FORUM 4: Widnet who? Indigenous plants, natural habitats and ancestral knowledge.

Widnet who? Indigenous plants, natural habitats and ancestral knowledge.

Widnet il-bahar, Cheirolophus crassifolius is potentially the most iconic plant associated with the Maltese islands. Despite its significance to the environmental and cultural heritage of the islands, this indigenous plant has been under threat for years. Over development, climate change, and a general lack of political will to protect indigenous plants from manmade threats or natural disasters continue to threaten the livelihood of indigenous plants and natural habitats. The shift towards modern day capitalist societies, including mass tourism, lab created food, and departure from natural remedies to pharmaceutical alternatives continued to threaten the centrality of these plants and knowledge for community cohesion, development and survival. Therefore, the preservation and promotion of ancestral knowledge and natural habitats remain pivotal. Work carried out at the Svalbard seed vault in Norway, and research and the propagation of plants by local NGOs are examples of best practices for the preservation of our shared resources and intangible knowledge. The Svalbard Seed Vault serves a humanitarian purpose and is part of the international system for conserving plant genetic diversity guided by the UN organisation for Food and Agriculturen (FAO).

With a clear vision projected into the future, and our fragmented relationship with sustainability and preservation of indigenous plants and ancestral knowledge, this Forum aims to provide a unique opportunity to understand the centrality of collective memory, cooperation and action in promoting balance between modern day aspirations, and the world’s most treasured asset: the environment.

👉 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://forms.gle/XBZUawnQ1DxkbQ5G7

You may also like the following events from The Malta Festival of Ideas:

• This Wednesday, 8th October, 05:00 pm, FORUM 3: Performance as an act of resistance; Dance, Music and Subcultures in Valletta
• This Thursday, 9th October, 08:00 pm, Voices across borders and possibilities for peace. in Valletta
• This Saturday, 11th October, 11:00 am, Lectio Magistralis with Todor P. Todorov in Valletta

Also check out other Business events in Valletta, Nonprofit events in Valletta.