What is being done to Mitigate Biopiracy?

On Cape York, the Wik Peoples and other Traditional Owners have launched Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathways (TKRP), an Aboriginal community run project that digitally records community Elders sharing their knowledge of local biodiversity and ecosystems.  It aims to ensure their traditional knowledge is preserved for future generations and places the research control in their own hands (Human Rights Government N.D.). Such systems should be widely implemented, especially given the loss of Traditional Knowledge resulting from past government policies.

Participants at Traditional Knowledge Revival Pathway (2012)

The location of the Wik Peoples (2025)

This reflects a meaningful level of self-determination, as communities actively participate in matters that affect them, this right is enshrined by Australia via the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007 Article 3 (Human Rights Government, N.D.).

Consumers are encouraged to purchase traditional resources directly from local communities. Doing so not only reduces the risk of biopiracy but also helps strengthen the community’s socio-economic status. Moreover, Dr Alana Gall who is a Truwulway woman, a Pakana (Tasmanian Aboriginal) from the northeast coast of Lutruwita (Tasmania, Australia) believes there should be growing advocacy for the implementation of ICIP rights and for clearer, tighter regulations around the use of and acquisition of traditional resources.