Constitution for the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE)

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Article 1:	Background
Article 2:	Vision Statement
Article 3:	Objects and Purposes
Article 4:	Membership
Article 5:	Donations
Article 6:	Rights, Responsibilities, and Meetings of Members
Article 7:	Ordinary General Assembly of Members
Article 8:	Extraordinary General Assembly
Article 9:	Board of the ISE
Article 10:	Duties of the Board
Article 11:	Proceedings of the Board
Article 12:	Indemnity
Article 13:	Finance
Article 14:	The Seal/Logo
Article 15:	Books and Records
Article 16:	Regional Committees
Article 17:	Alternations to the Constitution
Article 18:	Dissolution of the ISE
Annex 1:	Code of Ethics
Annex 2:	Outline of the Global Coalition as Prescribed by the Kunming Action Plan

DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS

"Board" or "Board of the ISE"	means and refers to the Officers and Board Members of the ISE.
"Environment"	means and refers to the natural, physical and metaphysical environments obtaining, affecting and relating to Mother Earth, known to scientists as the "Bios".
"Code of Ethics"	means and refers to the Code of Ethics attached as Annex I to this Constitution.
"Ethnobiology" and "Ethnoecology"	refer to the cultural perceptions, human classifications, uses and beliefs about the environment and the Bios. Ethnobiology and Ethnoecology are interdisciplinary and intercultural fields combining such diverse sciences as traditional and ecological agriculture, anthropology, archaeology, botany, ecology, geography, linguistics, human and veterinary medicine, pharmacology, sociology, zoology, and related areas.
"Foundation Act"	means and refers to the resolution to found the ISE.
"General Assembly"	refers to meetings of the Membership during ICEs or as prescribed in the Constitution.
"ICE"	means the International Congress of Ethnobiology to be held every 2 years in accordance with this Constitution.
"ISE"	means and refers to the International Society of Ethnobiology.
"Member"	means either a Founding Member, Member, Honorary Member, Lifetime Member, Corporate Member, or Institutional Member.
"Regional Committees"	means the Regional Committees of the ISE as established or disestablished from time to time in different parts of the world, in accordance with this Constitution.
“Biocultural heritage”	means the cultural heritage (both the tangible and intangible including customary law, folklore, spiritual values, knowledge, innovations and practices) and biological heritage (diversity of genes, varieties, species and ecosystem provisioning, regulating and cultural services) of Indigenous peoples, traditional societies and local communities which are often inextricably linked through the interaction between these peoples and nature over time and shaped by their socio-ecological and economic context. This heritage includes the landscape as the spatial dimension in which the evolution of Indigenous biocultural heritage takes place. This heritage is passed on from generation to generation, developed, owned and administered collectively by stakeholder communities according to customary law.
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ARTICLE 1.

1.0 Background

1.1	1.1 The International Society of Ethnobiology was established on 22 July, 1988, during the First International Congress of Ethnobiology held in Belém, Pará, Brazil.
1.2	The ISE was legally constituted in April, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
1.3	The ISE is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the research, study, promotion and enhancement of ethnobiology.
1.4	The ISE was incorporated in the State of Georgia, USA in 2000. The Registered Office of the ISE shall be located in Bristol, Vermont or any other locality authorized by the Board to meet the needs of the Society.
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ARTICLE 2.

2.0 Vision Statement

2.1	The ISE is committed to achieving a greater understanding of the complex relationships, both past and present that exist within and between human societies and their environments. The Society endeavors to promote a harmonious existence between humankind and the bios for the benefit of future generations. Ethnobiologists recognize that Indigenous peoples, traditional societies, and local communities are critical to the conservation of biological, cultural and linguistic diversity. The vision of the ISE is more fully reflected in its Code of Ethics, to which all Members are bound. The Code of Ethics is found in Annex 1.
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2.1

The ISE is committed to achieving a greater understanding of the complex relationships, both past and present that exist within and between human societies and their environments. The Society endeavors to promote a harmonious existence between humankind and the bios for the benefit of future generations. Ethnobiologists recognize that Indigenous peoples, traditional societies, and local communities are critical to the conservation of biological, cultural and linguistic diversity. The vision of the ISE is more fully reflected in its Code of Ethics, to which all Members are bound. The Code of Ethics is found in Annex 1.

ARTICLE 3.

