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Responses
The 188 Parties to the CBD are conscious of the interdependent relationship between biological and cultural diversity, which constitutes an integral part fo the Convention. The CBD contains a number of provisions of particular importance on indigenous people including Article 8(j) in which parties undertake to respect, preserve, and maintain the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity. They also undertake to promote wider application of such knowledge, innovations and practices with the approval and involvement of the indigenous peoples concerned.
The Convention's supreme decision-making body, composed of all the governments that have ratified the Convention, established a subsidiary body, the Ad Hoc Open-ended Inter-sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions, to address these issues and to develop an ambitious programme of work. The Working Group on Article 8(j) has held three meetings, made preliminary assessments of the status of traditional knowledge protections and taken steps to involve members of indigenous and local communities in the CBD process.
