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.

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.

Use of indigenous knowledge in poverty reduction strategies.

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.

The Forum should appeal for increased resources to enhance the activities and programmes of relevant international agencies related to indigenous traditional knowledge and for inter agency cooperation on indigenous traditional knowledge, including the development of joint indigenous traditional knowledge projects, especially local or community projects.

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

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.

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.

In order to promote a collaborative and complementary approach to indigenous traditional knowledge, to promote increased participation of indigenous representatives at traditional knowledge related meetings of the United Nations system, an enhanced understanding of indigenous issues and their possible solution regarding traditional knowledge, the Forum recommends convening a United Nations inter agency expert group meeting, with the participation of indigenous experts.

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

The central role of education in the promotion and transmission of indigenous traditional knowledge and in advocacy related to it, was also addressed by the experts. This is key because of the often total ignorance of indigenous traditional knowledge within non indigenous communities.

An indigenous expert from the Russian Federation expressed concerns about the lack of indigenous traditional knowledge in current education curricula, and suggested a need for guidelines for Member States on the protection and promotion of indigenous traditional knowledge in education, including traditional pedagogies.

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.

If so requested by the indigenous communities, United Nations agencies and intergovernmental organizations should provide direct support and assistance to them for their indigenous traditional knowledge related programmes, including for the recording and appropriate protection of indigenous traditional knowledge, taking into account their intellectual property related interests in order to prevent misappropriation of the 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

The United Nations system, other intergovernmental organizations and Governments should recognize the important role of indigenous women in transmitting, protecting, preserving, developing and promoting indigenous traditional knowledge to the younger generation by ensuring that indigenous women are actively and equitably involved in indigenous traditional knowledge programmes, policies and standard setting at local, national, regional and international levels.

(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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

Sometimes indigenous traditional knowledge had entered into the public domain without free, prior and informed consent.

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.

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.

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