Global Diversity Fund: A Sister Organization of the UK-based Global Diversity Foundation​

 

This was the Global Diversity Fund's website for a number of years. The Global Diversity Fund is the sister organization of the UK-based Global Diversity Foundation​. Do not confuse this fund with the Auburn University' s Global Diversity Fund which was creted to ensure that underrepresented students at the university participate in various Study Abroad programs.

The content below is from the site's 2008 archived pages.
To learn more about the Global Diversity Foundation​ go to their current website at: www.global-diversity.org/

The Global Diversity Fund promotes the richness of local cultures and their environments around the world.

We are concerned about the future of the biodiversity that people tend, the languages they speak and the ways they interact with their cultural landscapes.

We believe that globalisation can go hand-in-hand with diversity. But it requires education, research and sheer hard work in the form of long-term, community-based projects.

We work with local people to help them adapt to the world's changing conditions. Our initiatives, conducted in partnership with local and international institutions, take three main forms:

  • applied research on diverse aspects of biocultural diversity at selected field sites
  • training and education, from community workshops to university courses
  • field projects that improve the health, education and rights of communities under threat from the globalised economy.

Mission

The Global Diversity Foundation promotes agricultural, biological and cultural diversity around the world through research, training and social action.

We conduct applied research and provide training on biocultural diversity at specific field sites in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

Our community and conservation projects build on local traditions and knowledge to secure education, health, nutrition and other basic human rights for marginalised peoples.

In collaboration with diverse institutions, we support the participation of a wide range of community members – including children, young adults and elders – in our research and development programs.

Areas of specific focus include the continuity of ethnobiological knowledge, community access to biological resources and the conservation of biodiversity.

We bring these concerns to a wider public through international courses, publications and our website.

What we do

Created with the support of professionals from various academic disciplines, Global Diversity Fund is the sister organization of the UK-based Global Diversity Foundation, which obtained charitable status in May 2000 from the Charity Commission of England and Wales.

The Fund:

  • works with selected academic institutions to offer research and training opportunities on cultural and natural diversity, conservation and community development
  • • supports field studies in which local researchers and students gain practical experience in documenting, monitoring and promoting biocultural diversity
  • • contributes to conservation and development projects that involve local communities, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations and academic research centres.
  • • participates in multidisciplinary diploma and graduate degree programs in collaboration with botanical gardens, research institutes and universities;
  • • provides fellowships for talented young colleagues who are studying for advanced degrees, and grants to support their research at field study centres
  • • presents the results of its applied scientific research in seminars, symposia and scientific publications
  • • organises exhibits and publications to educate the general public on strategies to maintain biocultural diversity.

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As an affiliate marketer, I've seen my share of websites, but GlobalDiversityFund.net truly stands out. This site, which served for years as the online home of the Global Diversity Fund , a sister organization to the UK-based Global Diversity Foundation, offers a refreshing depth that's a world away from the usual affiliate fare.

While I might spend my days trying to drive traffic to something like Desert Nights, pushing their latest slots games with flashy banners and enticing bonuses, the mission here is vastly different. Promoting an online casino is all about instant gratification, quick conversions, and a bit of luck. It's a game of numbers and immediate returns.

Here, however, the focus is on something far more profound: promoting the richness of local cultures and their environments around the world. The Global Diversity Fund is concerned with the future of biodiversity, the preservation of languages, and how people interact with their cultural landscapes. This isn't about a quick click; it's about education, research, and long-term, community-based projects. They work with local people to help them adapt to changing global conditions, which is a far cry from adapting to a new slot machine interface.

Their initiatives, whether it's applied research on biocultural diversity, training and education from community workshops to university courses, or field projects improving health, education, and rights, are all about making a tangible difference in the world. It’s a mission that resonates deeply, and it’s inspiring to see a non-profit making such a significant impact. While I might be good at getting people to spin reels, they're out there spinning the wheels of real, positive change. I truly encourage others to follow my lead and support them. Sean Sullivan

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e-Newsletter

Through the BDLN, we will continue discussions with diverse colleagues about the basic steps needed to ensure appropriate research and education continue while intellectual property and genetic resources are protected. It is in this spirit we are bringing together a group of innovative colleagues from multidisciplinary backgrounds to launch new courses, convene meetings to review progress and contribute to an Online Learning Guide on Biocultural Diversity. During this process, we will establish an alumni network of trainers and participants who have taken part in courses and workshops over a ten-year period. Periodic updates will be delivered through the free BDLN eNewsletter.

