Indigenous Knowledge and Development
Monitor, December 1998 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.
Indigenous Knowledge Resource Centres
CIRAN
CIKARD
LEAD
Centres in
- AFRICA
- ASIA
- EUROPE
- LATIN AMERICA
- MIDDLE EAST
- NORTH AMERICA
CIRAN
Centre for International Research and Advisory Networks Mr G.W. von Liebenstein,
Director Nuffic-CIRAN P.O. Box 29777, 2502 LT The Hague The Netherlands. Tel.:
+31-70-4260321 Fax: +31-70-4260329 E-mail: ciran@nuffic.nl
ikdm@nuffic.nl http://www.nuffic.nl/ciran/index.html
In the previous issue of the Monitor we informed you of CIRAN's co-operation with UNESCO to compile 'best practices' that illustrate how indigenous knowledge (IK) can contribute to development. UNESCO will incorporate these into its MOST (Management of Social Transformation) database. In July 1998 we sent out a trial questionnaire to a sample of respondents, whom we would like to thank for their prompt response and valuable comments. The final version of the questionnaire was sent to a first selection of 50 persons in October 1998.
CIRAN is a partner in the Indigenous Knowledge Initiative headed by the World Bank. The
Bank sees indigenous knowledge as a valuable resource that can be used to improve the
impact of development assistance. The Bank's Mr Reinhard Woytek (of the Knowledge and
Learning Centre, Africa Region) contacted CIRAN to ask what role the IK resource centres
might play in the Bank's initiative. The Bank wishes to learn from the experience the
centres have gained in identifying, validating, recording, documenting, exchanging and
disseminating indigenous knowledge and practices. CIRAN welcomed the initiative, and
director Mr Von Liebenstein wrote an introductory letter that the World Bank sent to
various centres in Africa along with a questionnaire asking some basic questions about the
centres' operations and networks.
World Bank president Mr James D. Wolfensohn meets CIRAN director Guus von Liebenstein
at the Knowledge Fair in Washington D.C. (USA), October 1998. Looking on is Mr J. Naidoo,
minister of Post, telecommunications and broadcasting, South Africa.
Also within the context of the World Bank IK
initiative, Mr Von Liebenstein visited the Knowledge Fair in Washington DC (USA), which
was held in October to coincide with the annual meeting of the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund. It was an excellent opportunity to meet with the staff of the
Knowledge and Learning Centre and with others at the World Bank who support the
initiative. It was suggested that Mr Woytek visit a number of IK resource centres in
Africa in October-November 1998, and that the CIRAN director accompany him on this trip.
Unfortunately, schedules could not be coordinated since Mr Von Liebenstein had already
accepted an invitation to attend an ILO-INDISCO workshop in the Philippines. Instead, Mr
Woytek visited CIRAN in November, after his visits to the IK resource centres in Cameroon,
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Tanzania and Kenya. Mr Woytek and the CIRAN staff discussed other
possible ways of fostering the integration of indigenous knowledge into development
efforts.
At the invitation of Mr Huseyin Polat (Geneva), coordinator of the ILO-INDISCO
programme, Mr Von Liebenstein took part in the ILO-INDISCO donor consultation and planning
workshop, held 4-8 November 1998 in Davao City (the Philippines). He presented a paper:
'Incorporating indigenous knowledge in development: present situation and future
prospects for donors and indigenous peoples'. During the workshop, delegates from
India, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines reported on the ongoing ILO-INDISCO projects.
The delegations also played a crucial role in drafting an action plan to assess the
situation in their respective countries and then to identify activities that should be
undertaken for the short, medium and long term.
On 8 October 1998, the editor participated in a seminar on The role of media in Africa, which was organized by the Africa Studies Centre in Leiden (the Netherlands). (See report Conferences)
top of the pageCIKARD
Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development Dr Norma
Wolff, Associate Director 319 Curtiss Hall Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 50011, USA.
