Linking biological and cultural diversity through indicators of well-being

Across the globe, there is increasing attention on the efforts of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who implement local-level, ecosystem-based approaches to resource management and sustainability. This is especially... [ view full abstract ]

Across the globe, there is increasing attention on the efforts of Indigenous Peoples and local communities who implement local-level, ecosystem-based approaches to resource management and sustainability. This is especially true when those communities implement what can be described as a biocultural approach to natural resource management—one the builds from and explicitly includes local knowledges, values, and perspectives. However, developing indicators to assess the local outcomes of sustainability management actions, and linking them to broader national and international policy targets, remains a key challenge. This can become problematic if diverging local, national, and international needs and values lead to misdirection of resources and implementation of programs inappropriate to local contexts. Collaboration between local, national, and international indicator initiatives is essential to synergize cross-scale planning and enhance evidence-informed implementation for sustainability. In April 2018, an action group of representatives from Indigenous and local communities, research institutions, and national and international policy arenas met to explore case studies, synthesize pertinent materials, and identify actionable items to facilitate learning across groups and partners who are measuring, monitoring, and reporting on human and environmental well-being using biocultural approaches. This work is intended to inform a suite of policy recommendations that promote resilient communities and strengthen links between cultural and biological diversity in global initiatives and global decision-making arenas. We will present preliminary results from the April 2018 action group meeting in addition to highlights from complementary efforts to assess and evaluate indicators of well-being in biocultural communities.