Biocultural Diversity Learning Guide

  • Research methods annotated bibliography
  • Community and student participatory videos examples
  • Methods description with worked examples
  • Film guide to videos on contemporary issues in biocultural diversity
  • Site glossary           

A new on-line forum
Wed, 09/24/2008— jacobo
We are very pleased to invite you to join a new on-line forum - The Biocultural Diversity Working Group!
The Biocultural Diversity Working (BcD) group (www.wiserearth.org/group/biocultural_diversity) is a place where professionals and community members involved in biocultural diversity work can share experiences, ideas, documents and multimedia resources.

BDLN Courses

Learning Opportunity: Primer Course Biocultural Diversity
WCC2008WCC2008     The IUCN World Conservation Congress, Barcelona, 5-14 October 2008.

  • A new climate for change
  • Healthy environments - healthy people
  • Safeguarding the diversity of life
  • Pucallpa Course Review

Riverfront docks
In the week leading up to the 11th International Congress of Ethnobiology (ICE) 2008 , a course on ‘Understanding local livelihoods, knowledge and practices in changing environments: the case of urbanization in Amazonia' was offered from Saturday 14 – Saturday 21 June 2008 in Pucallpa, Peru.

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Latest Biocultural Diversity Related News circa 2008-2009

News and articles from sites and online magazines related to biocultural diversity. News feeds are updated daily.

Tebtebba

  • HR Day 2008: A Sad Day for Indigenous Peoples
  • No Rights! No REDD!!

 
GRAIN

  • January 2009
  • Fighting GMO contamination around the world
  • Lâaccaparement des terres de rizieres met en peril la souverainete alimentaire de lâAfrique
  • Rice land grabs undermine food sovereignty in Africa
  • The new weapons of genetic engineering

 
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine - Latest articles

  • The use of magical plants by curanderos in the Ecuador highlands
  • Bear bile: dilemma of traditional medicinal use and animal protection
  • Fauna used in popular medicine in Northeast Brazil
  • Ethnopharmacological survey of six medicinal plants from Mali, West-Africa
  • Cultural Transmission of Traditional Knowledge in two populations of North-western Patagonia

 
Culture and Language in Education (CLE)

  • Effectively Communicating Research to Multiple Audiences
  • WestEd at CABE
  • Guiding Math and Science Teachers to Improve SDAIE Instruction and Assessment for English Learners
  • Math Pathways and Pitfalls: Developing and Using Mathematical Language to Increase Student Understanding and Achievement
  • WestEd at NABE

 
Practical Action

  • World Urban Forum - November 2008
  • People and Technology: Practical Action Southern Africa
  • Walking for Practical Action
  • Practical Action TV - online videos
  • Turning compost into lifelines

 
CBD News Headlines

  • Half a billion euro to tackle new agricultural challenges
  • Italy to Host G-8 Agriculture Summit
  • Sorghum gene code could lead to drought-tolerant crops: study
  • Fighting hunger with flood-tolerant rice
  • Los secretos genéticos del cereal de África

 
IUCN Global News

  • Environment must count at Davos
  • IUCN launches new opinion page on its website
  • Earth hour two months away
  • A new President for the United States: We have a dream
  • SEED Awards 2009 are open for submissions

 
International Institute for Sustainable Development

  • IISD RS @ High-Level Meeting on African Agriculture in the 21st Century, 9-10 February 2009, Windhoek, Namibia
  • EC Partners in Innovative MEA Implementation Programme - Guest Article No. 62 - MEA Bulletin #62 - Thursday, 29 January 2009
  • IISD RS @ The Pew Commission on Whale Conservation in the 21st Century, 9-10 February 2009, in Lisbon, Portugal
  • Síntesis del CRIC 7 de la CNULD y el CCT S-1, 3 AL 14 NOVIEMBRE DE 2008 - Estambul - Turquía
  • Whats new on Linkages - Friday, 23 January 2009

Ecological Society of America (ESA)

  • Reflections on light pollution
  • How fence lizards got their shimmy
  • Climate change doubles tree deaths
  • Policy News Update
  • The 44th President of these United States

 

The Global Diversity Foundation

The Global Diversity Foundation promotes the richness of local cultures and their environments around the world.

We are concerned about the future of the biodiversity that people tend, the languages they speak and the ways they interact with their cultural landscapes.

We believe that globalisation can go hand-in-hand with diversity. But it requires education, research and sheer hard work in the form of long-term, community-based projects.

We work with local people to help them adapt to the world's changing conditions. Our initiatives, conducted in partnership with local and international institutions, take three main forms:

  • applied research on diverse aspects of biocultural diversity at selected field sites
  • training and education, from community workshops to university courses
  • field projects that improve the health, education and rights of communities under threat from the globalised economy.

