Biodiversity Conservation and the Health and Well-being of Indigenous Peoples 
Creators: Parlee, Brenda
Publisher: name: University of Alberta Library
Year: 2020

<p>NFRF-T LOI awarded in 2020: The scope of the project is novel in its combined concern with the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and the conservation of biodiversity; it is also unique in its intention to build capacity within Indigenous communities to document and mobilize knowledge about biodiversity-well-being in ways that are recognized by regional-national-global institutions of biodiversity conservation. The research project was defined in collaboration with Indigenous organizations and partners in Canada and globally. We propose a place-based participatory approach that allows for capacity-building, evidence-based research, knowledge mobilization and action in key regions globally. Led by Indigenous scholars and an Indigenous Advisory Council, the research team will engage in collaborative community-based research within Canada and five other global hubs. Building from the successes of existing networks in Canada and elsewhere (e.g., Tracking Change), the project team will draw on expertise and tools from across the tri-councils to document and mobilize knowledge. The foundation of the research approach and anticipated outcome will be holistic and based on concepts from Indigenous knowledge that are inherently interdisciplinary. <br>
OBJECTIVES:<br>
CAPACITY BUILDING: a) Build capacity within Indigenous and local communities to document, share and apply their own knowledge in ways that are culturally meaningful and socio-politically relevant to issues of biodiversity conservation within their territories; b) Nurture the development/rediscovery of Indigenous knowledge and management systems so as to ensure biodiversity conservation contributes to well-being.<br>
EVIDENCE-BASED RESEARCH: c) Build from the significant body of work related to common pool resources, community-based resource management and Indigenous-led conservation, to carry out evidence-based research aimed at determining &quot;design principles&quot; (best/wise practices) that detail, where and how, biodiversity conservation and well-being of Indigenous communities are interconnected; d) Explore how biodiversity is a protective factor and/or determinant of well-being and cultural security and continuity for Indigenous peoples and local communities.<br>
POLICY TRANSFORMATION: Local—e) Create tools and models of best/wise practices that can be used by other communities to assess, track and inform decision-making; f) Contribute to intergenerational knowledge sharing and educational outcomes within communities to improve well-being and cultural continuity. Regional-Global—Transform the processes and institutions that are engaged in national-global biodiversity conservation (i.e., Conventional Biological Diversity) such that Indigenous knowledge and the voices of Indigenous and local peoples are foregrounded in decision-making. This will be achieved in the short term by; g) Creating culturally appropriate indicators and models about the relationship between biodiversity-well-being; and h) Creating principles and platforms (i.e., ethical space) that generate social and institutional learning within NGOs, governments and the public.</p>