Conservation Projects, Measures & Policies: Question 8

[ISCCLAdmin Brabec]

#5076

What measures have been taken for the documentation and preservation of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, and for the recording and evaluation of the innovations, values and practices of Indigenous Peoples and local communities concerned by conservation efforts?

[Alda Azevedo Ferreira]

#5110

Brazil has implemented a robust set of measures to document, preserve, and value traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, in accordance with its commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Nagoya Protocol, ratified in 2021 and in force since 2025. These actions aim to ensure respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples and traditional communities, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources and recognizing their knowledge, values, and cultural practices.

The main legal framework is Law No. 13.123/2015, regulated by Decree No. 8.772/2016, which established the National System for the Management of Genetic Heritage and Associated Traditional Knowledge (SisGen). This system mandates the registration of research, products, and activities that use genetic resources or traditional knowledge, requiring free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) from the communities and ensuring the fair and equitable sharing of benefits. The registered information feeds into the database of the Genetic Heritage Management Council (CGen), a collegiate body of the Ministry of the Environment that oversees and regulates access and use of this knowledge.

Another key instrument is the National Policy for the Sustainable Development of Traditional Peoples and Communities (PNPCT), established by Decree No. 6.040/2007, which defines guidelines for recognizing, valuing, and strengthening traditional knowledge systems and practices, as well as their integration into environmental conservation processes. Complementarily, the **National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI)**, created by Decree No. 7.747/2012, promotes the protection of Indigenous territories and ways of life, encouraging participatory methodologies such as ethnomapping and ethno-zoning, which document biodiversity management practices and knowledge in culturally appropriate ways.

In the field of cultural heritage, the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN) uses the National Inventory of Cultural References (INRC) and the Registry of Intangible Cultural Heritage to recognize and document traditional knowledge, celebrations, and ways of making linked to biodiversity—such as agricultural systems and medicinal plant practices. These inventories are essential for safeguarding cultural expressions connected to Brazil’s ecosystems.

In recent years, Brazil has also developed mechanisms for community and territorial recognition through the TICCA Brazil Registration Guide (2023), created by organizations like Mupan and Wetlands International. This guide assists Indigenous and traditional communities in voluntarily registering their Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (TICCA/ICCAs), granting formal recognition to community-based conservation and sustainable management practices.

Furthermore, CONABIO Resolution No. 09/2024, which defines the National Biodiversity Targets for 2030, incorporated the axis of “valuing socio-biodiversity and traditional knowledge.” The resolution emphasizes integrating Indigenous knowledge into environmental governance, ensuring that conservation planning respects cultural diversity and the symbolic values of communities. It also reinforces the importance of free, prior, and informed consent, community participation in management councils, and equitable access to economic benefits from the use of genetic resources.

Finally, the 6th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (2023) highlighted projects focused on mapping and valuing traditional foods and sustainable biodiversity use practices, as well as Amazon Fund initiatives evaluating the effectiveness of Indigenous and community-based conservation. The report also emphasized the integration of scientific and traditional knowledge, promoting participatory methodologies and cultural indicators for biodiversity monitoring.

Altogether, these legal, institutional, and community instruments form a comprehensive framework for protecting and valuing traditional knowledge in Brazil, articulating environmental conservation, cultural diversity, and socio-environmental justice.

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