Considering the Local Knowledge: an ecological request, an ethical imperative

Long ignored, even scorned and marginalized, the knowledge, traditions and innovations of Indigenous People and Local Communities (IPLCs) were officially recognized for the in situ conservation of biodiversity in the preamble to the CBD in 1992 (Article 8J), and since then, they have continued to be highlighted. This recognition reflects a concern not only for inclusiveness and justice, but also for the effectiveness and sustainability of public policies. It can be applied in a variety of ways, depending on the context and scale (from local to global). In the context of both IPBES, it has led to a paradigm shift in the relationship between humans and nature, with the notion of “ecosystem service” being replaced by that of “contribution”, and a shift in focus from nature-culture dualism (if not opposition) to reconciliation between all living things.

The fact remains, however, that the pluriversity of local knowledge is struggling to be truly taken into account in the face of market forces (and consumerism) and the omnipotence (universality) of “Western” technical and scientific rationality.

This communication aims to show the changes in discourse with regard to local (ecological) knowledge in a globalized and uncertain world, and looks at the risks of instrumentalization and essentialization of local knowledge, and the need to identify the levers and barriers to transformative change.