Diversity and Climate Change on Sacred Land. What can we learn from Aboriginal people? Bas Verschuuren LA13, Monday September 28th, 2009, 20.00hrs Around the world nature is being held sacred by indigenous people. This unique reverence of nature has led to the protection of mountains, forests and rivers. In cases these sacred places form socially protected networks of nature that complement official national parks. In Australia alone, the creation of Indigenous Protected Areas has led to a nearly 25% expansion of the National Reserve System and to a lot more… Indigenous Australians are managing their lands based on a fusion of modern conservation techniques and cultural methods foretold by the world’s oldest tradition of on song, dance and art. What are the linkages that bind this rich culture to a biologically diverse environment? What lessons can be learned for adapting to climate change and finding sustainable lifestyles? Based on field experience in North East Arnhem Land, Australia and several case studies from around the world Bas Verschuuren will present some film clips and talk about why diversity matters for the conservation of sacred land. After graduating and working with Wageningen University Bas Verschuuren works as researcher and project coordinator with EarthCollective. With IUCN Bas is developing www.culturalvalues.org and he is the Co-chair of the Specialist Group on Cultural and Spiritual Values of Protected Areas. Bas is currently working on a book about sacred natural sites and the conservation of biological and cultural diversity. info: rob.vanhaarlem@wur.nl