 

 

More Background on GlobalDiversityFund.net

GlobalDiversityFund.net was once the official website for the Global Diversity Fund (GDF), a nonprofit organization focused on advancing agricultural, biological, and cultural diversity across the globe. While the website is no longer actively maintained, its legacy and the broader work of the GDF and its sister organizations continue to influence conservation, education, and community development worldwide. This article provides a detailed, independent look at the organization’s background, activities, and impact.

Ownership and Organizational Structure

The Global Diversity Fund is closely connected to the Global Diversity Foundation (GDF), an internationally recognized charity. While the Global Diversity Fund is registered as a nonprofit in the United States, the Global Diversity Foundation is based in the United Kingdom and holds charitable status there.

The GDF/GDF network is led by a team of experts in ethnobiology, conservation, and community development. The organization is overseen by a board of directors and supported by an advisory council comprising academics, researchers, and field practitioners. This governance structure ensures a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach to its mission.

The organization works in partnership with academic institutions, local communities, and other nonprofits. These partnerships are designed to leverage expertise and resources, enabling the GDF to conduct research, deliver training, and implement field projects across multiple continents.

Location and Geographic Reach

Although the Global Diversity Fund is formally registered in the United States, its influence and activities are truly global. The organization has implemented projects and programs in several key regions:

  • Africa: Initiatives in North Africa and the Kalahari region focus on plant conservation and supporting local livelihoods.

  • Asia: Programs in Southeast Asia address ethnobiological knowledge and biodiversity conservation.

  • Latin America: Fieldwork in Mesoamerica supports indigenous knowledge systems and sustainable land use.

This international presence is reflected in the diversity of its project sites and partnerships.

Mission, Goals, and Vision

The core mission of the Global Diversity Fund is to promote and protect agricultural, biological, and cultural diversity through research, education, and social action. The organization is particularly concerned with the future of biodiversity, the preservation of languages, and the ways in which communities interact with their cultural landscapes.

GDF’s goals include:

  • Conducting applied research on biocultural diversity at selected field sites.

  • Providing training and education through community workshops, university courses, and professional development programs.

  • Implementing field projects that improve health, education, and rights for marginalized communities.

  • Supporting the participation of a wide range of community members, including children, young adults, and elders, in research and development initiatives.

The organization believes that globalization and diversity can coexist, but only through sustained education, research, and community-based action.

Areas of Focus and Activities

The Global Diversity Fund’s work is organized around several key themes:

  • Ethnobiological Knowledge: Documenting and supporting the continuity of traditional ecological knowledge.

  • Community Access to Biological Resources: Ensuring that local communities have access to the biological resources they depend on.

  • Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting and restoring ecosystems and species diversity.

  • Education and Capacity Building: Offering training and educational opportunities for local researchers, students, and community members.

  • Field Projects: Implementing initiatives that address health, education, and rights in communities affected by globalization.

These activities are carried out in collaboration with academic institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local partners.

Training and Education Programs

The Global Diversity Fund is known for its innovative training and education programs, which include:

  • Community Workshops: Hands-on training for local communities on topics such as sustainable agriculture, biodiversity monitoring, and cultural preservation.

  • University Courses: Collaboration with academic institutions to offer courses and degree programs in biocultural diversity, conservation, and community development.

  • Fellowships and Grants: Supporting talented young researchers and students through fellowships and research grants.

  • Public Education: Organizing exhibits, publications, and seminars to raise awareness about biocultural diversity and conservation strategies.

These programs are designed to build local capacity and empower communities to take an active role in conservation and development.

Field Projects and Community Engagement

The Global Diversity Fund’s field projects are central to its mission. These projects are typically conducted in partnership with local and international institutions and focus on:

  • Applied Research: Investigating the relationships between culture, biodiversity, and livelihoods.

  • Community Development: Supporting initiatives that improve health, education, and rights for marginalized groups.

  • Conservation: Working with local communities to protect and restore ecosystems and species.

Field projects often involve participatory methods, ensuring that local knowledge and perspectives are integrated into research and development activities.

Publications and Outreach

The Global Diversity Fund is committed to sharing its findings and experiences with a wider audience. This is achieved through:

  • Scientific Publications: Presenting the results of applied research in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings.

  • Public Exhibits: Organizing exhibits and events to educate the public about biocultural diversity and conservation.

  • Online Resources: Providing educational materials, research guides, and multimedia resources through its website and affiliated platforms.

These efforts help to raise awareness and foster dialogue about the importance of diversity in a globalized world.

Awards and Recognition

While specific awards and recognitions for the Global Diversity Fund are not widely documented in public sources, the organization is recognized within the fields of ethnobiology, conservation, and community development for its innovative approach and impact. Its work is often cited in academic literature and by partner organizations as a model for community-based conservation and development.