Tel.: +1-515-294 9503. Fax: +1-515-294 1708. E-mail: cikard@iastate.edu
http://www.iitap.iastate.edu/cikard/cikard.html
On 17 July 1998, CIKARD was pleased to receive the news that 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, was named recipient of the 1998 Richard Evans Schultes Award. The 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 issues related to ethnobotany and indigenous peoples. The International Nominating Committee for the award is chaired by Michael J. Balick, Ph.D., Philecology Curator of Economic Botany, and director of the New York Botanical Garden's Institute of Economic Botany. The following is a quote from the press release announcing the posthumous award: "An anthropologist, Warren pioneered the multidisciplinary field of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) relating to health, nutrition and agriculture, making CIKARD the prototype for the IKS Centers now in some 33 countries worldwide. The Indigenous Knowledge and Development Monitor that he was closely associated with from its inception, links the growing global network. Through his research, Dr Warren succeeded in demonstrating the rational, health-promoting basis for African ethnomedicine, particularly that of Yoruba knowledge and beliefs regarding health. His extensive contributions to IKS are reflected in the 31 books and manuals he authored or co-authored, as well as numerous book chapters, articles and reports. The US$ 5000 that accompanies the Schultes Award will be used to continue Dr Warren's work at CIKARD."
CIKARD's interim director, Dr Norma H. Wolff, reports that some of the award money will be used to buy a new computer and accessories. The rest will help to cover operating costs. CIKARD is not supported financially by Iowa State University, so the award will be a great help, says Dr Wolff. CIKARD is currently revising and updating its Internet site. The site is still fully functional, providing users with a searchable database, online publications and links to other IK centres around the world. CIKARD's IK database, where users can locate references to important research materials through keyword searching, continues to be updated weekly. The centre wants to add yet more links to relevant websites, and therefore invites the owners and managers of such sites to contact it. Individuals and groups who are currently engaged in IK research are also invited to send information about their activities which can be incorporated into a 'current research' feature on the Internet site. In August 1998, Justin Kehoe joined CIKARD as a graduate assistant responsible for the daily work of cataloguing all the articles, pamphlets, books and documents on indigenous knowledge and agricultural development that are sent to the centre. Mr Kehoe then puts abstracts on the Internet site. Please note that CIKARD now has a new e-mail address: cikard@iastate.edu Dr Wolff can still be reached at: nhwolff@iastate.edu
top of the pageLEAD
Leiden Ethnosystems And Development Programme Dr L. Jan Slikkerveer, Director
Institute of Cultural and Social Studies University of Leiden P.O. Box 9555, 2300 RB
Leiden The Netherlands. Tel.: +31-71-527 3469. Fax: +31-71-527 3619. E-mail: slikkerveer@rulfsw.leidenUniv.nl
In June 1998, Dr Burama K. Sagna of the United Nations African Institute for Economic
Development and Planning (IDEP) in Dakar (Senegal) visited LEAD.
In July, LEAD's
director Dr L.J. Slikkerveer participated in the second World Forest Forum, which was
organized by the Alfred Töpfer Academie für Naturschutz as part of the international
series known as Forests in Focus. The forum was held in conjunction with EXPO 2000 in
Hanover (Germany). Its theme was 'Biodiversity: Treasures in the world's
forests'. Dr Slikkerveer presented a paper during the session on the cultural and
spiritual value of biodiversity, which was chaired by Dr D.A. Posey from the University of
Oxford (UK). Dr Slikkerveer's paper was entitled 'Traditional ecological
knowledge: Peoples, forests and plants'. Other presentations included case studies
from Thailand, Amazonia, West Africa and Eastern Europe.
In August 1998, LEAD received a
small delegation from Ethiopia, including two colleagues from Addis Ababa University. They
came to talk about perhaps collaborating with LEAD in research on traditional agriculture
and ethnobotany in eastern Africa.
