SDM 2018 PANAMA

In recent years, the indigenous Usdub community in the Gunayala region of Panama has seen the loss of traditional knowledge related to biodiversity conservation and the region’s ecosystems, which has endangered biodiversity, cultural and spiritual practices, as well as community food security. The project aims to strengthen the spiritual practices by conserving the sacred sites and important ecosystems of the community in order to improve the management of the lands, forests and agricultural biodiversity around the sacred sites and ensure the conservation and protection of these sites through practices of spiritual and cultural interest, and for food production. Emphasis is placed on the participation of young and Guna women from the community in the production and recovery of native seeds that are in danger of extinction as well as in the recovery of indigenous knowledge in the management of the ecosystems, with a focus on agricultural biodiversity that is used in spiritual, ceremonial, cultural and nutritional practices. The FPCI, together with the Usdub community, has taken the initiative for the recovery, in situ conservation of biodiversity, management of natural resources and the recovery of indigenous knowledge in order to contribute to the CBD Aichi Biodiversity Targets.