3.0 Objectives and Purposes

3.1	To promote and enhance the study and understanding of ethnobiology and ethnoecology throughout the world.
3.2	To bring together all peoples, including Indigenous peoples, traditional societies and local communities, institutions, peoples' organizations, research institutions, researchers, funding organisations, non-governmental organizations and governmental bodies interested in the development, promotion and enhancement of ethnobiological and ethnoecological studies.
3.3	To establish, maintain, and widely promote a Code of Ethics to direct all dealings with Indigenous peoples, traditional societies, and local communities, and their lands, territories or other traditional resources, and all traditional, cultural, intellectual properties and knowledge directly or indirectly associated therewith.
3.4	To enhance and promote the recognition and role of ethnobiologists and ethnoecologists in the inventory, study, research, conservation, protection, and revitalization of Indigenous peoples, traditional societies, and local communities and their biocultural heritage.
3.5	To promote and conserve the scientific and cultural knowledge of human societies.
3.6	To represent the community of ethnobiologists and ethnoecologists who are members of this society, in national and international fora.
3.7	To promote education, training, and dissemination of ethnobiology and ethnoecology throughout the world.
3.8	To establish and promote the Global Coalition for Bio-Cultural Diversity as an integral part of the ISE to promote the policies, goals, ethics, and activities of the ISE as elaborated in Annex 2.
3.9	Any other objective or purpose designed to advance the above objectives and purposes of the ISE, provided that any such objective or purpose shall not in any way whatsoever derogate from the non-profit status or charitable nature of the ISE.
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ARTICLE 4.

4.0 Membership

4.1	Membership of the ISE shall be available to all persons, organizations, and institutions who are interested in the objectives and purposes of the ISE and subscribe to its Code of Ethics.
4.2	Members may belong to one or more of the following categories:
4.2.1	Founding Members - are all those who were registered up to and including the third International Congress of Ethnobiology held in Mexico City, Mexico in November 1992.
4.2.2	Members - are those who are registered with the ISE, have paid their two-year (biennial) dues, and abide by the Constitution and Code of Ethics.
4.2.3	Honorary Members - are those individual Members who are considered by the Board of the ISE to have made an exceptional contribution to ethnobiology, ethnoecology and/or the promotion and protection of biocultural heritage. Nomination for this category of Membership is to be made to the Board of the ISE and confirmed at an Ordinary General Assembly.
4.2.4	Lifetime Members – are individual members who have paid a significant one-time membership fee to the Society of an amount determined by the Board (minimum $500 USD). Under exceptional circumstances, the Board may grant an individual a lifetime membership in recognition of an outstanding in-kind service contribution to the Society. No further membership fees apply to this category for the life of the member.
4.2.5	Institutional Members - are those nonprofit organizations that are interested in perpetuating the objectives and purposes of and disseminating information concerning the ISE and have paid a two-year (biennial) institutional membership fee; Application for this category of Membership is to be made to the Board of the ISE.
4.2.6	Corporate Members - are incorporated for profit institutions that are interested in perpetuating the objectives and purposes of and disseminating information concerning the ISE and have paid a two-year (biennial) corporate membership fee. Application for this category of Membership is to be made to the Board of the ISE.
4.3	Members of each category (except Lifetime members) must pay two-year (biennial) Membership fees, as proposed by the Board and adopted by the General Assembly. Reduction or waivers of these fees may be applied for by letter to the Board.
4.3.1	The Board shall have the power to waive fees or offer concessions for deserving cases.
4.3.2	The Board encourages in-kind contributions to the Society by members whose fees have been reduced or waived.
4.4	Members in good standing are those individuals, institutions and organizations who have paid fees appropriate to their membership category, and are in compliance with the ISE Code of Ethics and the ISE Constitution.
4.5	Charitable tax receipts shall NOT be offered in whole or part for any membership fee.
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ARTICLE 5.

5.0 Donations

5.1	Donations may be received from individuals, organizations or institutions to support general operations and/or specific activities, programs, fellowships and awards of the ISE.
5.2	Donations shall be eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
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ARTICLE 6.

