Culture and Biodiversity Losses Linked—Response

Abstract

We completely agree with Wu and Petriello that a connection exists between the biodiversity crisis and threats to indigenous communities. Indeed, there are remarkable parallels between the geographic pattern of threats to biodiversity and threats to indigenous languages ([ 1 ][1]). Although this geographic congruence was not the subject of our Review, we did touch on the argument that indigenous knowledge, action, and involvement can help conservation. The world's governments have also recognized this link through the newly adopted Strategic Plan of the Convention on Biological Diversity ([ 2 ][2]). Target 18 of the plan specifies that by 2020, “the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, and their customary use of biological resources, are respected,” in ways that have “the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels.” We support this objective but note that this target presents a considerable practical and political challenge, given the marginalized status and impoverishment of indigenous and local communities. Greater involvement of local communities will be essential if conservation efforts are to succeed in making substantial and sustainable progress in tackling biodiversity loss. 1. [↵][3] 1. W. J. Sutherland , Nature 423, 276 (2003). [OpenUrl][4][CrossRef][5][PubMed][6][Web of Science][7] 2. [↵][8] Convention on Biological Diversity, Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 ([www.cbd.int/nagoya/outcomes][9]). [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2 [3]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [4]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DNature%253B%2BPhysical%2BScience%2B%2528London%2529%26rft.stitle%253DNature%253B%2BPhysical%2BScience%2B%2528London%2529%26rft.aulast%253DSutherland%26rft.auinit1%253DW.%2BJ.%26rft.volume%253D423%26rft.issue%253D6937%26rft.spage%253D276%26rft.epage%253D279%26rft.atitle%253DParallel%2Bextinction%2Brisk%2Band%2Bglobal%2Bdistribution%2Bof%2Blanguages%2Band%2Bspecies.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1038%252Fnature01607%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F12748639%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [5]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1038/nature01607&link_type=DOI [6]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=12748639&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fsci%2F331%2F6013%2F31.atom [7]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000182853100040&link_type=ISI [8]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [9]: http://www.cbd.int/nagoya/outcomes