Mr Yeshanew Gheneti of LEAD paid a working visit to
Nigeria in September. Also in September, Dr Slikkerveer participated in the workshop on
Indigenous knowledge systems and development, which had been jointly organized by LEAD and
the Indonesian Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (INRIK). The workshop was
sponsored by the Office for International Cooperation of Leiden University (the
Netherlands). Dr Slikkerveer presented two papers: 'Growing recognition of indigenous
knowledge systems in the context of development: A new challenge for Indonesia', and
'Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK): Practical implications from the African
experience'.
Dr Gerda Rossel and Ms Almaz Negash (an Ethiopian PhD student) organized
a colloquium on Ensete, which was held at Wageningen Agricultural University (the
Netherlands) on 12 June 1998. Among the speakers were Dr Gerrit Dimmendaal of the
Department of African Languages, Leiden University; Mr Graziano Sava of the Institute of
Arabic and African Studies, University of Naples (Italy); Dr Christian Mulder of the
Department of Palaeobotany, Utrecht University (the Netherlands); as well as three
speakers from Wageningen Agricultural University: Ms Almaz Negash of the Department of
Household Studies; Mr Admasu Tsegaye of the Department of Agronomy; and Dr Dick Peters of
the Department of Virology.
At present, Ms Rossel is conducting a literature study,
building a database, and writing a proposal for a multidisciplinary research project
entitled Ensete: wild, useful and cultivated. Readers with information about the
occurrence and use of this banana-like plant (Ensete spp., Musaceae) in Asia and Africa
are invited to contact Ms Rossel at LEAD, either at the above address or by e-mail (Grossel@Rullet.Leidenuniv.nl). Please
include the local names by which the plant is known.
Burkina Faso
BURCIK
Burkina Faso Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (Centre Burkinabè de
Recherche sur les Pratiques et Savoirs Paysans) Dr Basga E. Dialla, Director
(Correspondent) INNS, B.P. 5154, Ouagadougou 02 Burkina Faso. Tel.: +226-360 746. Fax:
+226-315 003.
Cameroon
CIKO
Cameroon Indigenous Knowledge Organisation Prof. C.N. Ngwasiri, Director
(Correspondent) P.O. Box 8437, Yaoundé Cameroon. Tel./fax: +237-31-80 76 E-mail: ngwasiri@ciko.sdncmr.undp.org
CIKO is happy to announce the opening of an office in Yaoundé. It is hoped that with
this new office, communication will no longer be a problem. The head office in Buea will
of course continue to function. Its address is P.O. Box 170, Buea, Cameroon, and the
telephone is +237-32-21 81.
CIKO director Professor C.N. Ngwasiri recently carried out a
study for the World Wildlife Fund under the title Land tenure and resource access within
some WWF Cameroon conservation sites: An analysis of the legal context and traditional
tenure systems. The study involved fieldwork in a Montane forest and in southeast
Cameroon. The indigenous people who live in this area are the Baka.
The CIKO director is a
member of the Biosafety Committee which was created recently within the Cameroonian
Ministry of the Environment and Forestry. The Committee is charged with the study of
issues related to implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity, which Cameroon has
ratified. The same ministry also recently appointed Professor Ngwasiri to be its
consultant on the subject of indigenous knowledge. The ministry held an international
workshop in Yaoundé from 25 to 28 October 1998. Professor Ngwasiri participated in the
workshop and presented a paper on how the modification of living organisms is threatening
indigenous practices in Cameroon.
Ethiopia
INRESC
Indigenous Resource Study Centre Dr Tesema Ta'a, Director (Correspondent)
College of Social Sciences Addis Ababa University P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Tel./Fax: +251-1-550655.
