May 1st, 2014

The BioDIVA project (2010-2014) with its main goal to co-create knowledge towards a Gender-Equitable and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity organized a series of multi-stakeholder dialogues during its life span. The central focus of these dialogues was to achieve a common understanding on land-use change and related impact on agriculture transitions, loss of agrobiodiversity and the sociocultural diversity.

Complimented with empirical analysis by disciplinary experts from multiple sectors viz.,economists, ecologists and sociologist, the project outputs intended to contribute towards sustainable land use in the ‘political sphere’.

A farmlevel workshop with prominent representation from Panchayat level officials was held on 22nd April 2014 at Kalpetta, the district headquarter of Wayanad in Kerala. Focusing on ‘Land Utilization and Agriculture Biodiversity’, the event witnessed active participation from farmers’ representatives, member of local governing bodies (Panchayats) and researchers from Germany and India. The main highlight of the event was to discuss scientifically derived findings with local-level stakeholders, to invite their feedback and to work together towards the prioritization of solutions.