6.0 Rights, Responsibilities and Meetings of Members

6.1	All Members in good standing are eligible to participate in all meetings, congresses, courses, committee memberships of and in relation to the ISE upon payment of any appropriate fees.
6.2	All Members in good standing are eligible to be elected to the Board, provided that they have attended at least two congresses (or one congress for Regional and Student Representatives) prior to the congress at which they are nominated.
6.3	All Members in good standing have the right to exercise one vote in person and, in the case of institutions or corporations, an authorized representative, on each vote taken during Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assemblies.
6.4	All Members shall be entitled to:
6.4.1	receive publications of the ISE on payment of an appropriate fee fixed by the Board;
6.4.2	represent the ISE by delegation of the President in consultation with the Board.
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ARTICLE 7.

7.0 Ordinary General Assembly of Members

7.1	The Ordinary General Assembly of the Members of the ISE shall be the sovereign decision making body of the ISE.
7.2	An Ordinary General Assembly shall take place every two (2) years during the ICE.
7.2.1	Fees for the ICE shall be set by the Organizing Committee of the ICE and approved by the Board of ISE.
7.2.2	Membership fees shall be paid to the ISE Coordinator on a two-year (biennial) basis.
7.3	The President shall preside over the Ordinary General Assembly.
7.4	A quorum for an Ordinary General Assembly shall be not less than 30 voting Members. New Members of the ISE are eligible to vote immediately after applying for membership and payment of registration fees.
7.5	Voting at an Ordinary General Assembly shall be by simple majority (51%) of votes cast by those Members present.
7.6	The business of the Ordinary General Assembly shall include:
7.6.1	election of the Board;
7.6.2	discussion and vote on the date and venue of the next ICE;
7.6.3	discussion and vote on the promotion or participation of the ISE in other local, national or international meetings, assemblies or congresses;
7.6.4	discussion and vote on the creation, suspension, disestablishment or amalgamation of Regional Committees as proposed by the Board;
7.6.5	discussion and vote on any recommendations received from the Board in relation to complaints concerning alleged breaches of the Constitution and the Code of Ethics by Members;
7.6.6	approval of the annual financial report;
7.6.7	discussion and vote on whether or not an audit of financial accounts is required;
7.6.8	other items as determined by the Board prior to any ICE.
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ARTICLE 8.

8.0 Extraordinary General Assembly

8.1	The purpose of an Extraordinary General Assembly shall be to deliberate and decide on any matters of an urgent or special nature that cannot await the next following Ordinary General Assembly.
8.2	An Extraordinary General Assembly may be called by the Board at any time, or on written request to the Board by sixty (60) Members to be received by the Board at least six (6) months prior to the proposed date of the Extraordinary General Assembly.
8.2.1	Any written request for an Extraordinary General Meeting shall include: (a) an outline the reasons for calling the meeting; (b) suggestions for an appropriate venue for holding the meeting; (c) proposed dates for the meeting; (d) suggestions for sourcing funding for participation at the meeting.
8.2.2	The Board shall use their best endeavors to convene any Extraordinary General Meeting that has been validly called. In the event that despite their best endeavors the Board is unable to convene an Extraordinary General Assembly (for example through lack of funding) then the issues set out in the written request for the Extraordinary General Assembly shall be deferred and dealt with at the next Ordinary General Meeting of the ISE.
8.3	A quorum for an Extraordinary General Assembly shall be thirty (30) Members from no less than fifteen (15) different countries.
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ARTICLE 9.

9.0 Board of the ISE

9.1	The affairs of the ISE are to be managed by a Board to be elected by the Ordinary General Assembly.
9.2	Ideally the Board should consist of no more than two (2) Members from a single country and should reflect the broadest possible national diversity.
9.3	Ideally the Board should be gender-balanced.
9.3.1	To qualify for nomination, candidates must be members in good standing and have attended two prior Congresses, except for Regional Representatives and Student Representatives who must have attended one prior Congress.
9.3.2	To stand for nomination, nominees must have confirmed their eligibility in writing with the ISE coordinator in advance of the election or appointment.
9.3.3	Appointed officer positions are made in advance by the outgoing Board and ratified by the ISE members at the Ordinary General Assembly.
9.4	The Board of the ISE consists of the following elected officers: (a) President (elected); (b) President Elect, who serves as Vice-President (elected); (c) Secretary (elected); (d) Treasurer (elected); (e) five (5) Regional Representatives (elected), one each from the following regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania; (f) immediate Past President (appointed); (g) Student Representative (appointed, non-voting); (h) Director of the Global Coalition for Bio-Cultural Diversity (appointed); (i) Chair of the Ethics Committee (appointed).
9.5	Ex-Officio Members of the Board include: (a) Chair of the current ICE Organizing Committee; (b) Chair of the up coming ICE Organizing Committee; (c) Former Presidents of the ISE; (d) Editor of the Society Journal.
9.6	A Board Member's term of appointment shall coincide with the period between consecutive ICEs.
9.7	Elections of the Board shall be held at an Ordinary General Assembly.
9.7.1	Nominations for election of officers will be called for up until one (1) month prior to the date of commencement of the ICE.A statement of candidacy and confirmation of eligibility from each nominee will be made available to the ISE membership.
9.7.2	On the first day of each ICE, the Board will make a public announcement of elections and re-open the call for nominations for any position that only has one valid nominee or no nominee. All nominees shall provide a brief statement of candidacy and confirmation of eligibility at the first Ordinary General Assembly.
9.7.3	Nominations will be announced, discussed, and further nominations accepted for any position that does not yet have a nominee, at the first Ordinary General Assembly of each ICE.
9.7.4	In the event that a Board position has no eligible nominee, the officer will be appointed by the outgoing Board and ratified by the members during the second Ordinary General Assembly. If no appointment can be made at the second General Assembly, the officer will be appointed by the incoming Board at the earliest possible date following the second General Assembly and the members shall be notified.
9.8	Voting for Officers and Board Members will be by a show of hands, electronic or oral ballot at the second Ordinary General Assembly of each ICE, unless a secret ballot is requested by at least one Member.
9.8.1.	The person with the most votes for each office shall be declared elected to the position. In the event of two or more nominees receiving the same number of votes for the same position, the vote for that office shall be taken again until a clear winner is found.
9.8.2	If, for any reason, an Ordinary General Assembly does not take place, the election will be conducted by postal ballot and electronic ballot, at the time when the Ordinary General Assembly should have been held.
9.9	The office of a Board Member shall become vacant if:
9.9.1	he or she resigns;
9.9.2	he or she dies;
9.9.3	he or she is removed with reason by a majority vote of Members at an Ordinary General Assembly or Extraordinary General Assembly. In any such case the Board Member concerned will be given notice prior to the meeting setting out the reasons for his or her proposed removal and an opportunity will be provided to address the Members prior to the vote being taken.
9.9.4	if he or she fails to perform duties.
9.10	Where a Board member fails to perform his or her duties he/she shall be given notice in writing of the failure to perform his/her duties and what is required to remedy such failure. Any written notice shall be supported by a majority of the Board. If the failure is not remedied or a satisfactory reason for failing to perform his/her duties is not provided by the Board member concerned within 21 working days, then the Board may vote by majority to remove the Board member concerned. Three successive written notices to a Board member shall result in automatic dismissal of that Board member.
9.11	At-large Board Members or Officers cannot hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms unless authorized by the Ordinary General Assembly.
9.12	Appointment to any vacancy in the membership of the Board shall be made by the continuing Board Members with any such interim appointment to be ratified or otherwise determined at the next Ordinary General Assembly of the ISE.
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ARTICLE 10.

10.0 Duties of the Board

10.1	To represent the community of ethnobiologists and ethnoecologists affiliated with the ISE in national and international fora in ways consistent with the ISE constitution and Code of Ethics.
10.2	To convene meetings, congresses and conferences on behalf of the ISE.
10.3	To assist and advise private organizations, non-governmental organizations and government organizations and such other persons or bodies in the study and research of ethnobiology and ethnoecology.
10.4	To seek, accept and receive donations, subsidies, grants, endowments, gifts, legacies and bequests, either in money or in kind or partly in money and partly in kind, on behalf of the ISE for all or any of the objects and purposes of the ISE.
10.5	To collaborate with any person, group, organization that wishes to further the objectives and purposes of the ISE.
10.6	To promote awareness of the activities and objectives of the ISE through appropriate means.
10.7	To print, publish, distribute and sell any books, articles, monographs, pictures, maps, electronic mail, facsimile or other works that promote ethnobiology and ethnoecology.
10.8	To take appropriate action on allegations and complaints made to the Ethics Committee concerning any alleged breach of this Constitution and/or the ISE Code of Ethics.
10.8.1	To make recommendations to the Ordinary General Assembly concerning actions (if any) to be taken.
10.8.2	The Board may recommend suspension or termination of Membership, but only after the person(s) against whom the complaint has been made is given opportunity to respond to the allegations.
10.9	To facilitate the publication and dissemination of the Proceedings of the ICEs and other relevant documents, occasional papers, and journals.
10.10	To do all such other things as, in the opinion of the Board, may be incidental or conducive to the attainment of the foregoing objects or purposes for the exercise of any of the foregoing powers.
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ARTICLE 11

11.0 Proceedings of the Board

11.1	The Board of the ISE shall be responsible for the management for all the affairs of the ISE and may exercise all the powers and authorities conferred under this Constitution.
11.2	The Board Members shall meet together for the dispatch of business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings as they think fit.
11.3	The quorum necessary for the transaction of business of the Board shall be four (4).
11.4	The President shall preside at all meetings of the Board.
11.5	In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside and may exercise the powers of the President at any meeting.
11.6	If both the President and Vice-President are absent then the Board Members present shall elect one of their Members to act as Chair of the meeting.
11.7	Questions arising at any meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes.
11.8	The President votes only to break a tie vote.
11.9	The responsibilities of the Board are detailed in the Board information portfolios. These include, but are not limited to:
11.9.1	legal representation of the ISE;
11.9.2	carrying out the provisions of this Constitution;
11.9.3	directing the affairs of the ISE;
11.9.4	make recommendations to the General Assembly on the creation, suspension, termination, or fusion of Committees;
11.9.5	deciding on the participation of the ISE in meetings and activities with other organizations;
11.9.6	maintaining contact and collaborating with organizations having similar or related objects and purposes to those of the ISE;
11.9.7	preparing and submitting to the Ordinary General Assembly the yearly officers' reports;
11.9.8	preparing and submitting to the Ordinary General Assembly the annual financial and committee reports;
11.9.9	deciding on whether to appoint an auditor for the annual financial statements;
11.9.10	appointing of Editor(s) for ISE publications.
11.9.11	appointing of Committees to assist the work of the Board. (a) The Chair of each Committee shall be a Board Member, who may recruit, for the purposes of consultation advice or other kinds of assistance, persons interested in achieving the Committee objectives. (b) Any such committee shall be competent to make inquiries or to superintend, or transact any business under the sanction and guidance of the Board of the ISE.
11.9.12	There shall be no formal meetings without a Board Member being present.
11.9.13	Questions arising at any meeting shall be determined by majority of votes, and the Chair does not vote except in the case of a tie.
11.9.14	Committees shall include but not be limited to the following: (a) Ethics (b) Membership (c) Fund Raising (d) Training and Education (e) Communication/News/Dissemination (f) Congress Venue (g) Publications (h) Student prize
11.9.15	A resolution in writing (including facsimile transcript or electronic mail) signed by a quorum of Board Members shall be as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened and held. Any such resolution may consist of several documents in like form, each signed by one or more Board Members.
11.9.16	All proceedings of the Board and meetings of Committees shall be recorded and disseminated by the Secretary or ISE Coordinator to all Board Members.
11.10	The responsibilities of the President shall include but are not limited to:
11.10.1	convening and presiding at meetings of the Board;
11.10.2	convening and presiding at Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assemblies;
11.11	The Vice-President shall substitute for the President in the absence of the President.
11.12	The Secretary shall be responsible for supporting and working with the ISE Coordinator in:
11.12.1	preparing and distributing to the Board in a timely fashion the minutes of the proceedings of the Board Members meetings and of the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assemblies;
11.12.2	receiving, filing and arranging for inward and outward correspondence of the ISE;
11.12.3	substituting for the President and Vice-President in the case that either are unable or prevented from meeting their commitments.
11.13	The Treasurer shall be responsible for supporting and working with the ISE Coordinator in:
11.13.1	receiving, acknowledging and accounting for the annual Membership fees;
11.13.2	managing the ISE's funds and payment of accounts;
11.13.3	preparing the annual financial report to the Ordinary General Assembly;
11.13.4	receiving and giving receipts for all legacies, donations, subscriptions or other monies bequeath, made, given or leant to the ISE and every such receipt shall be an effective discharge for the money or other property so received.
11.14	The duties of the Immediate Past President include:
11.14.1	duties as prescribed by the Board.
11.15	The duties of the Director of the Global Coalition include:
11.15.1	collaborating with the Ethics Chair in the constitution and co-chairing of the Ethics Committee;
11.15.2	other duties as required to effectively implement the goals of the Global Coalition as outlined in the Kunming Action Plan (see Annex 2);
11.15.3	other duties as prescribed by the Board.
11.16	Duties of At-Large Board Members include:
11.16.1	chairing of Committees as assigned by the President or the Board;
11.16.2	other duties as prescribed by the Board.
11.17	Duties of Ex-Officio Members include:
11.17.1	providing advice to the Board;
11.17.2	chairing Committees as assigned by the President or the Board;
11.17.3	other duties as prescribed by the Board.
11.18	The President cannot serve simultaneously as president of the ISE and Organizing Chair of the ICE.
11.19	Officers and At-Large Board Members have one vote each; Ex-Officio members are non-voting Members
11.20	No part of the income or property of the ISE shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of profit to any Board Member, provided that, in accordance with the State of Vermont (U.S.A.) Law, nothing herein contained shall preclude any reasonable payment to a Board Member or any other person for services rendered or for goods supplied or by way of interest on any Board Member or any other person.
11.21	Notices requiring a response under this constitution may be sent in writing to the last known postal address of the person or organization concerned. Notices may also be sent by fax transmission or by email in addition to post. Service can be affected by one or all of these means as required.
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ARTICLE 12.

12.0 Indemnity

12.1	Each Board Member shall be liable for any loss directly attributable to that Board Members own dishonesty or willful breach of trust or for any complicity in a breach of trust by any other Board Member.
12.2	Subject to Article 11.1, the Board Members of the ISE shall be absolutely indemnified out of the property and funds of the ISE for all liabilities incurred by the Board Member in the exercise or attempted exercise of any trust, power, authority or discretion vested in the Board Member and shall have a lien and may use monies forming part of the property and funds of the ISE in relation to discharging any such liability.
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ARTICLE 13.

13.0 Finance

13.1	The monies of the ISE shall be deposited in the name of the organization in such bank or banks, or trust company or trust companies, as the Board Members shall designate from time to time.
13.2	Checks on the bank account(s) and other negotiable instruments shall be signed by the ISE Coordinator and one other Member authorized by resolution of the Board Members.
13.3	The monies of the ISE shall be fully utilized towards promoting and achieving the objects of the ISE as set out in Article 3.
13.4	The financial year of the ISE shall end on the 31st day of March in each year.
13.5	The accounts of the Board of the ISE may be audited by a chartered accountant who shall not be a Member of the Board provided that the Board may decide not to appoint an auditor in any year.
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ARTICLE 14.

14.0 The Seal/Logo

14.1	There shall be a common logo of the ISE. The ISE Coordinator shall have the safe custody of the common logo. Members of the Ordinary General Assembly may from time to time by resolution, change, alter, or adopt any new logo as they deem proper.
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ARTICLE 15.

15.0 Books and Records

15.1	The Board of the ISE shall keep accurate records of its assets and liabilities and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the Board of the ISE and of meetings of the General Assemblies.
15.2	All books and registers of the ISE shall be written in English.
15.3	Translations of publications into other languages shall be encouraged.
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ARTICLE 16.

16.0 Regional Committees

16.1	The ISE may, by proposal of the Board of the ISE, establish Regional Committees in any place and country of the world. Each such Regional Committee shall be regulated by its own Constitution and bylaws provided that no such Constitution or set of bylaws shall be inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the Constitution and Code of Ethics of the ISE.
16.2	Regional Committees must have and maintain at all times not less than twenty (20) founder or ordinary Members of the ISE.
16.3	The Constitution or bylaws of a Regional Committee must be approved by a meeting of the general assembly of Members.
16.4	A Regional Committee may request from the Board of the ISE some administrative time and support from the ISE Coordinator to assist the Regional Committee in meeting its administration needs.
16.5	Any Regional Committee claiming administrative time and support from the ISE Coordinator shall provide a complete list of names of founder and ordinary Members in respect of whom a claim is being made and together with proof that their annual Membership fees have been paid for the relevant year.
16.6	Each Regional Committee, through its elected offices and/or legal representative, shall in each year provide a written report to the President of the ISE on that Regional Committee's activities for the year including: (a) Number of meetings held; (b) Resolutions passed; (c) New Members admitted; (d) Financial statement of assets and liabilities; (e) Statement of Income and Expenditure; (f) List of Members who have paid and those who have not paid annual Membership fees.
16.7	The General Assembly may, on the recommendation of the Board of the ISE vote to suspend, extinguish, amalgamate or otherwise determine any Regional Committee(s) as the General Assembly may decide. Any recommendation of the Board of the ISE to the General Assembly in relation to a Regional Committee shall be circulated among Members at least two (2) days prior to a decision being made by the General Assembly on the future role and status of the Regional Committee concerned.
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ARTICLE 17.

17.0 Alternations to Constitution

17.1	The rules of this Constitution may be modified or amended by a minimum of two-thirds (2/3) vote of Members present and voting at an Ordinary General Assembly.
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ARTICLE 18.

18.0 Dissolution of the ISE

18.1	The ISE may be dissolved by a decision of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of Members present at an Extraordinary General Assembly called especially for that purpose.
18.2	In the event of the ISE being dissolved, any surplus assets after payment of the ISE's liabilities (if any), shall be applied towards the objectives of the ISE.
18.3	Any such decision for disbursement of surplus assets shall be made by the Board incumbent at the date immediately preceding a resolution to dissolve or wind up the ISE.
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ANNEX 1: ISE CODE OF ETHICS (2006)

ANNEX 2: OUTLINE OF THE GLOBAL COALITION AS PRESCRIBED BY THE KUNMING ACTION PLAN

A GLOBAL COALITION FOR THE DEFENSE OF BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY BE HEREWITH ESTABLISHED TO ENCOURAGE THE PERMANENT AND MEANINGFUL DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES, SCIENTISTS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP A UNIFIED STRATEGY TO DEFEND THE BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL DIVERSITY OF PLANET EARTH. MEMBERSHIP OF THE GLOBAL COALITION WILL CONSIST OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND INSTITUTIONS WHO WISH TO WORK IN UNITY GUIDED BY THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES:

1.	Members will actively seek organizations to join the coalition;
2.	Members will collaborate with indigenous organizations and indigenous peoples to develop multi-cultural, multi-lingual education and training materials; members will actively request governments and educators to use these materials;
3.	Member researchers will take an ethically and socially responsible approach in their dealings with indigenous/native peoples and will provide a full feedback of their findings and results;
4.	Members will use and engage the media whenever, wherever, and however possible to promote "The Declaration of Belém" and the "Kunming Action Plan";
5.	The GLOBAL COALITION demands to be heard in the United Nations World Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and will actively pursue representation;
6.	Members will work to guarantee that indigenous knowledge be duly considered in national and international development programs and projects;
7.	Members will help to secure the recognition of traditional and indigenous knowledge as inventive and intellectual, and, therefore, worthy of protection in all legal, ethical, and professional frameworks;
8.	Members will form an Ethics Committee to set standards and monitor the progress of the Kunming Action Plan.
9.	Members will establish a "STRATEGY FOR THE GLOBAL COALITION" to guide activities for 1992 and beyond.
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[1] This version of the Constitution includes changes approved by vote in the General Assembly at the 11th ICE in Cusco, Peru in 2008.

Biocultural heritage is the cultural heritage (both the tangible and intangible including customary law, folklore, spiritual values, knowledge, innovations and practices) and biological heritage (diversity of genes, varieties, species and ecosystem provisioning, regulating, and cultural services) of Indigenous peoples, traditional societies and local communities, which often are inextricably linked through the interaction between peoples and nature over time and shaped by their socio-ecological and economic context. This heritage includes the landscape as the spatial dimension in which the evolution of Indigenous biocultural heritage takes place. This heritage is passed on from generation to generation, developed, owned and administered collectively by stakeholder communities according to customary law.

Traditional resources rights is defined by Posey and Dutfield (1996:3) as follows: "The term 'traditional' refers to the cherished practices, beliefs, customs, knowledge and cultural heritage of indigenous and local communities who live in close association with the Earth; 'resource' is used in its broadest sense to mean all knowledge and technology, esthetic and spiritual qualities, tangible and intangible sources that together, are deemed by local communities to be necessary to ensure healthy and fulfilling lifestyles for present and future generations; and 'rights' refers to the basic inalienable guarantee to all human beings and the collective entities in which they choose to participate of the necessities to achieve and maintain the dignity and well-being of themselves, their predecessors, and their descendants."