Unvalued indigenous resources

Guided by conceits about the superiority of modern culture, scientists often fail to even notice traditional technologies, or will discredit their value.

1. An important attribute of indigenous knowledge, aside from its degree of success in dealing with matters of survival, is its local ownership. The efficacy of technique is contingent on the confidence invested in it by the implementer. Indigenous knowledge in agriculture, energy supply and conservation, biodiversity, and even traditional culture, is important because it is believed in by its practitioners.

1. Unvalued services
2. Elimination of traditional skills

1. Underutilization of popular wisdom
2. Underutilization of locally available skills
3. Lack of indigenous environmental rights
4. Lack of farmer protection
5. Ignorance of traditional herbal remedies

1. Theft of tradition knowledge for commercial gain
2. Neglect of non-timber forest products
3. Low agricultural priorities
4. Limited functional abilities
5. Inadequate application of available knowledge to solve problems
6. Discrimination against community enterprises
7. Dependence on external expertise
8. Cultural suicide

1. Unadapted significance of cultural tradition
2. Lack of opportunities for practical training in communities
3. Inappropriate transfer of technology
4. Inaccessibility of family knowledge
5. Hegemony of visual information
6. Flawed opposition arising from personal bias
7. Disparagement of indigenous cultures
8. Dependence on sophisticated technology for development
9. Cultural imperialism
10. Contempt for traditional atttitudes to nature

1. Unapplied scientific knowledge
2. Resistance to new methods
3. Rejection of other cultures
4. Imbalanced distribution of knowledge

1. Valuing indigenous resources
2. Focusing on traditional technologies
3. Establishing common ownership over biological resources
4. Developing intellectual property rights systems in biodiversity conservation
5. Developing business strategies with traditional groups for biodiversity conservation
6. Applying culture-based knowledge systems

1. Unvalued
2. Overlooked
3. Knowledge
4. Discredit