Ghana
CECIK
Centre for Cosmovisions and Indigenous Knowledge Dr David Millar, Director
(Correspondent) c/o T.A.A.P, P.O. Box 42 Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana. Tel.: +233-71-22
000. E-mail: aispcg@ncs.com.gh (attention Dr David
Millar)
GHARCIK
Ghana Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr M. Bonsu, Interim Director
(Correspondent) School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Ghana. Tel.:
+233-42-2240-9/2480-9. Telex: +233-42-2552 UCC GH
Kenya
KENRIK
Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr Mohamed Isahakia,
Correspondent The National Museums of Kenya P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi Kenya. Tel.:
+254-2-742 131. Fax: +254-2-741 424. E-mail: nmk@AfricaOnline.co.ke
Madagascar
MARCIK
Madagascar Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Ms Juliette Ratsimandrava
(Correspondent) c/o Centre d'Information et de Documentation Scientifique et
Technique B.P. 6224, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. Fax: +261-2-32123/20422.
Nigeria
ARCIK
African Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Prof. Adedotun Phillips,
Director-General NISER (Correspondent) Prof. S.O. Titilola, Research Coordinator Nigerian
Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) PMB 5 – UI Post Office, Ibadan
Nigeria. Tel.: +234-22-400 500. Fax: +234-22-416 129 or +234-1-614 397. E-mail: arcik@niser.org.ng
The research coordinator of ARCIK, Professor Tunji Titilola, left the centre for about a year to take a sabbatical leave at Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan (USA). He will teach courses on topics related to sustainable development in Africa. Professor Titlola can be reached at Kalamazoo College, 1200 Academy Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49006, USA. Tel.: +1-616- 337 7311. Fax: +1-616-337 5740. E-mail: titilola@kzoo.edu
While Professor Titilola is away, ARCIK will be headed by the director-general of NISER, Professor Adedotun Phillips, who will be assisted by the centre's staff.
CIKFIM
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge in Farm and Infrastructure Management Dr G.B.
Ayoola, Director (Correspondent) Centre for Food and Agricultural Strategy University of
Agriculture Private Mail Bag 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria. Tel.: + 234-44-533 204. Fax:
+234-44-310 20 (box 5).
CIKPREM
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge on Population Resource and Environmental
Management Prof. D.S. Obikeze (Correspondent) Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology
University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. NIRCIK Nigerian Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr
J.O. Olukosi, Coordinator (Correspondent) Institute for Agricultural Research Ahmadu Bello
University PMB 1044, Zaria, Nigeria. Tel.: +234-69-50 571-4 Ext. 4322 Fax: +234-69-50
891/50 563.
YORCIK
Yoruba Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Prof. Layi Egunjobi, Coordinator
Dr Bolanle Wahab, Correspondent Centre for Urban and Regional Planning University of
Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. E-mail: egunjobi.wahab@ibadan.skannet.com
Sierra Leone
CIKFAB
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Fourah Bay College Dr Dominic T. Ashley,
Director (Correspondent) Department of Sociology, Fourah Bay College University of Sierra
Leone, Freetown Sierra Leone. Tel.: +232-22-7387.
South Africa
SARCIK
South African Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Alwyn Dippenaar,
Executive Director (Correspondent) The Institute for Indigenous Theory and Practice P.O.
Box 2355, Somerset West 7129 South Africa. Tel.: +27-21-854 3299. E-mail: alewijn@iafrica.com
Tanzania
MARECIK
Maasai Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr Nathan Ole Lengisugi
(Correspondent) Simanjiro Animal Husbandry Vocational Training Centre (AHVTC) P.O. Box
3084, Arusha, Tanzania. Fax: +255-57-8907.
