May Hishuk-Ish Tsawalk… Everything is one everything is connected. The theme of the 12 International Conference for Ethnobiologists reflects the philosophy of the local Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations at Tofino, Vancouver Island in Canada. It also resonates with the need for integrating different worldviews, values and perceptions which is one of CVNI’s main aims.

From 6-14 May CVNI will be participating in several workshops, presentations and sessions prior and during the conference. Recognition of the central role of Indigenous peoples in all global, regional, and local processes is a founding element of the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE).

During the pre-conference Community Conservation workshop CVNI and Pronatura will be participating and bringing Mexican experiences into the mix. Sponsored by the Global Diversity Fund this workshop will explore international and national policies, contemporary concepts and exemplary case studies of community conservation. The work on sacred natural sites in Mexico’s North West states of Sinaloa, Sonora and Chihuahua as well as in South Western Oaxaca will be reflected upon by a broad range of participants from many different cultural backgrounds and guaranty a rich learning experience.

AT the conference CVNI will be presenting "Indigenous Perceptions of Environmental Change in Coastal Zone Management in North East Arnhem Land Australia”. In the session of “Integrating worldviews in conservation II”, CVNI will share some of the lessons learned from EarthCollective’s experiences whilst working with Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporations about the development of Fisheries Guidance and Sacred Sites Management. Dhimurru recently published and started the implementation of a set of cross-cultural guidelines for recreational fishers.

Another session at the conference which offers the stage to sacred sites custodians is that organised by the IUCN CSVPA (CVNI is a CSVOA Initiative) and the Sacred Land Film Project. The session will facilitate cross cultural learning for recognition, rights, protection and conservation of sacred natural sites.

In the near future we will be posting more news and links to resources on CVNI’s experiences at the conference.

Resources:

ISE: http://www.tbgf.org/ice/home

Global Biodiversity Fund: http://www.globaldiversityfund.net

Pronatura Mexico: http://www.pronatura.org.mx/

Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation: http://www.dhimurru.com.au/