PARENT SESSION
Symposium #23: Relationship, Community, and Intergenerational Innovation: Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Ecosystem Restoration .
Sponsored by ESA Sustainable Biosphere Initiative
Organized by: K Klubnikin, K Rodriguez, J Parrotta, and W Covington
Wednesday, August 7. 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. Leo Rich Theatre.
Biodiversity investment areas: Linking Traditional Ecological Knowledge with western scientific programs.
LICKERS, HENRY*,1, RODRIGUEZ, KAREN2, 1 Director, Department of the Environment, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada2 US Environmental Protection Agency, Chicago, Illinois
ABSTRACT- Biodiversity Investment Areas (BIAs) is a phrase that was coined for the 1996 State of the lakes Ecosystem conference (SOLEC) to signify Great lakes coastal areas, including landscapes and coastal waters that encompass exceptional biodiversity values. Two subsequent SOLEC conferences (1998 and 2000) reformed the BIA idea through the development of three criteria for evaluating nearshore, terrestrial, wetland and aquatic areas: species, or communities of special interest; diversity of habitats, communities and species; and productivity and integrity. The Great Lakes shoreline was then divided into 70 units for analysis. Ten comparable and US data sets were generated from application of the criteria to each defined unit. The result was that certain areas of the shoreline are more diverse and in need of protection, or “investment”, more than other areas. Great Lakes Tribes/First Nations from both Canada and the United States pointed out a philosophical dilemma concerning the decision to classify one shoreline area as more important than another. They asserted that the health of any area depends upon the health of all others. This view underscores the realization that the SOLEC conferences and related Great Lakes biodiversity work are based on western scientific paradigms. Nevertheless, many Tribal/First Nations expressed interest in contributing to future BIA projects, noting that the more diverse shoreline areas are located on or near reserves. This presentation will characterize the Tribal/First Nations portion on BIAs. The “co-existence” model, where Native and non-Native undertakings exist separately, yet side-by-side in partnership, will be discussed in the context of the formation of productive linkages between traditional ecological knowledge with western scientific programs to achieve a healthy Great Lakes basin.
KEY WORDS: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Biodiversity, Great Lakes, Native Americans and First Nations