Bangladesh
BARCIK
Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Sukanta Sen, Coordinator
Prof. M.I. Zuberi, Correspondent 3/7, Block D, Lalmatia, Dhaka - 1207 Bangladesh. Tel.:
+880-2-323 622. Fax: +880-2-815 548. E-mail: iard@bdonline.com
The Indigenous Knowledge Network of Bangladesh (IKNOB) was formed at a recent meeting
held at the IARD office in Dhaka. The principal objectives of IKNOB are 'to promote
the use of indigenous knowledge (IK) in development work and to popularize an
understanding of IK as having value and validity in the contemporary world'. The
meeting was attended by researchers, lecturers, and development practitioners representing
a number of universities, research institutes and NGOs. Seven of these representatives
were appointed to an executive committee which will run the network's activities for
the next two years:
To achieve its aims, IKNOB will engage in the following activities:
The Bangladesh Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (BARCIK) at IARD will act as secretariat for IKNOB. The network has appealed to all national and international bodies and to individual researchers to send their publications, reports and papers to BARCIK, which will collect and disseminate them. The second issue of Grassroots Voice was published in August 1998. It contains four main articles: one on the use of IK for the sustainable development of farm forestry in Bangladesh; one on conflicts and complementarities between IK and agricultural research; one on indigenous seed storage methods and women's participation; and one entitled 'Developing medicinal plants based on rural enterprises in Bangladesh: learning from the Grameen Bank experience'. Grassroots Voice is published four times a year. ISSN registration has been applied for (in France). Subscriptions cost BDT 200 a year in Bangladesh, US$ 20 abroad. Payments may be made through a crossed demand draft payable to Integrated Action Research and Development - IARD, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
India
CARIKS
Centre for Advanced Research on Indigenous Knowledge Systems Dr Jan Brouwer,
Director Ms S.L. Meenu, Correspondent P.O. Box 1, Saraswathipuram Mysore - 570 009, India.
Tel.: +91-821-542 467. Fax: +91-821-542 459.
CIKIB
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge on Indian Bioresources Dr S.K. Jain, Director
(Correspondent) c/o Institute of Ethnobiology National Botanical Research Institute P.O.
Box 436, Lucknow - 2260 01, India. Tel.: +91-522-224 556 Fax: +91-522-282 849. CIKIHR
Centre for Indigenous Knowledge of Indian Herbal Resources Dr N.C. Shah, Coordinator Dr
A.S. Bhadauria, Correspondent MS-768, Sector-D, Aliganj, Lucknow - 226 024, India. Tel.:
+91-522-326 489. Fax: +91-522-387 711. E-mail: iillko@lw1.vsnl.net.in
Indonesia
INRIK
Indonesian Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge Prof. Kusnaka Adimihardja,
Director (Correspondent) UPT Inrik-Unpad Ruang K-3, JI. Dipati Ukur 35 Bandung 40132, West
Java, Indonesia. Tel./fax: +62-22-250 8592. E-mail: inrik@melsa.net.id
http://www.melsa.net.id~inrik
Professor Kusnaka has been participating for several months in a biodiversity and
medicinal plant research group, together with researchers from Universitas Padjadajaran
and Institute Teknologi Bandung. The group is currently concentrating on the plant species
Curcuma. Varieties of Curcuma are used as traditional medicines by many indigenous peoples
of Indonesia. The research group is planning a multidisciplinary study of the indigenous
knowledge, geographic distribution, habitat, species relationships, genetics, and active
ingredients of the various species of genus Curcuma found in Indonesia.
On 14 September
1998, INRIK hosted a one-day seminar under the title Indigenous knowledge systems and
development. The topics of presentations included the evolution of indigenous knowledge
research; indigenous knowledge-based agriculture technologies in Africa (a video film);
medicinal plants research in Indonesia; community participation in the cultivation of
traditional medicinal plants; and the role of ethnobotany in the documentation of
indigenous knowledge.
The seminar was attended by 42 representatives of NGOs, universities
and government agencies on the island of Java. The speakers were Dr L. Jan Slikkerveer
from LEAD (the Netherlands); Dr Sidik, Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, Padjadjaran University
(UNPAD); Dr Aseng Ramlan, Department of Biology, UNPAD; Professor D. Schmidt-Vogt,
Heidelberg University (Germany); Professor Ervizal Zuhud, head of the Laboratory of Plant
Conservation, Faculty of Forestry, Institute Pertanian Bogor, Bogor; and Arif Aliadi,
coordinator, Development and Training Program, The Indonesian Tropical Institute, Bogor.
