Biocultural Heritage Landscape to be established by indigenous peoples of the Eastern Himalayas

November 24, 2017

                            °

 From November 13 to 17, 2017, fifty members of seven indigenous ethnic groups near Kalimpong, Eastern Himalayas, India, participated in a training workshop on Methods, Tools and Processes for Establishing Biocultural Heritage Landscapes. The workshop was organized by the Centre for Mountain Dynamics (India) and the International Network for Mountain Indigenous Peoples (INMIP), with support from Asociación ANDES (Peru).

From November 13 to 17, 2017, fifty members of seven indigenous ethnic groups near Kalimpong, Eastern Himalayas, India, participated in a training workshop on Methods, Tools and Processes for Establishing Biocultural Heritage Landscapes. The workshop was organized by the Centre for Mountain Dynamics (India) and the International Network for Mountain Indigenous Peoples (INMIP), with support from Asociación ANDES (Peru).

 As a result of the workshop, the participants committed to establish a Biocultural Heritage Landscape with a focus on the protection of the biocultural heritage of indigenous peoples of the Eastern Himalayas, including Lepcha and Limbu communities. The area, which is adjacent to a National Park, is among the richest in the world for diversity of food crops, wild plants and culture. Based on the rich diversity and cultural significance of orchids, the participants decided to use the orchid as an emblematic species, under which economic development, conservation, and good governance of natural resources will be carried out.

The workshop participants agreed to work together to develop a work plan for economic development, conservation, the protection of cultural and spiritual values, and the development of an appropriate policy and legal framework under Indian and international law to enhance local food security and the conservation of biodiversity in times of climate change.

                                        ¬

Contact information:

Centre for Mountain Dynamics

Yusuf Simick

simick515@gmail.com

(+91 3552) 259 266  

International Network of Mountain Indigenous Peoples (INMIP)

Alejandro Argumedo

alejandro@andes.org.pe

(+51 84) 245 021

(+51) 984 706 610