Traditional culture

The mountainous region of Chitral, which recently became the first district in Pakistan to have a conservation strategy, is renowned for its rugged landscape and unique culture. What is perhaps less well known is that the area possesses a rich tradition of customary law and indigenous statecraft. This heritage, spanning a period of nearly 700 years, encompasses a wide range of subjects from defence and civil administration to land tenure systems and natural resource management.

Colombia’s policy on its indigenous people includes recognizing their rights relating to political and administrative autonomy, land tenure, education and health. This progressive policy has been implemented through the establishment of indigenous reserves called resuguaros, which recognizes the role of traditional indigenous management mechanisms for the conservation of the environment.

This small booklet is the pilot version of a longer book which will be published for use in schools throughout the Kamchatka Peninsula. Using the example of the dwarf Siberian pine, one of three species of pines with edible nuts found in Russia, the book seeks input from readers on the content and design of the future publication on wild harvested plants and their uses.