The ISE Code of Ethics

ISE Ethics Workshop, Thailand 2006

The Code of Ethics of the International Society of Ethnobiology has its origins in the Declaration of Belém, agreed upon in 1988 at the founding of the International Society of Ethnobiology (in Belém, Brazil). The Code of Ethics was initiated in 1996 and completed in 2006. The final version, adopted by the ISE membership at the 11th International Congress of Ethnobiology in November 2006, supersedes all previous draft versions. An Executive Summary and Glossary of Terms were added at the 11th International Congress of Ethnobiology in June 2008.

Working on the ISE Code of Ethics. In this photograph, from left to right, Felice Wyndham, Kelly Bannister, Alejandro Argumedo, Christine Kabuye, Maui Solomon. Thailand, 2006

The fundamental value underlying the Code of Ethics is the concept of mindfulness – a continual willingness to evaluate one’s own understandings, actions, and responsibilities to others.

The Code of Ethics acknowledges that biological and cultural harms have resulted from research undertaken without the consent of Indigenous peoples. It affirms the commitment of the ISE to work collaboratively, in ways that: support community-driven development of Indigenous peoples’ cultures and languages; acknowledge Indigenous cultural and intellectual property rights; protect the inextricable linkages between cultural, linguistic and biological diversity; and contribute to positive, beneficial and harmonious relationships in the field of ethnobiology.

Read the full text of the Code of Ethics (in English)

Participate in the Code of Ethics Survey

Although English is the original language of the ISE Code of Ethics, it has also been translated into 5 other languages.

The ISE thanks all those who generously volunteered their time to create translations (acknowledged below):

1. English:	Code of Ethics in English, with Executive Summary and Glossary of Terms
2. French: [New]	Code of Ethics in French, thanks to Florence Causeur, Claude Chastagner and Alain Cuerrier
3. Italian:	Codice Etico in Italiano, thanks to Laura Solaris and Maria Pia Macchi of Magia Verde Onlus
4. Spanish:	Código de Ética, versión en español, thanks to Patricia Navarrete and Carolina Gil of the Colombian Instituto de Etnobiologia, with Ana Vivaldi & colleagues. The Executive Summary and Glossary of Terms, added in 2008, were translated by Ugo d’Ambrosio and Mayra Villar-Buzo. The translation of the full Code and 2008 additions were reviewed and revised by Dr. Ricardo Rozzi and Dr. Francisca Massardo.
5. Chinese:	Code of Ethics in Chinese, thanks to Dr. Yi-Ren Lin and colleagues.
6. Bahasa Indonesia:	Code of Ethics in Bahasa Indonesia, thanks to Idah Farida and Jeanine Pfeiffer.

Code of Ethics Survey

Visualizing the ISE Code of Ethics - the creative process at work

As part of the ISE’s commitment to reviewing and evolving the Code of Ethics to meet changing needs and situations, and creating outreach and extension materials (e.g., an Ethics Toolkit) to support its adoption and implementation, we have created a survey for ISE members.

This survey is divided into two parts. The first part will take approximately 10-20 minutes to answer and responses will be considered in the Code of Ethics review process. The second part will take approximately 10 minutes and responses will be used in developing the Ethics Toolkit and other implementation materials.

Please note that the information collected will only be used by the ISE for review of the ISE Code of Ethics and development of the ISE Ethics Toolkit. The survey is intended to generate anonymous information, which will be aggregated prior to assessment and public reporting. Any identifying information that may be revealed by respondents (intentionally or not) will be treated confidentially.

Thank you for your interest and assistance!