A Traditional Knowledge Database for Mozambique

The document outlines a proposal for a national Traditional Knowledge Database in Mozambique to prevent the loss and misappropriation of biodiversity-related knowledge. It details a multi-tiered access system—ranging from community representatives to the general public—and an interoperability framework designed to link with scientific repositories like BioNoMo and RECIMO. The proposal emphasizes community-centric governance, including Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and traditional dispute resolution, to ensure that knowledge holders maintain control over their cultural heritage and benefit from its use.

• Mozambique's current legal framework for traditional knowledge, including the Constitution and Decree 19/2007, lacks specific regulations for digital documentation, leading to uncertainty regarding data ownership and digital rights management.
• Existing research on Mozambican traditional biodiversity knowledge is fragmented across various institutions and archives, which results in duplicated research efforts and a risk of permanent data loss.
• The proposed database will utilize a multi-tiered access system to balance protection with utility: the highest level is for authorized community representatives, an intermediate level for verified researchers, and a base level for the general public to access non-sensitive information.
• To enhance scientific and policy utility, the database is designed for interoperability, specifically through a primary integration with BioNoMo, Mozambique's primary biodiversity data repository, and secondary links to the National Scientific Research Repository (RECIMO).
• The project proposes a community-centric management framework based on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), utilizing local languages, visual materials, and traditional leadership hierarchies to secure and manage permissions.
• A structured dispute resolution framework is proposed that prioritizes local-level conflict resolution through traditional authorities and community committees before escalating to regional councils or formal legal mechanisms.
• The database architecture will include comprehensive data fields covering species documentation, cultural context, geographic information, and temporal data, aligned with international standards such as the CARE and FAIR principles.
• The implementation is planned over a 20-month timeline divided into five phases: technical specification, stakeholder consultation, pilot implementation, review and adjustment, and full deployment.

APA

Lyman, A. A. (2025). A Traditional Knowledge Database for Mozambique. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025.02-MZ-Traditional-Knowledge-Database-Project-brief-v1.0-Designed.pdf

Chicago

Lyman, Ana Alecia. A Traditional Knowledge Database for Mozambique. Natural Justice, 2025. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025.02-MZ-Traditional-Knowledge-Database-Project-brief-v1.0-Designed.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lyman |first1=Ana Alecia |title=A Traditional Knowledge Database for Mozambique |publisher=Natural Justice |date=February 2025 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025.02-MZ-Traditional-Knowledge-Database-Project-brief-v1.0-Designed.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lyman2025traditional, author = {Lyman, Ana Alecia}, title = {{A Traditional Knowledge Database for Mozambique}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, year = {2025}, month = feb, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/2025.02-MZ-Traditional-Knowledge-Database-Project-brief-v1.0-Designed.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }