It's the redeployment of traditional knowledge to counteract the impacts of climate change.
Sometimes, however, the benefits of traditional knowledge are not so obvious to those outside the culture.
There may be a shortage of data, but there's no shortage of traditional knowledge that awaits possible confirmation by science.
The same concerns are held about language programs in mainstream education, outside the control of community groups and caretakers of traditional knowledge.
It is often noted that indigenous peoples have an intuitive relationship with nature, a wealth of traditional knowledge, and have used natural resource management practices for centuries to preserve their lands.
They suggested that it might even be necessary to impose a total "moratorium on the commercial exploitation of traditional knowledge of genetic resources" until a more equitable system could be created.
Patrick O'Leary of the Pew Charitable Trust says it has been shown that Indigenous communities can deliver "a sophisticated, modern, management regime that combines the best elements of traditional knowledge, a local commitment people have, and the fact that they're on country … with the best science we can bring to bear".
Despite this, Leal believes purchasing Natura's products should not be seen as "buying your pass to heaven," and that while the company is accessing a lot of traditional knowledge and discovering day by day how it could help produce better products, western technology is also required.
Traditional knowledge The most glaring conflict between rich and poor over intellectual property comes from the misappropriation of "traditional knowledge"—such as ancient herbal remedies that find their way into high-priced western pharmaceuticals without the consent of, or compensation to, the people who have used them for generations.
Arguably, some followers of this scientific ethos would also demand a fairer evaluation of the value of traditional knowledge.
Moreover, a wealth of traditional knowledge about Si material is helpful for understanding the relationships between its properties and nanostructures.
