WIPO and Traditional Knowledge
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) urged continued support for the participation of indigenous people in the work of the IGC (Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore), though the slow pace of work by this committee has been criticised by some. Still, the committee will continue its work and slightly expand its mandate. Meanwhile, government officials in New Zealand are considering the establishment of a traditional knowledge ‘registry’ to offset the risks of biopiracy.
Traditional knowledge might have an answer as to why a wild reindeer decided to live with goats in Southern Norway. Is it possible it was escaping cabin construction? A continued boom in cabin development is threatening the pastures of Norway’s small remaining wild reindeer herds - 4,900 holiday cabins, most involving road systems and associated infrastructure as well, were built between 2001 and 2005 near the conservation areas set aside for wild reindeer.
