On June 10, 2018 by the efforts of the PF "Taalim-Forum" in the framework of the project implemented jointly with the public foundation "Anahita" (Tajikistan) was organized a seminar on the promotion of the values of biological and cultural diversity in the media.
The aim of the joint project was to implement a comprehensive communication strategy to promote Biological and Cultural Diversity (BCD) issues among the general public, and bring together partners working in this field in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The workshop was attended by both experienced professionals and journalism students from the Kyrgyz National University and the American University of Central Asia.
What is biocultural diversity? What are the problems and challenges? Why is it necessary to preserve and revive BCD values today? How can these issues be communicated to the population using various communication avenues? These and many other questions were discussed with the participants of the workshop.
Professor and authoritative expert in ecology and culture Emil Japarovich Shukurov, Project Coordinator of the Village Development Fund Kuluipa Akmatova, Head of the community network of traditional knowledge keepers "Kyrgyz el akyl kazyna" Altyn Ishenovna Janyshbaeva shared their knowledge and experience. Mrs. Jyldyz Doolbekova, the Coordinator of the Christensen Fund for Central Asia, talked about the mission of the Fund, its international programs, and current trends in a changing world where many organizations are working to revive and preserve traditional knowledge and the diversity of cultures, species and genetic resources. It was said that our regions in Central Asia were selected for support by the Foundation due to the fact that our lands possess rich biodiversity, and our peoples have an ancient culture of relations with nature, having developed their own unique mechanisms for balanced interaction.
In the course of the discussion, various ways of disseminating and communicating RBD ideas to the public were voiced. Within the framework of the project documentaries will be created. Among them, a film called "Garden in the Desert" will tell about a man who planted and cultivated a garden in a desert landscape in the Issyk-Kul region. Another will tell of a cattleman who uses the knowledge of his ancestors to graze cattle in the mountain pastures, moving the cattle to a new place according to the seasons. Another film will tell about another custodian of traditional knowledge - in the field of ancient craftsmanship - making yurts. Journalists from print journalism will write about BKR on the pages of newspapers, where they work as editors and reporters. On television, there will be programs that raise environmental and cultural issues, and ways to solve modern problems in a person's relationship to his or her land.
As for the future journalists, they suggested modern ways of communication - in the Internet networks. After getting acquainted with the issues of BCD, the students suggest to use more such opportunities as "longridges", "infographics", "flash mob" online video (LIVE) and others.
The next step in diving into BCD issues will be to attend an international meeting of the Mountain Indigenous Peoples Network in Kyrgyzstan with representatives from 12 countries in July. This will be a great opportunity to learn about the challenges mountain people face today in climate change, migration, biodiversity conservation, and other social and environmental issues.