The seminar was sponsored by the Office for International Cooperation of Leiden University
(the Netherlands) and Padjadjaran University. The proceedings will be published later this
year.
In September Professor Kusnaka took part in a seminar in Bogor entitled Property
rights in forest management. Discussion focused on the role of 'rights' in
Indonesia's changing policy environment regarding forests; on support for the
development of local systems of management, and on the need for greater local
participation in management.
In October, INRIK began a project to map the traditional
lands of the Kasepuhan people (Ciptarasa) in the Halimun Mountain area of West Java. The
Kasepuhan have lived and farmed in the mountain region for centuries. The aim of the
mapping project is to clarify land-managment issues that affect the Kasepuhan, whose
traditional lands overlap with areas for which other players also have plans: the
Perhutani, the national forestry company, and the Mount Halimun National Park designated
in 1992.
INRIK recently became a member of the users' advisory group (UAG) on
biodiversity in Indonesia. The aim of UAG is to make information on biodiversity in
Indonesia more accesible, and to foster an exchange of information between the providers
of information on biodiversity and the users. For more information on the UAG, please
contact: UAG, GEF--Biodiversity Collections Project, Puslitbang Biologi - LIPI Jl. Ir. H.
Juanda 18 Bogor - 16002, Indonesia. Tel./fax: +62-251-334 839. E-mail: ariebud@indo.net.id
Philippines
PHIRCSDIK
Philippine Resource Center for Sustainable Development and Indigenous
Knowledge Dr Rogelio C. Serrano, National Coordinator (Correspondent) Philippine Council
for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD) Paseo de
Valmayor P.O. Box 425, Los Banos, Laguna The Philippines. Tel.: +63-94-500 15 to 500 20
Fax: +63-94-536-0132/0016 Email: rserrano@ultra.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph
REPPIKA
Regional Program for the Promotion of Indigenous Knowledge in Asia
International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR) Silang, Cavite 4118, The
Philippines. Tel.: +63-969-9451 or +63-2-582659 Fax: +63-2-522 2494. E-mail: iirr@phil.gn.apc.org http://www.cav.pworld.net.ph/~iirr/
REPPIKA is housed within the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR),
the Philippines. The IIRR not only operates in Asia, but also has offices in Ethiopia,
Ecuador and Kenya. Indigenous knowledge (IK) is a theme that permeates all of the
IIRR's work; all its offices now promote IK. The only problem at the moment is that
the IIRR does not hav
In October 1998, the IIRR held an international workshop on research
partnerships, with the help of support from several NGOs (GTZ/BEAF, MISEREOR and the CGIAR
NGO Committee). Twelve case studies were selected for presentation. They represented 12
countries of Africa, Latin America and Asia. An attempt was made to draw lessons from the
case studies for the benefit of policy-makers and planners who wish to encourage
partnerships between NGOs and research institutes for purposes of agricultural research.
The case studies and results of the workshop will be published early next year.
IIRR is
now for the first time offering an international course in participatory monitoring and
evaluation (PME) in the Philippines. In 1997, a regional course on PME was conducted in
Kenya. In Quito (Ecuador), a much wider range of customized courses on this subject have
been offered over the last three years. The Philippines course has benefitted considerably
from insights gained at the international conference on PME held in November 1997 in
Silang (the Philippines).
Another new international IIRR course will focus on the use of
participatory approaches in local government planning. It will feature the Philippine
experience, which is considered quite innovative and has already been institutionalized.
Course participants will travel to local municipalities, where they can see first-hand how
decentralization is taking place in the Philippines, and how participatory approaches and
other people-centered approaches are being used.
