Biodiv Sci ›› 2018, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (12): 1350-1357.  DOI: 10.17520/biods.2018257

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Establishing a national indicator system in China for the assessment of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity

Dongmei Liu1, Dayuan Xue2,*(), Lei Cai3, Junsheng Li1,*(), Nengwen Xiao1   

  1. 1 State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Regional Eco-process and Function Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012
    2 College of Life and Environmental Science, Minzu University of China, Beijing 100081
    3 Department of Nature and Ecology Conservation, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100035
  • Received:2018-09-21 Accepted:2018-12-05 Online:2018-12-20 Published:2019-02-12
  • Contact: Xue Dayuan,Li Junsheng
  • About author:# 同等贡献作者 Contributed equally to this work

Abstract:

More data needs to be collected to assess the wide range of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity to identify the key pressures on diversity today and also highlight protection gaps for decision makers in biodiversity conservation. An indicator system is a useful tool in scientific assessments, yet few studies have made use of them. An indicator system to assess traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity was preliminarily established at a regional and national scale based on the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model, taking into account major players, species threats, existing measures for protection and transmission of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity. Through expert consultation, 30 indicators were identified, including 7 pressure indicators, 14 status indicators and 9 response indicators. These indicators could be used for a comprehensive assessment of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, and also could also be applied to a separate assessment concerning the basic status of threats to biodiversity, current protections, the transmission of traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity and relevant genetic resources. Moreover, “The National Technology and Methodology System for Surveying Traditional Knowledge Associated with Biodiversity” was developed based on the results of “The National Survey on Traditional Knowledge Associated with Biodiversity”, which combined interviews with key figures, questionnaire responses and participatory observations and was supplemented by scientifically-derived biological and ecological knowledge. Interviewees were identified from target groups using snowball sampling. This system was developed according to parameters drawing on the results of surveys on ethnobotanical and traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity at home and abroad. The system was then piloted and modified accordingly.

Key words: traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, assessment, indicator, PSR, survey