Plant Diversity ›› 2003, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (05): 1-3.

• Articles •    

Cultural Diversity Promotes Conservation and Application of Biological Diversity

LONG ChunLin,PEI ShengJi   

  1. Kunming Institute of Botany,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Kunming 650204,China
  • Online:2003-10-25 Published:2003-10-25

Abstract: The concepts of culture,cultural diversity and indigenous knowledge were explained in terms of their impacts on biodiversity.The interaction between cultural and biological diversity was elucidated at the global level based on the linguistic diversity.There is positive relationship between cultural diversity and biodiversity,that is,the megabiodiversity countries harbor the richest cultural diversity.Taking the Hinayana Buddhism culture in northern Thailand,sacred grove culture in India,Jinuo people's swidden culture,Lisu people's hunting culture,and Tibetan Buddhism culture as cases,it is proven that cultural diversity could promote the conservation and application of biodiversity.The authors suggested that the indigenous knowledge important to biodiversity conservation should be emphasized.Conservationists should establish close partnerships with indigenous peoples and religious persons,and attract and encourage their active participation in the activities of biodiversity conservation.Finally the viewpoint of taking conservation as a culture should be proposed and extended.

Key words: Culture