Workshop on The Importance of Sacred Natural Sites for Biodiversity Conservation : Workshop on The Importance of Sacred Natural Sites for Biodiversity Conservation Kunming (17-18 Feb., 2003) & Xishuangbanna (19-20 Feb., 2003)
Yunnan, China
Slide2 : Organized by
UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Programme
In collaboration with
CAS (Chinese Academy of Sciences)’s
Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden
Kunming Institute of Botany
the Chinese National Committee for the Man and Biosphere
Support provided by
UNESCO-MAB
LINKS
IUCN
WWF-Mexico
UNESCO Offices in Beijing, Jakarta & New Delhi.
Slide3 : Xishuangbanna
Main objectives : Main objectives to address, at the interface of biological and cultural diversity, the basis and methodology for comparative, inter-regional collaboration on biodiversity and environmental conservation based on culturally important areas, and in particular, sacred natural sites (SNS).
Structure : Structure paper presentation & discussion;
SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunity, Threats) analysis;
field trip to Xishuangbanna Biosphere Reserve;
consultation on creation of an international network on SNS for biodiversity conservation;
suggestions on future steps of the workshop.
Participants : Participants participated by 26 delegates from Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, North America and Europe, with:
13 participants from different parts of China
4 PhD students as observers from Kunming took part in the workshop in the first two days sessions of the workshop in Kunming
Workshop papers and discussions : Workshop papers and discussions Specific case studies on SNS were presented from Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Mongolia and Nepal.
Several of the SNS mentioned had a legally protected area status (including biosphere reserve status) while others were solely protected because of their “sacred” status.
differences are apparent throughout the world’s regions, similarities appear with regard to the origins, status, conservation and management of sacred natural sites clearly demonstrating that sacred natural sites play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation. Workshop Activity
Workshop papers and discussions : Workshop papers and discussions Introduction to the Workshop
by Dr. Thomas Schaaf, UNESCO Headquarter
UNESCO Office Beijing Activities – An Overview on UNESCO’s Environmental Sciences Activities in NE Asia
by Dr. Axel Hebel, UNESCO-Beijing Office
IUCN’s Perspective for the World Parks Congress
by Mr. Allen D. Putney, WCPA-IUCN
The Importance of SNS for Biodiversity Conservation
by Dr. Thomas Schaaf Presentation
Workshop papers and discussions : Workshop papers and discussions Mr. Anthony Githito (Kenya): Kaya Kinondo Ecotourism Pilot Project
Ms. Mercedes Otegui Acha (Mexico): WWF: Safeguarding Huichol and Seri indigenous natural and cultural heritages in Mexico
Mr. Alfonso Alem Rojo (Mexico): Rigoberta Menchu Tum Foundation’s Sacred Natural Sites Program
Dr. Derek Elias (Australia): Cultural Bases of Non-conventional Protected Areas: The Tanami Desert, Australia
Dr. Derek Elias: Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems in a Global Society, A UNESCO cross-cutting initiative Presentation
Workshop papers and discussions : Workshop papers and discussions Prof. P.S. Ramakrishnan (India): Spatial Dimensions and Specificities: Hierarchy of Institutions
Ms. Hanta Rabetaliana (Madagascar): Past, Present and Future of Cultural and Sacred Natural Sites in Madagascar
Dr. Herwasono Soedjito (Indonesia): Sacred Sites of West Timor: Biodiversity Treasury and Cultural Heritage
Prof. Kunio Iwatsuki (Japan): Japan and Sacred Mountains
Dr. Norov Urtnasan (Mongolia): Biodiversity and Sacred Sites of Mongolia
Dr. Lhakpa Sherpa (Nepal): Himalayan Beyuls and Biodiversity Conservation Presentation
Workshop papers and discussions : Workshop papers and discussions Prof. Pei Shengji: Role of Ethnobotany for Biodiversity Conservation
Prof. Hu Huabin: Sacred Natural Sites in Xishuangbanna, China
Prof. Liu Hongmao: Rehabilitation of Holy Hill Site in Xishuangbanna.
