Bio127 Lec - Module 3 (Ethics and Voucher Specimen Only)

Covers the Ethics and Voucher Specimen parts of Module 3, from critical questions, principles, and the concept of voucher species

Have you received permission from participants, institutions, and sponsors to carry out and publish your ethnobotanical research?

• Key Considerations:

  • Obtain permits and documentation from regulatory agencies and institutions.

  • Get documented permission from local leaders, heads, or chiefs.

  • Ensure locals are informed of all risks and benefits of the research.

Have you considered and included local needs and challenges in your ethnobotanical research?

• Key Considerations:

  • Adapt research to fit local circumstances.

  • Surveys and questionnaires should be designed to reflect local contexts.

Who are the beneficiaries of the ethnobotanical research, and how is the local community compensated?

• Key Considerations:

  • Ensure the community receives credit for their contributions.

  • Implement equitable sharing of potential financial, medicinal, or cultural rewards.

  • Develop agreements for joint intellectual property ownership.

How will the results from the ethnobotanical research be shared?

• Key Considerations:

  • Results should be made publicly available.

  • Verify findings with locals before publication to ensure accuracy.

  • Respect community rights to refuse dissemination.

  • Protect sensitive information and avoid publishing confidential knowledge.

Is the input of the local community acknowledged and protected in research dissemination?

• Key Considerations:

  • Update permissions and agreements as research progresses.

  • Include community members as co-authors when appropriate.

  • Avoid misappropriating or commercializing traditional knowledge without community consent.

Gratuitous Permit (GP) and Transport Permits

• Required legal documents for the collection and transport of plant and animal specimens for research.

• Issued by: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and other regulatory agencies.

DENR DAO No. 2019-09

• A national policy that establishes the official list of threatened Philippine fauna and their conservation categories.

• Purpose: Ensures protection of endangered plant and animal species.

Nagoya Protocol

• An international agreement ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources and traditional knowledge.

• Purpose: Prevents exploitation of indigenous plant knowledge without proper compensation.

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• A global treaty focused on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of resources, and benefit-sharing.

• Purpose:

  • Protects genetic resources from biopiracy.

  • Encourages equitable partnerships between researchers and local communities.

International Society of Ethnobotany (ISE) - Code of Ethics

• A comprehensive guideline for conducting ethnobotanical research ethically and responsibly.

• Structure: Preamble, Purpose, 17 Principles, 12 Practical Guidelines, and Glossary of Terms

Purpose and Objectives of the ISE Code of Ethics

• Optimize positive outcomes and minimize adverse effects of ethnobotanical research.

• Establish principles and practices governing the conduct of ISE members in research

ISE Principles - 1: Prior Rights and Responsibilities

• Definition: Indigenous groups have prior, proprietary rights over their land, air, waterways, natural resources, traditional knowledge, and intellectual property.

ISE Principles - 2: Self-Determination

• Definition: Indigenous groups have the right to govern themselves, determine their own laws, cultural practices, and research involvement.

• Researcher Obligation: Must respect the autonomy of indigenous communities.

ISE Principles - 3: Inalienability

Definition: Indigenous people have the right to determine:

• The scope, control, and usage of their traditional territories, natural resources, and knowledge.

• Whether or not their knowledge can be shared, sold, or passed on.

ISE Principles - 4: Traditional Guardianship

• Definition: Indigenous groups are responsible for preserving and maintaining their ecosystems, traditional knowledge, and cultural heritage for future generations.

ISE Principles - 5: Active Participation

• Definition: Indigenous people must be fully involved in all phases of the research, including:

  • Planning, execution, and interpretation of results.

  • Application of findings within their communities.

ISE Principles - 6: Full Disclosure

• Definition: Indigenous groups must be fully informed about the nature, scope, and purpose of the research before participation.

• Includes: Objectives, methodology, data collection, potential outcomes.

ISE Principles - 7: Educated Prior Informed Consent

• Definition: Consent must be:

  • Obtained before research begins.

