Financial Mechanism and Resources

In our research (documentation of traditional knowledge (TK) of indigenous people related to medicinal and aromatic plants), we carried out few activities in order to achieve collective action:
1. Rapid Rural Appraisal
The research team made several visits to meet their community leaders to explain about the project and TK issues. When necessary, with the help of local informants, the project was explained to the community in their languages. The community discussion involved community headman, medicine men or traditional practitioners and mid-wives. When the representatives have been given the approval, the next activity will be carried out.
2. TK Awareness Workshop
The workshops were attended by local villagers comprising men, women and youths and they were briefed on the background of CBD, National Policy on Biological Diversity, the current project and its importance was highlighted. The TK awareness workshop acted as a platform for exchanging of experiences relating to TK issues in Malaysia. In particular, issues on prior informed consent (PIC), potential economic benefits and fair and equitable sharing of benefits were discussed. This workshop also seeks for unofficial approval to implement the project from the community.
3. Prior informed consent (PIC) & Household Survey
How could PIC be obtained from the local communities? After lengthy discussion with the stakeholders, it was decided that PIC was to be obtained from individual households. Therefore, to enable villagers to have a better understanding on the project and to obtain PIC, household survey was conducted.
After the approval from the household, the project was implemented. Documentation of medicinal plants has been achieved by conducting socio-economic survey, capacity building on samples collection and preparation on herbarium specimens and collection of samples for bioprospecting. All these activities involved the community members.