iucn.unon.org

Knowledge of traders
In my earlier PhD research on markets and environmental change in Kerala, India, I came across an issue that I have not found discussed in the literature; i.e., that traders possess useful indigenous knowledge pertaining to agriculture and the environment. I have evidence from a case study on market-oriented mango cultivation in Palghat District, Kerala. There the mango traders in fact manage production, advising farmers which varieties to plant and passing on what they learn through their business contacts about effective new cultivation techniques. The traders have considerable knowledge of the species and how to grow it, and of how production can be geared most effectively to the market. They know more than the farmers in fact.
Is this a unique case? Is the local knowledge of traders and other non-farming stakeholders indeed generally being neglected in research and policy? I would be interested in hearing of any further evidence that non-farming stakeholders possess environmental knowledge that could be relevant to development projects. I would also be interested in any contributions to a theoretical discussion of this issue. Perhaps farmers should not be the only local stakeholders who are drawn into development projects. The knowledge and influence of traders can be valuable, which means that their cooperation should also be secured.
Please contact: Dr Rene Veron, Department of Geography, School of Oriental and African Studies, Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG, UK. Tel.: +44-171-837 8888 ext. 5932. E-mail: rv6@soas.ac.uk

Uses of Phyllanthus species in India
The Centre for Indigenous Knowledge of Indian Herbal Resources (CIKIHR) is presently collecting information on the use of herbs for treating jaundice and other liver dysfunctions. Already, many locally used herbs have been identified as belonging to the genus Phyllanthus, known in English as Otaheite Gooseberry. One of the species is Phyllanthus niruri. To treat jaundice, people in the southern part of India use a Phyllanthus species known in the Tamil language as "kilonelli" or "sivapunelli", in the Malyalam language as "kirganelli" or "chirukizkunelli", and in Kanarese as "neelunelli" or "kanpunellananelli". In North India the species used to treat jaundice are P. fratenus and P. amurus, and in Bengal P. debilis. These are locally known as "bhui-amla" or "jar-amla".
The herb is prepared and administered in different ways. In North India, the herb is either decocted and taken early in the morning on an empty stomach, or a small amount of it (about 15g) is ground with milk, which is then strained and taken two times a day. In South India, CIKIHR has thus far found four ways the herb is used:

• A decoction is made from fresh leaves or from a powder of the whole plant. This is taken 2-3 times a day.
• The leaves are chewed.
• Powder from whole dried plants is mixed into a paste with cow's milk, and taken for three days.
• Juice from the plant is mixed with curd.

This call is directed towards any readers who are familiar with the use of Phyllanthus elsewhere in the world in order to treat liver disorders. Please contact Dr N.C. Shah, coordinator of CIKIHR, indicating where the Phyllanthus species is used, and how it is prepared and administered. If possible, please include a pressed specimen of the plant together with its name or names in the local language. This information will be registered, and the person who sent it will receive a copy of the entry.
Please send your information to: Dr N.C. Shah, Coordinator, CIKIHR, M.S.-78; Sector 'D', Aliganj, Lucknow, India - 226 024. Tel.: +91-522-326 489. Fax: +91-522-387 711. E-mail: iillko@lwl.vsnl.net.in

Calls for papers / abstracts

Environmental management in developing countries
Environmental management is a global phenomenon, embracing all businesses in all countries, whether or not they already have an organized way of dealing with environmental impact.
As a result of rapid economic growth and corresponding increases in consumption, many developing countries will soon be having a more significant impact on the environment than developed countries. Important factors include: the export of 'dirty industries', legal systems that are often underdeveloped and ill-enforced, inferior technology, and greater dependency on primary products for foreign-exchange earnings. It is extremely important that environmental protection be incorporated into business practices, but in most developing countries business is almost inevitably geared towards international markets, since domestic 'green' consumer markets are virtually absent. In short, developing countries have a specific set of parameters and priorities that make environmental management a very different problem for them.
Not everywhere is it the same, however. The previously assumed homogeneity of developing countries in terms of social and economic structures has now been largely replaced by a more differentiated picture of economic and social development. New models take specific social, cultural and political circumstances into account much more than previous models did.
Greenleaf Publishing invites contributions to a book that will address these issues. The book will be edited by Dr Walter Wehrmeyer and Dr Yacob Mulugetta of the Centre for Environmental Strategy at the University of Surrey (UK). The forthcoming book will broadly cover four main themes:

• globalization;
• the current status of environmental management in developing countries;
• the impact of trade and debt on the environmental industry;
• environmental management and sustainable development.

Contributions on the following subjects will be especially welcome:

• public policy and legislation issues;
• the existence and extent of pollution havens;
• local drivers for environmental improvement;
• climate change and less developed countries;
• protection and trade of forests and biodiversity;
• leapfrogging technology and development;
• micro-economics of environmental management;
• theories of economic development and environmental management;
• social and ethical dimensions—in particular corporate social responsibility.

We are looking for theoretical (but applicable and relevant) papers as well as appropriate case studies. Although the deadline for the submission of abstracts has passed, readers of the Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor who would like to contribute are invited to send an abstract or outline of around 300 words before the end of December. Authors whose abstracts are accepted will then have a month to produce a full chapter. The anticipated publication date is in the spring of 1999. For editorial information, please contact: Dr Walter Wehrmeyer, Centre for Environmental Strategy, University of Surrey. Tel.: +44-1483-259 075. Fax: +44-1483-259 521. E-mail: w.wehrmeyer@surrey.ac.uk
Sample copies and contribution guidelines can be obtained from: John Stuart, Managing Editor, Greenleaf Publishing, Broom Hall, 8-10 Broomhall Road, Sheffield S10 2DR, UK. Tel.: +44-114-2663 789. Fax: +44-114-2679 403.

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Calls for participants and papers

Mother and child healthcare practices in Southeast Asia
The International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in Silang (Philippines) has scheduled a workshop for September 1999. The aim will be to produce a copyright-free publication on indigenous knowledge and practices related to mother and child healthcare in Southeast Asia. The IIRR has pioneered an especially fast and efficient way of producing information materials through the use of participatory workshops. This method has two major advantages: it reduces the total amount of time needed to develop information materials; and it profits from the expertise and resources of a wide range of participants and their organizations. The workshop also provides a forum where participants can share information and discuss new ideas. To date, IIRR has conducted some 30 workshops, which have produced information kits and manuals on a wide range of topics.
The publication will cover at least the following topics:

• indigenous knowledge as a tool for empowerment;
• the holistic approach in mother-child healthcare and child-rearing practices;
• a sample of traditional practices, selected to represent upland, lowland and coastal regions;
• how communities can make use of their own knowledge to promote healthcare and child-rearing practices;
• methods by which fieldworkers can retrieve, validate and share indigenous knowledge.

The whole process will be guided by a steering committee made up of representatives of PLAN International, UNICEF, the Department of Health in the Philippines, the Traditional Medicine Authority of the Philippines, and the Health Action Information Network, plus specialists in various fields. There will also be an advisory group.
The workshop is still in the planning stages, and participants are invited to apply. IIRR hopes to attract traditional birth attendants, traditional healers, anthropologists, sociologists, allopathic practitioners, child-development specialists, and fieldworkers. Local NGOs in China, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are especially invited to recommend participants. Papers are also welcome. Papers presented at the workshop should be based on current projects in the field; any information presented should have been tested and validated by the villagers in question.
For more information, please contact: Joy R. Caminade, Head, Publications Unit, IIRR, Y.C. James Yen Center, Biga, Silang, Cavite, Philippines. Tel.: +63-46-414-24 17. Fax: +63-46-414-24 20. E-mail: pub-iirr@cav.pworld.net.ph

Calls for contributions to a 'toolkit'

IIRR to expand on PME
Following a workshop on participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E), the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) in the Philippines is producing a 'PM&E toolkit'. IIRR invites contributions to this publication, which will complement existing resource material in the field. IIRR is also preparing the workshop proceedings for publication as a book.
As the toolkit will contain tools only, IIRR recommends that contributes be drafted as follows:
Style and content: The use of plain English, short sentences and simple language is encouraged. The text should be separated and structured through the use of headings and bullets where appropriate. The following topics might be covered:

