Principle 11: The ecosystem approach should
consider all forms of relevant information, including
scientific and indigenous and local knowledge,
innovations and practices.
Rationale:
Information from all sources is critical to arriving at
effective ecosystem management strategies. A much
better knowledge of ecosystem functions and the impact
of human use is desirable. All relevant information from
any concerned area should be shared with all
stakeholders and actors, taking into account, interalia,
any decision to be taken under Article 8(j) of the
Convention on Biological Diversity. Assumptions behind
proposed management decisions should be made explicit
and checked against available knowledge and views of
stakeholders.