We talk so much about diversity, let's not forget biodiversity! I'd like to share with you something that's close to my heart for so many reasons.
Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (SBC) collaborates with five local communities to produce LitSara® products. SBC buys the Litsea cubeba oil (tenem in Kelabit & Lun Bawang; pahkak in Bidayuh) distilled by the communities, and then makes products from them.
LitSara® is the trademark name for Litsea cubeba, a plant with a chemical make-up that is unique to Sarawak. Combining science with the traditional knowledge of local communities, SBC registered an intellectual property (IP) for this plant.
Because of the IP, the communities receive Indigenous Knowledge Benefit Sharing (royalties) for every Litsara® product sold.
I think it’s incredible that traditional knowledge, and unique plants of our land can be IP registered, because many a times people seek knowledge from our community elders for their own profit and forget that the wisdom passed down through generations within these communities. With IP-registration, their traditional knowledge is legally owned and protected and people can still use the plants and commercialise, whilst still benefiting the community.
There’s so much more to share about these efforts, you can get more info and the products on www.litsara.com
(I personally am looking forward to the IP registration of our folk songs, but that’s a story for another day).
*images shows Litsara & NatureSara products. Find out more on their website :-)
#litsara #litsea #litseacubeba #ip #traditionalknowledge #sarawak #biodiversity #productshoot #biodegradablewipes #handsanitisers #local #sapotlocal #communities #dayak #kampung #harvesting #plantnowharvestlater #soil #green #linenspray #wipes #plants
