Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge (CBIK)
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CBIK is a participatory learning organization, dedicated to biodiversity conservation and community livelihood development, as well as documentation of indigenous knowledge and technical innovations related to resource governance at community and watershed levels, which is supplementary for government works. The organization was established in 1995 as a membership non-profit organization. Its more than 100 members include research professionals, development practitioners and resource managers.
Overview
CBIK aims to explore alternative development approaches for working directly with indigenous people and communities to enhance their livelihoods and maintain cultural and biological diversity through application of indigenous cosmovision, knowledge, and innovative technology in the environment of rapid change and uncertainty faced by local people in SW China.
CBIK also works to promote local and regional inter-sectorial and intercultural dialogue and communication among rural communities, NGOs, academia and governmental agencies. For this purpose, it conducts interdisciplinary research, facilitation for participatory development, consultation for cultural identity, networking for information sharing, and capacity building for watershed governance and livelihood development.
Vision
At CBIK, we envision a future in Southwest China where:
We live in a democratic, ecologically and culturally diverse society, in which the livelihoods and resources of local people and communities are respected, improved and sustainably managed through equitable, harmonious partnerships among government and civil society stakeholders.
Mission
To work toward our vision, our mission statement is as follows:
CBIK enables local groups to strengthen their evolving cultural traditions and generate innovative ways to improve their livelihoods and enhance biodiversity through interdisciplinary research, capacity building, and participatory approaches for nurturing intercultural dialogue among people of varying local and scientific cultures, languages and knowledge systems in Southwest China.
Goals
In response to our newly articulated vision and mission, we have formulated four main goals for CBIK:
- Improve the capabilities of local people for sustainable livelihoods and the well-being of human and non-human residents of mountain watersheds.
- Generate environmentally sound and socioculturally adapted knowledge for managing and conserving natural and cultural resources.
- Enhance the capacity of committed researchers and development workers for interdisciplinary research, facilitation, documentation and dissemination in partnership with indigenous people.
- Offer means and methods for bridging between knowledge systems, political systems and cultures to contribute to a society of intercultural, intersectoral and interdisciplinary dialogue and cooperation.
CBIK’s Values
We strive for excellence. We believe in character, competence, commitment and creativity.
We work as teams in an interdisciplinary mode. We believe in mutual knowledge, mutual trust, mutual respect and mutual support.
We respect the diversity of cultures and societies. We believe in inter-cultural communication among ourselves and with others.
We believe that humans, with their cultural diversity, are an integral component of nature.
Credo of CBIK
For a diversity society and living planet tomorrow, WE
Go to the people;
Live among them;
Learn from them;
Plan with them;
Work with them;
We are led by the people;
Learning by doing
Sharing by showing
Transforming by communication.
Website: www.cbik.org
