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Bumping against the boundary: IPBES and the knowledge divide

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  • Löfmarck, Erik
  • Lidskog, Rolf

Abstract

Founded in 2012, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is one of the most ambitious attempts to date to bridge the divide between scientific knowledge and indigenous and local knowledge. Doing so requires overcoming participatory, epistemological and ontological challenges, including different communicative forms, diverging criteria for knowledge validation, and conflicting views of nature. Central IPBES documents are analyzed to see how the platform deals with these challenges. While IPBES constitutes an unprecedented, innovative and ambitious institutional design for the cross-fertilization of knowledge, the results show that IPBES (i) struggles to reconcile an open, collaborative atmosphere with the demands for structure set by the scientific format, (ii) tends to shy away from potentially conflict-laden issues and disagreements, (iii) often treats scientific knowledge and indigenous or local knowledge as easily distinguishable entities, and (iv) has yet to solve the epistemological challenges of knowledge generation and validation when working across knowledge-systems. Taken together, these features seem to hinder the cross-fertilization of knowledge. The case of IPBES thus holds important lessons for future efforts to transform both knowledge production and the overall framing of challenges within global environmental governance.

Suggested Citation

  • Löfmarck, Erik & Lidskog, Rolf, 2017. "Bumping against the boundary: IPBES and the knowledge divide," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 22-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enscpo:v:69:y:2017:i:c:p:22-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2016.12.008
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    1. Indra Morandín-Ahuerma & Armando Contreras-Hernández & Dante Ariel Ayala-Ortiz & Octavio Pérez-Maqueo, 2019. "Socio–Ecosystemic Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-26, June.
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    3. Scholastica Akalibey & Petra Hlaváčková & Jiří Schneider & Jitka Fialová & Samuel Darkwah & Albert Ahenkan, 2024. "Integrating indigenous knowledge and culture in sustainable forest management via global environmental policies," Journal of Forest Science, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 70(6), pages 265-280.
    4. Magnus Boström & Erik Andersson & Monika Berg & Karin Gustafsson & Eva Gustavsson & Erik Hysing & Rolf Lidskog & Erik Löfmarck & Maria Ojala & Jan Olsson & Benedict E. Singleton & Sebastian Svenberg &, 2018. "Conditions for Transformative Learning for Sustainable Development: A Theoretical Review and Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Ria Dunkley & Susan Baker & Natasha Constant & Angelina Sanderson-Bellamy, 2018. "Enabling the IPBES conceptual framework to work across knowledge boundaries," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 779-799, December.
    6. Meredith Root-Bernstein & Pierre du Plessis & Matías Guerrero-Gatica & Trupthi Narayan & Samuel Roturier & Helen C. Wheeler, 2023. "What Are ILK in Relation to Science? Using the ‘Ethic of Equivocation’ to Co-Produce New Knowledge for Conservation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-14, January.
    7. Maderson, Siobhan, 2023. "Co-producing agricultural policy with beekeepers: Obstacles and opportunities," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    8. Karl Dudman & Sara Wit, 2021. "An IPCC that listens: introducing reciprocity to climate change communication," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 168(1), pages 1-12, September.
    9. Regina Lambin & Norwaliza Abdul Wahab & Goh Swee Choo & Ramlee Mustapha & Ramle Abdullah, 2018. "A Case Study of Orang Asli Indigenous Knowledge in Traditional Medicine," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(4), pages 998-1010, April.
    10. Matteo De Donà, 2022. "‘Getting the Science Right’? Epistemic Framings of Global Soil and Land Degradation," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, August.
    11. Adeyeye, Yemi & Hagerman, Shannon & Pelai, Ricardo, 2019. "Seeking procedural equity in global environmental governance: Indigenous participation and knowledge politics in forest and landscape restoration debates at the 2016 World Conservation Congress," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    12. Muradian, Roldan & Gómez-Baggethun, Erik, 2021. "Beyond ecosystem services and nature's contributions: Is it time to leave utilitarian environmentalism behind?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    13. Hanaček, Ksenija & Langemeyer, Johannes & Bileva, Tatyana & Rodríguez-Labajos, Beatriz, 2021. "Understanding environmental conflicts through cultural ecosystem services - the case of agroecosystems in Bulgaria," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    14. Schroeder, Heike & González P., Nidia C., 2019. "Bridging knowledge divides: The case of indigenous ontologies of territoriality and REDD+," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 198-206.
    15. Alejandro Esguerra & Sandra van der Hel, 2021. "Participatory Designs and Epistemic Authority in Knowledge Platforms for Sustainability," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 21(1), pages 130-151, Winter.
    16. Monika Berg & Rolf Lidskog, 2018. "Pathways to deliberative capacity: the role of the IPCC," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 148(1), pages 11-24, May.
    17. Ferretti, Johanna, 2021. "Elemente erfolgreicher Prozesse im Umgang mit Mensch-Wildtier-Interaktionen: Empfehlungen für die Prozessgestaltung zur Erstellung eines Konfliktmanagementplans Fischerei-Kegelrobben Mecklenburg-Vorpo," Thünen Working Papers 164, Johann Heinrich von Thünen Institute, Federal Research Institute for Rural Areas, Forestry and Fisheries.
    18. Pires, Aliny P.F. & Amaral, Aryanne G. & Padgurschi, Maíra C.G. & Joly, Carlos A. & Scarano, Fabio R., 2018. "Biodiversity research still falls short of creating links with ecosystem services and human well-being in a global hotspot," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(PA), pages 68-73.
    19. Manohisoa Rakotondrabe & Fabien Girard, 2021. "Protecting Traditional Knowledge through Biocultural Community Protocols in Madagascar: Do Not Forget the “B” in BCP," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-36, September.

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