naturalhabitats

BIOLOGICAL
DIVERSITY

tangible
heritage

Linking
Biological andCultural Diversity
UNESCO-SCBD
Programmemanaffectedhabitats

LAND

intangible
heritage

SCAPE

CULTURAL
DIVERSITY

KEY OBJECTIVESWith the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) acting
as global focal point for biodiversity and UNESCO acting as
global focal point for cultural diversity, the two Institutions
launched a Joint Programme in 2010 to:
1

Build bridges between ongoing work on biodiversity
and cultural diversity.

2

Promote synergies and information sharing among alreadyexisting programmes, projects and activities.

3

Further explore conceptual and methodological issues
related to the links between biological and cultural diversity
and the role of indigenous peoples and local communities
in enhancing those links.

4

Promote the collection, compilation and analysis of
information from on-the ground activities linking biologicaland cultural diversity from, among others, biosphere reserves
and World Heritage sites, and from the experiences provided
by indigenous peoples and local communities.

5

Support and foster learning networks on bio-cultural
approaches, linking grassroots and community initiatives withlocal, national, regional and global policy processes.

6Raise awareness about the importance of biological andcultural diversity in resource management and decisionmaking processes as well as for the resilience of socioecological systems.

CULTURAL PRACTICES

depend upon specificelements of biodiveristy
for their existence and expression

CULTURAL DIVERSITYBIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

diversity of knowledge
and practices,
l ways of living together,l value and belief systems,l languages,
l artistic expressions
ldiversity within species,
l between species andl of ecosystems
lEnsembles of biodiveristy
are developed, maintainedand managed by

CULTURAL GROUPS
2

KEY ACTION POINTSEngaging with multiple actors
Acting across scales

3. Raising awarenessand educating
3.1 Develop communication materials

1. Building bridges between
legal instruments
1.1 Analyze the provisions linking culturaland biological diversity under theCBD and UNESCO culture related
Conventions.
1.2 Provide recommendations for theimplementation of the interlinked
provisions in a mutually reinforcing andcoordinated manner.
1.3 Collaborate with other international
programmes and legal instruments
towards the protection of interdependent
biological and cultural diversity.

2. Building
the knowledge base
2.1 Develop interdisciplinary conceptualand methodological frameworks foraddressing the links between biologicaland cultural diversity.
2.2 Develop a set of guiding principles,including ethical principles, for future
research, management, practice andpolicy work.
2.3 Advance knowledge on the ways inwhich cultures have shaped andcontinue to shape biodiversity insustainable ways.
2.4 Synthesize and advance knowledge
on contemporary processes thatsimultaneously impact biological andcultural diversity and responses toaddress those processes and theirimpacts.
2.5 Support the development of indicatorsand other means of measuring status,trends and values of diversity.
2.6 Promote inter-cultural and interfaith dialogues on the links between
biological and cultural diversity.

and other tools to raise awareness of
the importance of the links between
biological, cultural and linguistic
diversity.
3.2 Promote and develop multilingualand intercultural education as well
as non-formal intergenerationaltransmission of knowledge on links
between biological and culturaldiversity.
3.3 Develop education kits for students
as well as local decision makers,
including in cities and urban
environments.
3.4 Promote the use of UNESCO chairs
to further study the interlinked
diversity.
3.5 Build national and local capacities
to mainstream principles
and knowledge about theinterdependence of biological andcultural diversity in sustainable
development policies.

4. Informing management
and policy
4.1 Mainstream principles

and knowledge about theinterdependence of biological andcultural diversity in the relevant
CBD and UNESCO work, includingin the management of UNESCO
biosphere reserves and World
Heritage sites through pilot projects.
4.2 Support indigenous and localcommunities to assess thepossible challenges relating toimplementation of the interlinked
provisions of the CBD and UNESCO
culture related Conventions
and make recommendations for
improving their full and effective
participation in the implementationof these provisions.

3LINKS BETWEEN BIOLOGICAL and CULTURAL DIVERSITY
Languages
and linguistic
diversity

Language is the key vehicle of knowledge. It captures, maintains and conveys
information of local territories, species, ecosystems, landscapes.
Through the richness of linguistic diversity, knowledge is developed and passed
from generation to generation.

Material
culturePeople	
   engage	
   with	   biodiversity	   through	   speciﬁc	
   objects,	   which	   can	   be	   created	   from or represent biodiversity. These objects provide valuable information on
the diverse use of biodiversity and the associated economic, social and cultural
practices and values.

Local, traditional
and indigenous
knowledge,
technology
and innovation

Local communities and indigenous peoples possess sophisticated sets ofknowledge, know-how, technologies, skills and practices related to local
biodiversity. In response to the changing environment, such knowledge isoften combined with innovation resulting from the interaction between local
biodiversity, practices, customary laws, cultural and spiritual values.

Modesofsubsistence

From	
   agriculture	   to	   ﬁsheries,	   forestry	   or	
   pastoralism,	   people	
   depend	   on	   biodiversity to meet their basic needs and earn an income. Local knowledge,
management and governance practices relating to the sustainable use of
biodiversity result from complex interactions between economic and culturalforces that drive communities’ interactions with their local environment.

Socialand economic
relationsCultural identity, social structures and economic relations are strongly linked to
local biodiversity and the relationships communities have with the surrounding
land, sea, rivers, mountains, forests, lakes, animals and plants.

Beliefsystems

The diversity of the world’s belief systems, mythologies, worldviews andcosmologies affects the ways people develop their identity and spirituality inrelation to the natural world.

ValuesCultural values of biodiversity encompass aesthetic, spiritual, recreational,educational,	   inspirational	   values.	
   They	   deﬁne	   peoples’	   relations	   to	   biodiversity	
   and	   are	   deﬁned	   by	   culturally	   grounded	   and	   often	   intergenerational	   value	   and	   belief systems.

The Joint Programme between UNESCO and the CBD Secretariat(SCBD) was developed at the International Conference on Biological andCultural Diversity, held in Montreal, Canada in 2010.
It was endorsed by UNESCO’s constituencies and welcomed by the 10th meetingof the Parties to the CBD (CBD COP 10) held in October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan(Decision X/20).
CBD COP 10 recognized the Joint Programme as a ‘useful co-ordination
mechanism to advance the implementation ofthe Convention and deepen global awarenessC O N TAC T S
of the interlinkages between cultural and biologicaldiversity’. State Parties and other relevant
Ana Persic
John Scott
UNESCOCBD Secretariat
stakeholders were invited to ‘contribute to anda.persic@unesco.org
john.scott@cbd.int
support the implementation of this joint programme’.

Tel: +1-212- 963-2007

4

Tel: +1 514 287 7042