Ethnobiology and the Art of Ethics

Ethical awareness among ethnobiologists has grown tremendously in recent years at all scales - from the individual to the institutional to the international community. Over the last couple of decades, perceptions of ethical issues (e.g., raised by bioprospecting) have radically shifted from “inconvenient” and “threatening” to being seen as essential to address respectfully and equitably. Significant effort has focused on the “how”, thus (for better and worse) today’s ethnobiologists have many forms of guidelines, codes, regulations and laws that set out expectations for research conduct, particularly when working with Indigenous communities. Collaborative and community-led approaches are becoming more the norm than the exception, exemplifying how issues of consent, due credit, and benefit sharing can be mutually agreed. Much has been done, but the question remains: “should we do more?” Drawing on a variety of ancient and contemporary sources of wisdom beyond ethnobiology, this talk aims to inspire a “yes” response.