Los conocimientos tradicionales y la utilización consuetudinaria sostenible de la diversidad biológica

This guide, published by Natural Justice, provides an introduction to the international legal frameworks that recognize and support the traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities. It focuses primarily on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), detailing specific articles, voluntary instruments, and other international declarations that grant rights and responsibilities to communities and governments.

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), a binding international treaty adopted in 1992 and ratified by 193 governments, contains two primary articles granting rights to indigenous peoples and local communities: Article 8(j), which focuses on "conocimientos, innovaciones y prácticas tradicionales", and Article 10(c), which addresses the "utilización consuetudinaria sostenible de la diversidad biológica".
• Article 8(j) of the CBD imposes three main obligations on member parties: recognizing traditional knowledge as comparable to scientific knowledge, promoting the wider application of such knowledge with the "aprobación y participación" (interpreted as free, prior and informed consent) of the communities, and encouraging the fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from its use.
• Article 10(c) of the CBD requires parties to protect and encourage the customary use of biological resources based on traditional cultural practices, provided they are "compatibles con las exigencias de la conservación o de la utilización sostenible". This includes ensuring security of tenure for traditional territories and respect for customary laws.
• The CBD has adopted several voluntary instruments to support these rights, including the 2004 Akwé: Kon Guidelines for cultural, environmental, and social impact assessments, the 2004 Addis Ababa Principles and Guidelines for sustainable use, and the 2010 Tkarihwaié:ri Ethical Code of Conduct for researchers working with indigenous communities.
• The Aichi Biodiversity Targets, specifically Target 18, set a goal that by 2020, traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity would be "respetados y plenamente integrados en la aplicación del Convenio en todos los niveles pertinentes".
• Beyond the CBD, other international frameworks provide protections: the FAO's International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2001) recognizes "Derechos del Agricultor"; the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2007) grants rights to control and protect cultural heritage and intellectual property; and ILO Convention No. 169 (1989) mandates education programs developed in cooperation with indigenous peoples.
• A significant limitation of the CBD's protections is that Articles 8(j) and 10(c) only apply to communities whose lifestyles or practices are deemed "pertinentes" or "compatibles" with conservation, potentially excluding those who have been displaced or marginalized by external pressures.
• The document identifies a lack of current terminology in the CBD, noting that the term "comunidades indígenas y locales" is considered outdated and that there is a push for the full recognition of "Pueblos Indígenas".
• The guide highlights a gap in intellectual property clarity, stating that many issues regarding intellectual property and traditional knowledge remain unresolved within the CBD, with parties often deferring to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) intergovernmental committees.

APA

Natural Justice (n.d.). Los conocimientos tradicionales y la utilización consuetudinaria sostenible de la diversidad biológica. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Traditional-Knowledge-SP.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. Los conocimientos tradicionales y la utilización consuetudinaria sostenible de la diversidad biológica. n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Traditional-Knowledge-SP.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Natural Justice |title=Los conocimientos tradicionales y la utilización consuetudinaria sostenible de la diversidad biológica |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Traditional-Knowledge-SP.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{naturaljusticendlos, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{Los conocimientos tradicionales y la utilización consuetudinaria sostenible de la diversidad biológica}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Traditional-Knowledge-SP.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }