Adapted from Beyond Intellectual Property: Traditional Resource Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities by Darrell A. Posey and Graham Dutfield.

Spun alpaca wool, colored with natural dyes. Pitumarca District, Peru. Photograph by Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel

In 1988 the First International Congress of Ethnobiology met in Belém, Brazil. Indigenous and traditional peoples (those referred to in the Convention on Biological Diversity as “indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles”) from various parts of the world met with scientists and environmentalists to discuss a common strategy to stop the rapid decrease in the planet’s biological and cultural diversity. Major concerns included the unique ways in which indigenous and traditional peoples perceive, use, and manage their natural resources and how programs can be developed to guarantee the preservation and strengthening of indigenous communities and their traditional knowledge.

The congress produced The Declaration of Belém, which outlined explicitly the responsibilities of scientists and environmentalists in addressing the needs of local communities and acknowledged the central role of indigenous peoples in all aspects of global planning. Although the language of The Declaration of Belém may seem somewhat antiquated today, it was the first time that an international scientific organization recognized a basic obligation that “procedures be developed to compensate native peoples for the utilization of their knowledge and their biological resources” (Statement 4). Since 1988, dozens of other institutions, professional societies, and organizations have followed suit.

Declaration of Belém (1988)

Decl Belem Eng from Posey*Source: Posey, D., and G. Dutfield, 1996. Beyond Intellectual Property Rights: Towards Traditional Resource Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. IDRC: Ottawa.

The Declaration of Belém is currently available in 5 languages:

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The Declaration of Belém +30

Chief Raoni speaks at opening night of Belem+30

Chief Raoni speaks during opening night of Belem+30. Photo Credit: Glenn Shepard

During the preparations and organization of the XVI Congress of the International Society of Ethnobiology, XII Congress of the Brazilian Society of Ethnobiology and I World Fair of Sociobiodiversity, commonly known as “Belém + 30”, it was proposed to draft a new Declaration of Belém 30 years after the publication of the “Carta de Belém” in 1988 prepared during the I International Congress of Ethnobiology organized by the Emilio Goeldi Museum. For this purpose the Peoples’ Forum was organized, bringing together leaders of indigenous, traditional and local populations, researchers, technicians and ethnobiologists, who for two days addressed issues related to land rights and natural resources; its socio-cultural, political and economic organization; and the genocidal practices it has suffered over the past three decades.

The Declaration of Belém + 30, ratified by the Peoples’ Forum and read in public at the closing ceremony of Belém + 30 on August 10, 2018, in Portuguese and in Tucano, the language of the inhabitants of the Amazon main channel. In the document, traditional peoples and communities defend respect for their territories, freedom of management and self-determination of their ways of life. Advocate also the need for free, prior and informed consultation for projects and / or actions that may affect their territories and lifestyles; benefit sharing from research and / or use of sociodiversity; the implementation of differentiated educational programs adapted to local conditions; targeting science and technology resources to traditional peoples initiatives; ensuring effective punishment for environmental crimes and human rights violations; beyond the recognition of knowledge, cultures and innovations of different peoples.

Afro-Brazilian traditional peoples and indigenous peoples during closing ceremony

Afro-Brazilian traditional peoples and indigenous peoples during closing ceremony. Photo Credit: Glenn Shepard

Durante os preparativos e a organização do XVI Congresso da Sociedade Internacional de Etnobiologia, XII Congresso da Sociedade Brasileira de Etnobiologia e I Feira Mundial da Sociobiodiversidade, comumente designado de “Belém+30”, foi proposta a elaboração de uma nova Declaração de Belém 30 anos após a divulgação da “Carta de Belém” em 1988 elaborada durante o I Congresso Internacional de Etnobiologia organizado pelo Museu Emilio Goeldi. Com esta finalidade foi organizado o Fórum dos Povos, reunindo lideranças de populações indígenas, tradicionais e locais, pesquisadores, técnicos e etnobiólogos, os quais durante dois dias se debruçaram sobre questões relativas aos direitos originários à terra e aos recursos naturais; à sua organicação socio-cultural, política e econômica; e às práticas genocidas que vem sofrendo ao longo destas últimas três décadas.

A Declaração de Belém+30, ratificada pelo Fórum dos Povos e lida em público na cerimônia de encerramento doBelém+30 em 10 de agosto de 2018, em Português e em Tucano, língua dos habitantes da calha principal do Amazonas. No documento, povos e comunidades tradicionais defendem o respeito a seus territórios, liberdade de gestão e autodeterminação de seus modos de vida. Defendem também a necessidade de consulta livre, prévia e informada para projetos e/ou ações que possam afetar seus territórios e modos de vida; a repartição de benefícios de pesquisas e/ ou uso da sociodiversidade; a implementação de programas educacionais diferenciados e adaptados às condições locais; o direcionamento de recursos de ciência e tecnologia para iniciativas dos povos tradicionais; a garantia de efetiva punição para crimes ambientais e violações de direitos humanos; além do reconhecimento de saberes, culturas e inovações dos diferentes povos.

The Declaration of Belém+30 is currently available as a PDF download in 6 languages: