Within the framework of the 27th session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity, a related event organized by the “Karota” Cultural and Educational Development NGO was held in Panama, entitled “Environmental Conservation through Culture: The Biodiversity Memory of Indigenous Peoples.”
The event was organized within the framework of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia and aimed to highlight how the cultural heritage of Armenia’s indigenous communities — including songs, carpets, embroidery, rituals, and oral traditions — has preserved biodiversity as a form of living memory over the centuries, passing ecological knowledge from generation to generation.
During the event, concrete examples were presented illustrating how various communities, even without scientific tools, have preserved plants, animals, and landscapes through their traditional culture.
The main objectives of the event were:
• To present Armenia’s cultural heritage as an informal system for conserving biodiversity,
• To demonstrate how songs and artistic expressions convey ecological knowledge,
• To discuss the importance of engaging indigenous communities in the development of biodiversity conservation policies.
The event brought together specialists in biodiversity and cultural heritage, representatives of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (particularly within the framework of Article 8(j)), cultural policymakers, community representatives, and youth.
Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and Aram Meymaryan, Deputy Minister of Environment of the RA, delivered speeches and highlighted the vital role of indigenous communities in preserving the balance between nature and culture.