Indigenous Peoples’ Knowledge Systems and Protecting Biodiversity

Undoubtedly, the knowledge of indigenous people has fed, clothed and healed the world for millennia. And this because of the caring and active relationship of indigenous peoples with nature and its biodiversity. Yet the viability of this alternative knowledge system is under grave threat by the forces of globalisation – which give primacy to trade and the western model of intellectual property rights.

This book identifies the threats and the concerns, and charts the prospects of overcoming them. It speaks through the voices of indigenous peoples from the oldest rainforest in the world. As well as through policy makers, academics, practitioners and many others.

This book – a collection of papers presented at a Conference organised by the Malaysian Indigenous Peoples Network and the Law Faculty of the University of Malaya – is timely. For the world community as well as national governments are now in the throes of a lively debate surrounding the issue of indigenous knowledge and biodiversity – at international and national fora.