  • Maintained throughout the study.

  • Freely given, with full understanding of risks and benefits.

  • Revocable at any time.

ISE Principles - 8: Confidentiality

• Definition: Indigenous people have the right to:

  • Keep specific knowledge private.

  • Exclude certain information from publications.

  • Maintain anonymity if they choose.

ISE Principles - 9: Respect

• Definition: Researchers must honor the integrity, spirituality, and cultural traditions of indigenous peoples.

• Includes:

  • Avoiding misinterpretation or misrepresentation of indigenous knowledge.

  • Respecting ceremonial and sacred practices.

ISE Principles - 10: Active Protection

• Definition: Researchers must actively work to protect the relationship between indigenous peoples and their environment.

• Goal: Maintain cultural and biological diversity.

ISE Principles - 11: Precautionary Principle

• Definition: If research could cause harm, proactive preventive measures should be taken, even if the cause-and-effect relationship is not fully proven.

• Includes:

  • Avoiding the imposition of foreign concepts or research methodologies.

ISE Principles - 12: Reciprocity, Mutual Benefit, and Equitable Sharing

• Definition: Indigenous peoples are entitled to benefit from the research results that involve their knowledge and resources.

• Includes:

  • Equitable financial, educational, and healthcare contributions from researchers.

ISE Principles - 13: Supporting Indigenous Research

• Definition: Indigenous groups should be empowered to conduct their own research based on their own methods, values, and knowledge systems.

• Includes:

  • Creating community-led knowledge-sharing platforms.

  • Encouraging self-documentation of traditional practices.

ISE Principles - 14: The Dynamic Interactive Cycle

• Definition: Research should follow a complete cycle, ensuring that the study:

  1. Prepares and evaluates research methods before execution.

  2. Conducts full implementation with community involvement.

  3. Returns and verifies results with the local community.

  4. Provides training and education as an integral part of the project.

ISE Principles - 15: Remedial Action

• Definition: If research causes harm to a community, researchers must:

  • Engage in dialogue to correct negative effects.

  • Provide restitution or reparations where necessary.

ISE Principles - 16: Acknowledgment and Due Credit

• Definition: Indigenous people must be recognized for their contributions, knowledge, and participation in research.

• Includes:

  • Proper attribution in publications.

  • Co-authorship for significant contributions.

ISE Principles - 17: Diligence

• Definition: Researchers must have a strong understanding of local traditions, language, and culture before conducting research.

• Goal: Ensure culturally appropriate engagement and avoid miscommunication.

Voucher Specimen - Definition

• A pressed and dried herbarium specimen with detailed collection data, serving as a permanent record of an individual plant in time and space.

• Purpose: Ensures scientific validity and reproducibility in ethnobotanical research.

Voucher Specimen - Importance

1. Permanent Record

2. Research Validation

3. Prevention of Misidentification

4. Updating Taxonomy

Voucher Specimen - Required Collector’s Information

• Collector’s Name

• Collection Number

• Date of Collection

Voucher Specimen - Required Detailed Description

• Life Form: Tree, shrub, herb, vine, etc.

• Disappearing Features: Traits lost during drying (e.g., flower color, aroma).

• Underground Parts: Roots, tubers, or rhizomes.

• Leaf Arrangement and Shape.

Voucher Specimen - Other Required Information

• Provisional or Vernacular Name (if no scientific name is assigned)

• Global Positioning System (GPS) Coordinates and Altitude Reading

• Locality and Habitat Description

Voucher Specimen - Preparation and Mounting

• Mounting Process: The specimen is displayed on a herbarium sheet to maximize observable plant characteristics.

• Deposition: The specimen must be stored in a recognized public herbarium registered with Index Herbariorum.

Voucher Specimen - Role in Research

• Verification: Provides a physical reference for plant identification.

• Scientific Integrity: Helps prevent research fraud or misrepresentation.

• Comparative Analysis: Allows future researchers to compare samples.