Ms Shehana Gomez

(she/her)

Research

Thesis

Bioculturalism and the Use of Biocultural Community Protocols by Indigenous and Local Communities

I examine the concept of bioculturalism, which I use as the frame for the whole thesis. It can be described as 'the inextricable link between nature and culture'. This close relationship between nature and culture can be seen in the lifestyles of indigenous and traditional communities who live close to the land. Research shows that these lifestyles are often inherently protective of the environment and have a strong conservation ethic. They are often based on relationships that these communities have with their territories based on cultural and spiritual values. This has been recognised in international human rights law, and international environmental treaties such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and Nagoya Protocol, as well as other aspects of international conservation policy . 

I also look at the theory of biocultural rights developed by Sanjay Kabir Bavikatte. These are rights awarded to indigenous and local communities (ILCs) in order to secure their stewardship of their territories. Thee rights are those already established in human rights law.

Having looked at these, I focus on biocultural community protocols or BCPs. These used by ILCs that set out their identity including of their history, values, social organisation, traditional authorities and decision-making procedures and traditional knowledge. In addition, they explain their relationship to their ancestral land and natural resources. BCPs are a documentary source of this information, for the benefit of the communities themselves and external actors who interact with them. The actors could be government authorities, scientific and other researchers or private companies. Typically, they seek access to the community's land and natural resources and a BCP sets out its rules of engagement: procedures for obtaining the community's consent, and their expectations in return. 

My main original contribution is in the case studies of the BCPs of two Indigenous Kenyan communities . I examine the background to the BCPs, reasons for adopting them and the development processes which involve assistance from an external NGO and donor agencies. I also examine the texts of each BCP using a biocutlural rights framework.

Funding sources

I am funded by the Arts and Humanities Reserach Council, South West and Wales DTP2.