Links between biological and cultural diversity

This report summarises the discussions of an international workshop which addresses the links between biological and cultural diversity. The workshop was convened to provide guidelines and recommendations for future research, policy and action in the area of diversity.

The past decades have seen a rise in interest in biological and cultural dimensions of diversity, the interactions between them and their connection to social and economic development. This has resulted in increasing awareness of the ‘inextricable link between biological and cultural diversity’, and the recognition of the crucial role that it plays in sustainable development and human well-being worldwide. Key examples of links between biological and cultural diversity discussed include monitoring change in cultural landscape in Tuscany, and the biological and cultural diversity among the rainforest people in Central Africa. The research implications mean that future research must focus on a number of priority areas including the development of a value-based system on which to valorise diversity, and the impact of demographic shifts and population dynamics on diversity.

Key recommendations include:

•  future policy work at the international level must Integrate cultural diversity in Multilateral Environmental Agreements, including those dealing with biodiversity, desertification and climate
•  for future research, a clear conceptual framework for assessing the links between biological and cultural diversity needs to be developed to guide the future work in this area and link it with on-the-ground research and policy
  
• for the future work of UNESCO, the organisation needs to build on its unique position so as to take the lead in international efforts to promote the links between biological and cultural diversity in science, culture, education and political realms.