Mr. Liu Wenjiang: Local Knowledge and Dryland Management in Xinjiang, Northwestern China
Dr. Luo Peng: Sacred Sites in Northwestern Yunnan, China Presentation----China
SWOT : SWOT to identify a number of key issues with regard to the role of SNS for biodiversity conservation
i.e. their lack of recognition and their changing value systems, which may jeopardize their traditional protected area status.
However, as the protection of SNS is often more sustainable than the classic legally protected areas, and as they often contain a higher degree of biodiversity (as was reported by several case studies), their recognition and study was considered vital by workshop participants. Workshop Activity
SWOT : SWOT Moreover, workshop participants considered the importance of community-based development, local participation in decision-making processes, eco-tourism as well as their potential as indicator sites for the rehabilitation of degraded environments.
In particular, workshop participants considered the importance of formulating guidelines for their sustained protection and its management and recognition by public authorities. Workshop Activity
Field trip : Field trip During field trip to Jinghong and the Xishuangbanna Biosphere Reserve, participants had the opportunity to see a holy hill above the Dai village of Chengzi. Most Dai villages in the area have a "sacred forest" higher up the settlement. Many of them were seriously logged and damaged during the Cultural Revolution, though now they enjoy a vigorous regeneration into secondary forests, largely due to community-based conservation. Workshop Activity
Field trip : Field trip The designation of the Xishuangbanna site as a biosphere reserve has greatly helped to increase the nature reserve's visibility and tourism is developing rapidly (120,000 visitors in 2002).
Problems persist with the elephant population, despite the fact that they are a main tourist attraction, causing about 2-3 casualties a year.
Poaching was a problem up until about 5 years ago when the government authorized the confiscation of weapons from local people.
The “butterfly farm" has been a great success, both for tourists and the local people. Indeed, the latter are now setting up their own butterfly farms with the assistance of the biosphere reserve staff, to generate alternative income opportunities. Workshop Activity
Field trip : Field trip Other tourist facilities in the biosphere reserve include a cable car (35 minutes ride above the tropical tree canopies), large-scale aviaries and vivaria for snakes and reptiles, as well as traditional Dai dance and music performances.
The visits to the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) located in Menglun area of Xishuangbanna has been significant and useful as the garden plays an important role to link conservation and economic development, traditional culture and modern science and technologies Workshop Activity
Consultation : creation of an international network : Consultation : creation of an international network Decided to create an "International Network on Sacred Natural Sites for Biodiversity Conservation" spanning Africa, Asia/Pacific and Latin America, which would increase collaboration among workshop participants and other interested parties.
A website (http://biowest.ac.cn/sns), set up by Prof. Hu Huabin of XTBG, CAS, could well serve as a reference for and information on the new network.
The main purpose of the new network will be to test and validate policy guidelines on the conservation and management of sacred natural sites using on-going studies and conservation schemes in place at the SNS discussed during the workshop. Workshop Activity
Consultation : creation of an international network : Consultation : creation of an international network The network will thus have:
a scientific objective (to improve understanding of the mechanisms of culture-based environmental conservation);
an application-oriented and policy-relevant objective (to foster national and international recognition for such sites, and with the full cooperation of local custodians and communities, to consider management guidelines for the protection of sacred naturals sites).
The network could also serve to form attitudes that place people as part of nature thus promoting the sustainability principle in environmental management. Workshop Activity
Future steps and follow-up activities : Future steps and follow-up activities The workshop papers have been published by UNESCO. Dr. Thomas Schaaf (UNESCO-MAB) and Mr. Allen Putney (IUCN-WCPA) prepared a zero draft version of the guidelines on SNS based on workshop papers and the workshop’s SWOT analysis, were sent to workshop participants for review and comments. The final draft version is then available for subsequent consideration at the World Parks Congress ("Creating Public Support for Protected Areas").
A future workshop on the new network should ideally be held in 2004 or 2005 (possibly in connection with an international symposium to be organized at the World Expo in Aichi, Japan, 2005).
A report from the workshop in Chinese language has been prepared by Prof. Pei Shengji and his colleagues and sent to MAB Chinese National Committee for publishing. Workshop Activity