The event in Thailand brought together indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) from the different regions of the world in a thematic discussion with the authors of the IPBES Nexus Assessment.  Held in the review period of the First Draft of the Nexus Assessment, among the objectives was to review the Draft in order to ensure integration of indigenous and local perspectives.  It was also intended to be a venue to further discuss the concepts, values, management challenges, and ways to take biodiversity and related concerns of food, water, and health forward.  Proceedings of the Dialogue-Workshop will be included in the official report which will be made publicly-available on the IPBES website.

Participants, led by Noraeri Thungmueangthong, also made a whole-day visit to the Hauy E Kang Indigenous Community of Karen Peoples where they learned about the traditional knowledge of governance, interaction, and spirituality.  The head of the Community, together with the elders and traditional knowledge holders, shared their work on territorial protection, rotational farming, community-based monitoring, seed banking particularly their history in working with rice seeds and other plants, and use of plants in traditional food, medicine, ceremonies, art, and ornamentation.  

Demonstrations were held to showcase the community’s use of traditional fruits, herbs, and seeds in fabric dyeing. Participants took a hand in dyeing cotton, creating their own ornaments, and applying healing herbs and herbal extracts on foot baths for the women.

Participants were also shown the process by which the community mapped their territory which included assets such as protected, sacred, and ceremonial places, as well as, their ceremonial practices, the knowledge holders, story-tellers, seed farmers, and artists, among others.

A community farm, the Karen Indigenous People and Secret Forest, was visited where participants witnessed traditional knowledge being applied in rotary agro-farming.