Paper short abstract:

Biocultural protocols are an important tool to set up traditional knowledge commons that enable indigenous communities to negotiat their cultural values in prospect commercial enterprises. Taditional commons can here be viewed as a means of cultural security in times of economic uncertainty.

Paper long abstract:

Cultural values are important means in the discussion around the protection of traditional knowledge. In African societies, knowledge is not manifested in a written codex, but essential part of the daily living of communities. However, in times of intellectual property debates, communities are requested to define the value of their knowledge. Biocultural protocols (BCPs) aim to enable communities to negotiate their bio-cultural values and adhere to their traditional knowledge. This is s a new process that calls for the engagement with "African identity" and values that were suppressed over centuries of colonilalization. At the same time, it may help these communities to secure their rights in times of economic uncertainty. This goes in line with new forms of governmetality that includes the environment as much as indigenous groups in political negotiation processes.

This paper discusses the development of a biocultural protocol of the Bushbuckridge Healers Association in the South African "Kruger to Canyon (K2C) Biosphere" region and the idea of a "traditional knowledge commons" and its implications for indigenous communities in (South) Africa. In discussing their "traditional knowledge commons" the healers set guidelines for future commercial enterprises and a basis for intellectual property debates. Different layers of hierachies and actual negitiation processes are involved in the set up these protocols and the definition of a "traditional knowledge commons". This paper aims to unfold the different layers and structures involved in this "local debate" in the K2C region. This region might eventually stand as a role model for future szenarios.

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