With support from the IDRC, CIDA and the
Dutch government, the IIRR has produced a new 'tool kit' featuring participatory
methods for the management of coastal resources. The kit was produced in collaboration
with a number of major players in this field, and incorporates experiences from India,
Indonesia and the Philippines. The kit is available from IIRR Philippines and costs US$ 10
plus postage.
The IIRR's Africa office, based in Nairobi, recently produced a
handbook on sustainable agriculture for Eastern and Southern Africa. It is based on
experiences in the region. (For more information, please contact fax number +254-2-448
148; or e-mail iirraro@form-net.com).
In Latin
America, the IIRR is talking with the Academy of Educational Development about holding a
workshop on participatory methods in the field of health, and producing a workshop
publication. The IIRR office in Quito will organize the workshop, which will be directed
towards the Spanish-speaking world. Other potential sponsors are also being approached.
Sri Lanka
SLARCIK
Sri Lanka Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Prof. R. Ulluwishewa,
Director (Correspondent) University of Sri Jayewardenapura Forestry Building, Nugegoda Sri
Lanka. Tel.: +94-1-852 028/865178. Fax: +94-1-852 604. E-mail: rohana@sjp.ac.lk
Georgia
GERCIK
Georgia Resource Center for Indigenous Knowledge D. Kirvalidze,
Director/Coordinator Dr D. Kikodze, Correspondent Institute of Botany Georgian Academy of
Sciences Kodjorl schosse #1, 380007 Tbilisi, Georgia. Tel.: +995-32-222 969/988276. Fax:
+49-51-518 633. E-mail: dato@botany.kheta.ge
Greece
ELLRIK
Elliniko Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr C. Lionis, Coordinator
(Correspondent) Medical School, Department of Social Medicine University of Crete P.O. Box
1393, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. Tel.: +30-81-394 621. Fax: +30-81-542 120. E-mail: lionis@fortezza.cc.ucr.gr
Russia
RURCIK
Russian Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr Yevgeny Fetisov, Director
(Correspondent) EkoNiva P.O. Box 1, Nemchinovka-1, Moscow Region Russia 143013. Tel.:
+7-095-591-8487. Fax: +7-095-591-8275. E-mail: 100630.157@compuserve.com
Brazil
BRARCIK
Brazilian Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Dr A.J. Cancian, Director
(Correspondent) UNESP, Dept. Biologia 14870.000 Jaboticabal, SP Brazil. Tel.: +55-163-232
500. Fax: +55-163-224 275. E-mail: brarcik@jab000.unesp.ansp.br
Mexico
RIDSCA
Mexican Research, Teaching and Service Network on Indigenous Knowledge (Red de
Investigacion, Docencia y Servicio en Conocimientos Autoctonos) Dr Antonio Macías-López,
Coordinator (Correspondent) Colegio de Postgraduados Campus Puebla Apartado Postal l-12
C.P. 72130 Col. La Libertad, Puebla, Pue. Mexico. Tel.: +52-22-851 442/851 448/851 447.
Fax: +52-22-851 444. E-mail: mantonio@colpos.colpos.mx
Urugay
URURCIK
Uruguayan Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge Pedro de Hegedüs,
Coordinator (Correspondent) CEDESUR P.O. Box 20.201 Sayago, Montevideo 12.900 Uruguay.
Tel.: +5-982-350 634. Fax: +5-982-913 780. E-mail: dgsa@chasque.apc.org
Venezuela
VERSIK
Venezuelan Resource Secretariat for Indigenous Knowledge Dr Consuelo Quiroz,
National Coordinator (Correspondent) Centre for Tropical Alternative Agriculture and
Sustainable Development (CATADI) University of The Andes, Núcleo 'Rafael Range'
Apartado Postal # 22 Trujillo 3102, Estado Trujillo, Venezuela. Tel.: +58-72-721 672. Fax:
+58-72-362 177. E-mail: consuelo@cantv.net
Please note that VERSIK's national coordinator has a new e-mail address: consuelo@cantv.net
top of the pageIran
RRC
Rural Research Centre Iran Dr Mohammed H. Emadi, Deputy Head Seyed Babak Moosavi,
Correspondent Ministry of Jihad P.O. Box 14155-6197 Teheran, Iran Tel.: +98-21-889 7197.
