ABSTRACT
The bulk of the world’s biological diversity is found in developing tropical countries, and within these countries in areas and among people who are frequently politically and economically marginalized (Dove, 1996). Moreover, the strong link between cultural and biological diversity means that biodiversity research is often conducted in close proximity to, or with the involvement of, these local communities (Maffi, 2001; Posey, 1999). These factors immediately raise a wide range of ethical issues, ranging from the researchers’ relationships with local communities, to the roles of researchers as mediators between actors, agents and interests in a world permeated by social and economic inequalities.
