Traditional Knowledge
Access and Benefit Sharing: New rules for use of biodiversity
The National Biodiversity Authority has released a new set of rules to manage sharing of benefits generated through the use of biological resources. The Biological Diversity (Access to biological Resources and Knowledge Associated thereto and Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits) Regulation 2025 was approved by the Central government and …Dams in ancient India
Water is recognized as an important resource without which life in earth cannot exist. According to ancient Indian texts, water is one among the basic five elements called ‘Pancabhutas’ with which the universe, the cosmic world comprises of; earth, light/heat, air and ether/space being the other four elements. Ancient people …Intellectual property rights and the handloom sector: Challenges in implementation of Geographical Indications Act
Actors at the local, national and global level, through their policies, institutional structure and processes, influence livelihood decisions irrespective of geographical setting. The introduction of intellectual property rights (IPR) under the WTO regime demonstrates how decisions taken at an international level affect millions of livelihoods across the globe. This has …ICT-enabled responses to climate change in rural agricultural communities
This Strategy Brief identifies the role of ICTs within the climate change responses of rural agricultural communities in developing countries. It argues that ICTs can become strategic enablers of action to create awareness about, mitigate, monitor and adapt to climate change within these communities. Despite their differences, rural agricultural contexts …Wise use: indigenous approaches to inland wetland management: best practices?
The ever increasing loss of natural floodplain wetlands to hydrological and global change, land use change and natural hazards is leading to serious environmental and ecological concerns in the flood plains of Assam, where wetlands (beels) which undertakes a range of hydrological & environmental function also provide an ambient habitat …Seeds of discontent
Costly corporate seeds are not only jacking up our food bill but also affecting community sharing.Made in China
Although modern medicine is established in Asia, traditional medicine also plays a big role in people's healthcare — and is gaining in popularity in other countries too.One step at a time
The repertoire of traditional Chinese medicine could offer rich pickings for modern drug developers, but researchers must first define and test herbal concoctions.Protecting China's national treasure
The very nature of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) poses serious challenges in patenting intellectual property. Unlike modern medicines, which are based on newly discovered, developed or isolated chemical compounds, TCM prescriptions typically consist of mixtures of well-known plant or animal extracts. Moreover, these recipes are public knowledge, having been recorded …Herbal dangers
Traditional plant-based remedies are not risk-free. Doctors and patients need to be informed about the possible side effects, says Masatomo Sakurai.Herbal medicine rule book
Can Western guidelines govern Eastern herbal traditions?Endangered and in demand
With an ingredients list that includes rhino horn and tiger bone, traditional Asian medicine is on a collision course with wildlife preservation.Ecological mechanisms underlying the sustainability of the agricultural heritage rice–fish coculture system
For centuries, traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security throughout the world. Recognizing the ecological legacy in the traditional agricultural systems may help us develop novel sustainable agriculture. We examine how rice–fish coculture (RF), which has been designated a “globally important agricultural heritage system,” has been maintained …Informal “seed” systems and the management of gene flow in traditional agroecosystems: The case of cassava in Cauca, Colombia
Our ability to manage gene flow within traditional agroecosystems and their repercussions requires understanding the biology of crops, including farming practices' role in crop ecology. That these practices' effects on crop population genetics have not been quantified bespeaks lack of an appropriate analytical framework. We use a model that construes …Organic system in low rainfall areas for climate resilience and returns
Stagnating yields, negative impact on environment, soil health and farmers' economy were some of the side effects of green revolution and provided fuel to search new and unexploited areas to ensure increased productivity through eco-friendly or evergreen farming.Where West meets East
The concepts of Asia's traditional medicines might sound alien to Western ears, but some of them are starting to evolve to fit scientific investigation.Overview of national and regional measures on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing: challenges and opportunities in implementing the Nagoya Protocol
In light of the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol, it is important for countries that have or are in the process of putting in place national ABS measures to share their experiences in implementation. Drawing upon practical experience with ABS will greatly assist in highlighting where regulatory gaps exist, what …Ecological mechanisms underlying the sustainability of the agricultural heritage rice–fish coculture system
For centuries, traditional agricultural systems have contributed to food and livelihood security throughout the world. Recognizing the ecological legacy in the traditional agricultural systems may help us develop novel sustainable agriculture. We examine how rice–fish coculture (RF), which has been designated a “globally important agricultural heritage system,” has been maintained …The value of natural resource management in adaptation and building resilience to climate change
This document contains the presentation by Vivek Prasad, George Mason University, USA and Rajeev Ranjan, Lohardaga Gram Swarajya Sansthan, Jharkhand, on “The value of natural resource management in adaptation and building resilience to climate change ” during Second National Research Conference on Climate Change, organized by the Centre for Science …Pre and post geographical indications registration measures for handicrafts in India
Over the recent past, Geographical Indications (GIs) have emerged as a significant form of intellectual property rights in the Indian context. In view of the commercial potential of handicrafts, adequate legal measures of GIs becomes necessary to prevent their unauthorized utilization. Original SourceNeem, traditionally ours
Now that “neemania” has gripped scientists in the West and neem (Azadirachta indica) is being hailed as the wonder tree that can solve global problems from locust swarms to AIDS, Indian scientists are jumping onto the bandwagon. After Western scientists proved that neem-based pesticides are safer than synthetic ones such …