UNESCO
With its mandate in culture as well as in natural and social sciences, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has a long tradition in addressing sustainable development and environmental conservation questions which arise at the interface of cultural and biological diversity.

UNESCO/MAB - The Man and the Biosphere Programme
Within the framework of UNESCO's Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB), biosphere reserves couple the conservation of major ecosystems with the sustainable use of natural resources by local people through applied sciences on human-environment interactions.
Mr Thomas Schaaf
Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences
Programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB)
UNESCO
1 , rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15
France
Tel: (+33-1) 45.68.40.65
Fax: (+33-1) 45.68.58.04
Website

UNESCO/IHP - International Hydrological Programme
The Theme "Water and Society" of UNESCO's IHP programme focuses on the complex relationships between people and their water resources. The emphasis is on the human component of the equation, and seeks to answer questions about attitudes, relationships, concepts and beliefs related to water and its management. To achieve a holistic approach, it also involves the close cooperation with other Sectors of UNESCO, such as the Social and Human Sciences, and Culture.
Mr Alexander Otte
Division of Water Sciences
International Hydrological Programme (IHP)
UNESCO
1, rue Miollis
75732 Paris Cedex 15
France
Website

UNESCO/WHC - World Heritage Centre - Tangible Heritage
The WHC for which UNESCO provides the Secretariat, protects the most outstanding cultural and natural sites as well as cultural landscapes of the world. In particular the category of 'cultural landscapes' incorporates sites that have a substantial religious significance. According to the convention's Operational Guidelines (paragraph 39), cultural landscapes fall into three main categories, of which the third category stipulates the associative cultural landscape.
Ms Mechtild Rossler
Chief, Europe-North America
World Heritage Centre
UNESCO
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Website

UNESCO/WHC - World Heritage Centre - Intangible Heritage
A lengthy quest for the function and values of cultural expressions and practices, and of monuments and sites, led by UNESCO, has paved the way for new approaches to understanding, protecting and respecting our cultural heritage. These approaches, which involve the recognition of communities and groups as those who identify, enact, recreate and transmit the intangible or living heritage, found their culminating point in the adoption of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Mr Rieks Smeets
Chief of section
Intangible Heritage Section
7, place de Fontenoy
75352 Paris 07 SP
France
Website

UNU
The mission of the United Nations University (UNU) is "to contribute, through research and capacity building, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples and Member States." The University has structured its research and capacity development activities into two programme areas, namely "Peace and Governance" and "Environment and Development."
Against this background, the Tokyo conference offers a welcome opportunity for UNU to contribute to linking the issues of cultural and biological diversity.
Mr Luohui Liang
United Nations University (UNU)
Environment and Sustainable Development
53-70, Jingumae 5-chome Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-8925
Japan
Tel: (+81-3) 54671371
Fax: (+81-3) 3499-2828
E-mail: Liang@hq.unu.edu
Website

IUCN
In 1998, IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas established a 'Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values'. The Task Force seeks to identify, define, and provide guidelines for managing the cultural and spiritual dimensions of protected areas. Sacred natural sites have been a central theme for the Task Force. It has also played an important role in working towards the recognition and conservation of sacred landscapes associated with the Gran Ruta Inca, the ancient road in the High Andes of South America that tied together the Inca Empire.

IUCN-The World Conservation Union:
Allen D. Putney
Leader Task Force on Cultural and Spiritual Values
IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas
P.O. Box 4046
Incline Village, NV 89450
USA

Ms Mercedes Otegui
Monte Blanco 1179
Colonia Lomas de Chapultepec
México City 11000
México
Website

CBD
The 188 Contracting Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) have undertaken to respect, preserve and maintain the traditional knowledge of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, to promote its wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, and to encourage the equitable sharing of benefits arising from its utilization (Article 8 (j)).
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD):
Mr Olivier Jalbert
Principal Officer
Phone: +1 514 287 7057
Website

Mr John Scott
Programme Officer- Traditional Knowledge
Tel: +1 514 287 8710
Fax: +1 514 288 6588
Website

SPFII
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is an advisory body to the United Nations Economic and Social Council to advise indigenous issues related to economic and social development, culture, environment, education, health and human rights. One of the mandates of the Forum is "to raise awareness and promote the integration and coordination of activities related to indigenous issues within the UN system and prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues".
Secretariat of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (SPFII):
Ms Hui Lu
The Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
Division for Social Policy and Development
Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA)
United Nations
New York NY 10017
Website

FAO
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has recently launched a global initiative on "Globally-important Ingenious Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS)". In many countries specific agricultural systems and landscapes have been created, shaped and maintained by generations of farmers and herders based on diverse species and their interactions and using locally adapted, distinctive and often ingenious combinations of management practices and techniques. Building on generations of accumulated dynamic knowledge and experience, these traditional and indigenous agri-cultural systems reflect the evolution of humanity and its profound relationship with nature.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO):
Mr. Parviz Abolghassem Koohafkan
Chief, Land and Plant Nutrition Management Service (AGLL)
GIAHS Programme Coordinator Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO of the UN)
Room B-765
Viale delle Terme di Caracalla
00100 Rome
Italy
Website