• description of the method or 'tool';
• the resources needed, including variations or alternatives;
• the amount of time needed to use this tool;
• how to use the tool and how it can be adapted to suit other circumstances;
• implementation techniques;
• monitoring techniques;
• evaluation techniques;
• synthesis, and the lessons learned;
• observations regarding participation, group dynamics, and/or teamwork;
• any gender issues that the tool highlights;
• when and/or where the tool has been used successfully in the past;
• what the tool shows, and what is the desired and/or anticipated outcome;
• any problems that might arise as the tool is used.

These topics are only suggestions. Contributors are free to make use of them as they wish. Diagrams and other illustrations are especially welcome, since a heavily illustrated book will attract readers to the book's content. Contributions should be sent on disc as well as in hard copy.
Length: The length should be approximately five pages, including illustrations. The important thing is that authors feel that all the necessary information has been included.
Timescale: All enquirers will receive a complete and up-to-date list of the contributions already submitted or announced. Authors should send an abstract of three to four lines which briefly describes the tool they wish to write about. IIRR expects to receive first drafts by the beginning of February 1999. If this deadline is a problem, IIRR can perhaps grant an extension if it is notified in time.
Enquiries should be directed to: Ms Nilam Ashra, Editor, Publications Unit IIRR, Silang, Philippines. Fax: +63-46-414 2420. E-mail: iirr@cav.pworld.net.ph

Calls for nominations

Richard Evans Schultes Award 1999 The Richard Evans Schultes Award is presented annually by the Healing Forest Conservancy to a scientist, practitioner, or organization that has made an outstanding contribution to ethnobotany or to indigenous peoples issues related to ethnobotany. The award honours the name of Richard Evans Schultes, the Harvard ethnobotanist widely recognized as one of the most distinguished figures in the field. Schultes has published over 400 technical papers and nine books, including, with Robert Raffauf, The healing forest (1990) and Vine of the soul (1992). To date, there have been six recipients of the Schultes Award. The late Calvin R. Sperling, PhD, of the National Germplasm Resources Laboratory at the US Department of Agriculture, was recognized in 1993 for his comprehensive work as a field ethnobotanist in the preservation of genetic resources and the ethnobotany of economic plants. The 1994 Schultes Award was presented to Professor Hernando Garcia Barriga of the Universidad de Colombia in recognition of his contributions to the field, including the publication of his three-volume series Flora Medicinal de Colombia. The Schultes Award for 1995 was presented to Janis B. Alcorn, PhD, Director for Asia and the Pacific for the Biodiversity Support Program at the World Wildlife Fund in Washington, DC. For the 1996 Schultes Award, the Bribri and Cabécar people of the KéköLdi Indian Reserve in Costa Rica were recognized for their strategy to maintain their culture by enforcing territorial rights. They published a book about Bribri and Cabécar use of medicinal plants, and used the profits to purchase lands from non-Indian landholders within the boundaries of their reserve. In 1997, Professor Nancy J. Turner of the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, BC, was the recipient of the award. Specific recognition was given for her leadership in establishing partnerships with indigenous peoples of Canada so that their knowledge could be brought into discussions with the Canadian government about how best to manage the ancient, temperate forests of the Pacific Northwest. In 1998, the award was given posthumously to the late Professor D. Michael Warren, founder and director of the Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development (CIKARD) at Iowa State University. (See the notice under IK resource centres)
Each Schultes Award features a US$ 5000 cash prize donated by the Leland Fikes Foundation, Inc. Nominations for the 1999 Richard Evans Schultes Award are open until 1 May 1999. Because the Conservancy seeks balance in the geographic locations, genders and fields of study of the recipients, nominations of an indigenous people or organization active in this area are especially welcome. Readers are asked to submit nominations together with letters that bear witness to the worthiness of the proposed candidate or group. One may not nominate oneself or one's own organization.
Please send nominations to: Katy Moran, Director, The Healing Forest Conservancy, 3521 S Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007 - USA. Fax: +1-202-333 3438. E-mail: MoranHFC@aol.com

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