保護原住民聖地同時保育地球生物多樣性的落實，成為國際上保衛古老而神聖自然地點所採用的好方法。由聯合國環境規劃署、瓜地馬拉諾貝爾和平獎得主孟珠創立的原住民基金會，以及類似機構所支持的一項新計畫，已經確定可從全球環境基金（GEF）取得初期運作經費。
這項「保護具有豐富生物多樣性的聖地」計畫將在第八屆生物多樣性公約締約國會議上公開發表，會議在3月20至31日之間於巴西庫里奇巴舉行。
專家已經選定數個這種地點做為全球重要具領航地位的生態系統。計畫中的地點包括傳說中太陽誕生處的墨西哥吉娃娃沙漠，以及受泰塔人與盧赫雅人敬畏的位在肯亞卡卡麥加森林裡交織如網的骷髏洞穴。
2002年於南非約翰尼斯堡所舉行的永續發展世界高峰會上，各國政府承諾在2010年之前徹底改變生物多樣性消失的速度。聯合國環境規劃署執行長托佛（Klaus Toepfer）表示：「保育聖地以及其生物豐富性在達到2010年的目標上扮演重要角色，同時也許可以做為實行好的永續管理的明燈，將經驗出口到鄰近甚至更遠的地區。」
關於生物多樣性以及原住民等一連串相關事項將在第8屆生物多樣性公約締約國會議上討論，會議於庫里奇巴舉行。詳細內容請參閱以下網站：www.biodiv.org
The realization that conservation of indigenous sacred places also conserves Earth's embattled biological diversity is the inspiration for a new international initiative to safeguard ancient sacred natural sites. The new project, backed by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and indigenous peoples' groups such as the Foundation created by Guatemalan Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Menchu, has secured preliminary funding from a multi-billion dollar development fund, the Global Environment Facility.
The project, Conservation of Biodiversity Rich Sacred Natural Sites, will be publicly unveiled at the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) taking place in Curitiba, Brazil, between March 20 and 31.
Experts have selected several such sites as pilot ecosystems of global importance. Included in the list of pilot projects is a site in Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert where it is said the sun was born, and a network of skull caves in the Kakamega forests in Kenya, revered by Taita and Luhya people.
In 2002 at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa, governments committed themselves to reverse the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010. "Conserving sacred sites and their biological richness can play a major role in achieving the 2010 target and perhaps act as beacons from where good and sustainable management practices can be exported to nearby areas and beyond," said UNEP Executive Director Klaus Toepfer.
A series of side events on biodiversity and indigenous peoples is being held at the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity, opening Monday in Curitiba. Visit: www.biodiv.org