Fax: +98-21-654 152. E-mail: rrciri@neda.net
The seminar which the Rural Resource Centre Iran (RRC) hosted on 14 April 1998 under
the title Indigenous knowledge: research and application for sustainable development was
mentioned briefly in the July issue of the Monitor. A seminar report recently became
available in English. The following is a summary.
The speakers at the seminar were Dr
Mohammad H. Emadi, deputy head of RRC, and Mr Esfandyar Abbasi, a researcher at the
centre. Dr Emadi dealt with some of the theoretical aspects of indigenous knowledge (IK).
(See also his contribution to the discussion on the definition of IK, p. 16.) Mr Abbasi
proposed IK as an indispensable resource for sustainable development, in traditional and
industrial societies alike. The seminar finished with discussion among the audience.
Dr
Emadi ended his presentation by saying that the wisdom and viewpoint of IK is already
affecting our thinking and practice in research and extension. There is a growing tendency
towards participatory methods in research, and towards needs-based extension activities
for rural development. One of the new projects at Jihad tries to combine research and
extension by establishing a local 'knowledge house', a two-way communications
bridge between RRC and the village. Here, the villagers can have as much access to IK and
SK (scientific knowledge) from other parts of Iran as Jihad researchers have to the IK of
the village and the surrounding areas.
Mr Abbasi said that in this 'Information
Age' the value of information, both as a resource and commodity, is undeniable. But
the intrusion of commercial interests in scientific research has caused confusion.
Electronic databases and networks are filled with many conflicting 'scientific'
reports. One can even speak of 'information pollution'. Back in the mid-1980s,
for example, several reports in CAB (an agricultural database) described a new disease.
These early reports revealed the cause to be organophosphate pesticides and the animal
cannibalism forced on cattle through protein supplements made from slaughterhouse refuse.
These claims were quickly overshadowed by a tremendous volume of contrary reports, which
announced the pesticides and protein supplements to be safe. Only ten years later did the
'mad cow disease' epidemic in Europe show how correct those early reports had
been. In other words, 'scientific' reports should be approached with caution.
Indigenous knowledge, by contrast, has usually passed the test of time for proven
effectiveness and the absence of undesirable effects. Older local people should be seen as
walking oral libraries. What they know is not preserved in books or on tape, but is
encoded in local practices of a cultural and economic nature. As these practices are
passed on to younger generations, the oral libraries are maintained. Sustainable
development as regards human resources presents a truly parallel case.
Mr Abbasi ended by
citing some examples of the wider acceptance of IK in the global North and West. He
referred to the Los Angeles Ecovillage (USA) where--three miles from downtown Los
Angeles—people have re-adopted traditional practices in order to provide themselves
with organic foods, housing, and cleaner, greener and safer streets. The open discussion
elicited some interesting personal experiences.
Canada
CTK
Centre for Traditional Knowledge Edmund Gus, Manager Alan Emery, Correspondent Box
3443, Stn 'D', Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1P 6P4. Tel.: +1-613-566 4751. Fax:
+1-613-566 4748. E-mail: aemery@istar.ca
United States of America
ICIK
Interinstitutional Consortium for Indigenous Knowledge Ladi Semali, Director
(Correspondent) The Pennsylvania State University 254 Chambers Building University Park,
PA 16802, USA Tel.: +1-814-865 6565. Fax: +1-814-863 7602. E-mail: lms11@psuvm.psu.edu http://www.ed.psu.edu/ci/ICIK/index.html
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