Indigenous knowledge belonged to indigenous peoples and any exploitation of indigenous knowledge should only be made with their free, prior and informed consent.

Commercialization of indigenous traditional knowledge

Indigenous communities are also involved in developing indigenous traditional knowledge policies.

Indigenous traditional knowledge is an essential part of indigenous health systems.

Use of indigenous knowledge in poverty reduction strategies.

IFAD also assists communities in (a) documenting, enhancing and protecting their indigenous traditional knowledge (b) revitalizing indigenous traditional knowledge systems and, where needed, blending them with modern technologies and (c) strengthening traditional knowledge for enhancing the livelihoods of indigenous peoples.

An indigenous expert from Papua New Guinea argued that culture and indigenous traditional knowledge were heritage.

Universities and the academic community should support indigenous research and the promotion of indigenous traditional knowledge.

Lack of coherent and informed national governmental policies towards indigenous peoples, and indigenous traditional knowledge in particular

This is key because of the often total ignorance of indigenous traditional knowledge within non indigenous communities.

The Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems project (LINKS) aims at fostering dialogue and understanding between indigenous knowledge holders and scientists, to empower local communities in biodiversity conservation.

Rights of ownership may be claimed in indigenous medical knowledge.

Maximum use should be made of mentorship and indigenous knowledge.

Report of the International Technical Workshop on Indigenous Traditional Knowledge

Some presentations demonstrated a resurgent interest in and influence of indigenous traditional knowledge and cultural traditions among indigenous as well as non indigenous societies and cultures.

Many countries have special indigenous education programmes that aim to respect indigenous cultures and their languages, traditions, knowledge and lifestyles.

One expert raised the issue of applying IPR concepts to indigenous knowledge.

Reluctance by some young people to learn and maintain indigenous traditional knowledge

The study should include an analysis of indigenous customary laws as a potential sui generis system for protecting indigenous traditional knowledge.

Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

(b) Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge

This included penalties for the illegal appropriation of indigenous knowledge, technology, innovations and customs.

In regard to indigenous traditional knowledge in general and its transmission in particular, the key role of indigenous women was stressed by many participants.

The overall aim of IFAD's work on indigenous traditional knowledge, including culture, is to unleash its great potential for the development of indigenous communities.

Agencies, especially UNESCO and UNICEF, and Governments should cooperate to promote the intergenerational transmission of indigenous traditional knowledge and traditional knowledge based education.

Indigenous observers also reiterated the urgent need for the adoption of the declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples as an instrument for the comprehensive protection of indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.

(c) Enabling the Forum to develop strategies to fill gaps in indigenous traditional knowledge policies.

Recognizing that organizations of indigenous people have special knowledge and understanding of the current situation of the world's indigenous people and their human rights needs,

UNDP emphasized its policy on indigenous peoples, which specifically addressed free, prior and informed consent in planning and programming, issues of resettlement, and indigenous knowledge.

The indigenous participants believed that this would require a fundamental shift in how the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations address indigenous traditional knowledge issues.

United Nations agencies dealing with the subject of indigenous traditional knowledge should increase their level of coordination with a view to developing common principles, concepts, policies and programmes on indigenous traditional knowledge, in accordance with their respective mandates.

The Permanent Forum should commission a study or studies on customary laws pertaining to indigenous traditional knowledge in order to investigate to what extent such customary laws should be reflected in international and national standards addressing indigenous traditional knowledge.

Recommendations adopted by indigenous experts at the workshop addressed to the United Nations system and other intergovernmental organizations working in the field of indigenous traditional knowledge

The LINKS project also reinforces the intergenerational transmission of indigenous traditional knowledge, including through the development of pedagogical materials and methods based on traditional knowledge.

Principal theme Indigenous peoples and the international and domestic protection of traditional knowledge 19 29 8

Tapping local and indigenous knowledge can contribute to technical designs and management arrangements suited to local circumstances.

80 indigenous men sharing their expertise, skills and knowledge, and forming networks to enhance their community work

The Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues should provide human rights related information and advice to intergovernmental organizations with respect to traditional knowledge in order to promote the development by these organizations of a better understanding for human rights related to indigenous traditional knowledge.

In Costa Rica, lack of appropriate planning in relation to the restoration of ancestral lands has provoked great difficulties for indigenous communities in relation to their indigenous traditional knowledge.

The secretariat of WIPO reported on the methodologies employed by the organization aimed at enhancing the effective involvement of indigenous peoples in its work programme on indigenous traditional knowledge.

Respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, in particular their human rights, are at the heart of their concerns about the preservation, promotion and protection of indigenous traditional knowledge.

An indigenous expert from Panama reported on cases in which genetic resources and associated indigenous traditional knowledge had been used by third parties without the consent of indigenous communities, which had not received any benefits from such exploitation.

(d) Review current national curricula and textbooks to erase culturally discriminatory materials and enhance knowledge of indigenous cultures

How should indigenous communities benefit from their contribution of traditional knowledge to conservation and sustainable use of resources?