ABSTRACT
Indigenous communities have accumulated a wealth of traditional knowledge (TK) through centuries of close dependence on nature – including knowledge about medicinal plants, wild foods and agricultural practices, and knowledge embodied in the native seed varieties and livestock breeds that they have improved and conserved. In recent years, indigenous organizations have become increasingly concerned about the privatization of their knowledge and bio-resources, alienation of their rights and unfair exploitation of these resources, without permission or respect of customary laws. IPR regimes – such as patents and plant variety protection (PVP) – are becoming increasingly strong and ubiquitous as a result of trade agreements of the WTO and the proliferation of bilateral Free Trade Agreements. This is accelerating the commercial use and privatization of indigenous knowledge and resources (Swiderska, 2006).
