The project purpose is to promote bio-cultural diversity (BCD) through establishment of the BCD Learning Platform (LP) and a small grants program for local institutions. Overall, the key approach is empowerment of local NGOs, community associations and steward organizations by building their capacity to initiate and implement small projects on retaining traditional knowledge and practices. This project is the logic continuation of work and initiatives ISDS done during 2012-2014 period.

Traditional knowledge and practices on a grass root level will be recognized, valued and maintained during the project implementation and further by funding small initiatives of local organizations, as these rich sources of wisdom re-establish reciprocal relationships between cultures, livelihoods and ecology. We believe that recognizing, valuing and working with local communities allow learning and promoting multiple ways of how traditional cultures related to natural world and rediscovering diverse approaches on protection and conservation. Traditional knowledge and practices on a grass root level will be recognized, valued and maintained during the project implementation and further by funding small initiatives of local organizations, as these rich sources of wisdom re-establish reciprocal relationships between cultures, livelihoods and ecology. We also believe that these community initiatives contribute to problem solving and adaptation on regional and national levels.

Creation of the BCD Learning Platform:

Building local capacity through conducting an interactive training program that brings community members in a dialogue of joint learning and participatory field methods workshops. Proposed thematic topics are ‘Traditional Knowledge’, ‘Agro-bio-diversity’, ‘Food Security’, etc. The LP is effort to empower stewards to revitalize local traditional systems and define their own traditional practices to sustain BCD. It aims to bring together independent initiatives into a wider transformation movement that highlights local knowledge. We plan equip our targets with ‘Participatory Video’ and ‘Storytelling’ skills to communicate with community members, real stories and actions involved in preserving BCD in the country. We propose that the LP participants will develop their project proposals for funding.  We will also conduct study tours to exchange experience, achievements, lessons learned during the projects’ implementation.