Code of Conduct for working with Indigenous and Local Communities

Research related to tropical rainforests involves field-based data collection. Much of this information gathering takes place in territories occupied by indigenous and other forest-based communities. Members of these communities are often used as sources of information for a wide range of topics, including the local use of plants and animals, and conditions of soil, water and forests. This information is often referred to as indigenous or local knowledge.

TBI has developed a Code of Conduct (CoC) to guide researchers in the careful consideration of ethical issues in their field work and publication activities regarding indigenous or local knowledge. This CoC provides a concise background on ethical issues related to forestry research and a practical tool to deal with these issues responsibly.

November, 2011. Gerard Persoon and Tessa Minter. Tropenbos International, Wageningen, the Netherlands. vi + 28 pages