Protection of Traditional Knowledge by International Legal Instruments: A Review from Legal Perspective

Abstract

Traditional Knowledge (TK), sometimes referred to as Indigenous Knowledge (IK), has drawn interest from all around the world in the past 20 years. The importance of traditional knowledge (TK) in biodiversity protection and the everyday lives of many people, the swift loss of TK and cultural diversity, and the exploitation of TK without sufficient benefit sharing are the reasons for this increased focus. These concerns are being addressed at different scales by nations and cultures around the world. In developing countries, over to 80% of people rely on traditional medicines, making TK an essential element of many indigenous communities' identities and essential to their health and food security. TK also plays a vital role in industrial research and development as well as modern medicine. It improves knowledge of ecological and social variety and helps form locally relevant, sustainable poverty reduction methods. TK and biodiversity have been exploited through attempts at biopiracy, which highlights the need for protective measures due to the economic importance of biological diversity