ABSTRACT
There is increasing recognition that biodiversity and cultural diversity are interconnected through cultural meaning (Posey, 1999), the use of language (Maffi, 2001) and local ecological knowledge (Berkes, 2008). Such biological and cultural diversity is thus connected by the various processes of the integrated social-ecological systems that make up the biosphere (Berkes and Folke, 1998). This chapter assesses Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas (ICCAs), and their associated livelihoods, cultures and spiritual beliefs that centre on nature. Biodiversity conservation is imperative to livelihoods that depend upon nature to produce ecological services for human well-being (MEA, 2005). But humans also have cultural and spiritual needs. In many parts of the world, belief in a sacred nature underpins people’s land and resource use while in pursuit of livelihoods. Moreover, traditional cultural and spiritual values provide the context in which environmental stewardship can be nurtured. As Kothari (2009) puts it, the future of conservation lies at least partly in the past.
