BIODIVERSITY AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE

The biodiversity is the variety of life: the diverse plants, the animals and the micro organisms, his genes and the ecosystems of which there are a part. On having been located in the subtropical area of South America, Peru should have a warm and humid climate, nevertheless, due to his eventful geography, his complex system of marine currents and the movement of air masses, there is generated an extraordinary climatic, geologic and ecological variety.

For such a reason, Peru is recognized worldwide as one of the countries with more biological diversity of the planet. It lodges a big quantity of species of the plants and animals, many of which are not in any other part of the world. Such it is like that, that almost 80 % of the ecological areas recognized in the world is in Peru; this way also it has 28 of 32 existing climates.

This biological diversity is important for the population, since it constitutes a source of direct sustenance for his settlers, likewise, at present it departs from his ecological, genetic, social, economic and scientific components they have received recognition of the intrinsic value of the biological diversity as natural wealth of a Nation, and fundamentally for evolution and maintenance of the systems necessary for the life of the biosphere.   It is for it that there have subscribed a series of important international, regional and national agreements in order to regulate his use and conservation.

Every State, to the sovereign being on his resources, is responsible for the conservation of his biological diversity and for the sustainable use of the same one, it is for it that it becomes necessary to report and to create conscience in the population, as well as to develop technical instruments and scientists faced to reduce the threat of the destruction of the ecosystems and natural habitats.

Also, the “traditional knowledge “are those that manage to be supported from generation to generation. Developed historically by indigenous communities and peoples with regard to their properties, uses and characteristics of the particular biological diversity of every village. This knowledge belongs neither to an individual nor to a certain group of persons, but to a community that is renewed constantly. Nevertheless, the knowledge and culture natives must be considered to be the set of the typical spiritual and material, intellectual and affective features that characterize a social group. This knowledge includes ways of life, values, arts, the traditions and credence.