Wise Ancestors is built on the belief that, in addition to the advanced biotechnologies associated with Western science, saving Earth’s species and ecosystems will require engaging with nature in ways that revitalize Indigenous science, knowledge and practices. We believe this because of the telling statistic that 80% of Earth’s remaining biodiversity is on land that is inhabited by Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and Local Communities (LCs).1 This is not a coincidence. These communities have been successfully stewarding land for millennia, acquiring and relying on knowledge and practices that are highly relevant for our planet today.
Wise Ancestors’ approach braids Western science technologies for conservation, such as genomic sequencing and biobanking, with Indigenous science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. In doing this, we provide a structure for Western and IP and LC scientists, conservationists and community members to work together on biodiversity conservation in an innovative, fair, equitable and future-focused manner.