Press and Media Coverage

The Global Diversity Fund and its sister organization have been featured in a variety of media outlets and publications, including academic journals, conservation magazines, and international development reports. Coverage typically highlights the organization’s unique approach to integrating cultural and biological diversity, its commitment to community engagement, and its impact on marginalized communities.

Examples of media coverage include:

  • Academic Journals: Articles and case studies in journals such as the Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine.

  • Conservation Magazines: Features in publications focused on biodiversity and sustainable development.

  • International Reports: References in reports by organizations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

These references underscore the organization’s reputation as a leader in biocultural diversity and community-based conservation.

Audience and Community Engagement

The Global Diversity Fund’s primary audience includes:

  • Local Communities: Indigenous and rural communities involved in conservation and development projects.

  • Researchers and Academics: Scholars and students interested in ethnobiology, conservation, and community development.

  • Nonprofit Organizations: Partner organizations working in conservation, development, and human rights.

  • General Public: Individuals interested in biodiversity, cultural diversity, and sustainable development.

The organization is committed to engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including children, young adults, and elders, in its programs and initiatives.

Cultural and Social Significance

The Global Diversity Fund’s work is significant for several reasons:

  • Preservation of Cultural Heritage: The organization supports the continuity of traditional knowledge, languages, and practices, which are increasingly threatened by globalization.

  • Biodiversity Conservation: By working with local communities, GDF helps to protect and restore ecosystems and species diversity.

  • Community Empowerment: The organization’s participatory approach empowers communities to take an active role in conservation and development.

  • Education and Capacity Building: GDF’s training and education programs build local capacity and foster long-term sustainability.

These contributions are widely recognized within the fields of conservation, ethnobiology, and international development.

Known For

The Global Diversity Fund is known for:

  • Innovative Community-Based Conservation: Integrating traditional knowledge with scientific research to protect biodiversity.

  • Education and Training: Offering unique opportunities for local communities, students, and researchers to learn about and engage in conservation and development.

  • Global Reach: Implementing projects in diverse regions, including Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

  • Collaborative Approach: Working in partnership with academic institutions, nonprofits, and local communities to achieve its goals.

Reviews and Public Perception

While formal reviews of the Global Diversity Fund are limited, the organization is generally regarded positively within the conservation and development communities. Its participatory approach, commitment to local knowledge, and impact on marginalized communities are frequently cited as strengths. Affiliates and supporters often highlight the organization’s dedication to long-term, community-based projects and its ability to inspire real, positive change.

History and Evolution

The Global Diversity Fund was established as a sister organization to the Global Diversity Foundation, which obtained charitable status in the United Kingdom in 2000. Over the years, the organization has evolved to address emerging challenges related to globalization, biodiversity loss, and cultural change.

Key milestones in its history include:

  • Founding: Establishment as a nonprofit in the United States, closely linked to the UK-based Global Diversity Foundation.

  • Expansion: Growth of its programs and partnerships across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

  • Innovation: Development of new training and education initiatives, including online resources and public exhibits.

  • Recognition: Growing reputation within the fields of conservation, ethnobiology, and international development.

Insights and Specifics

The Global Diversity Fund’s approach is distinguished by its emphasis on:

  • Participatory Research: Engaging local communities in the design and implementation of research projects.

  • Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Bringing together experts from diverse fields, including anthropology, biology, and education.

  • Long-Term Commitment: Focusing on sustained, community-based initiatives rather than short-term interventions.

  • Capacity Building: Investing in the education and training of local researchers, students, and community members.

These characteristics have enabled the organization to achieve meaningful and lasting impact in the communities it serves.

Examples of Impact

While specific project examples from GlobalDiversityFund.net are not detailed in this article due to sourcing restrictions, independent sources and partner organizations highlight the following types of impact:

  • Community Empowerment: Supporting local communities to document and preserve traditional knowledge and practices.

  • Conservation Successes: Helping to protect and restore ecosystems and species through community-based initiatives.

  • Education Outcomes: Providing training and education opportunities that build local capacity and foster long-term sustainability.

  • Policy Influence: Contributing to international discussions and policy development on biocultural diversity and community rights.

These examples illustrate the breadth and depth of the Global Diversity Fund’s impact.

 

GlobalDiversityFund.net served as the online home for the Global Diversity Fund, an organization dedicated to promoting and protecting agricultural, biological, and cultural diversity worldwide. Through its innovative research, education, and community-based projects, the organization has made a significant impact in regions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Its participatory approach, commitment to local knowledge, and collaborative spirit have earned it recognition as a leader in biocultural diversity and community-based conservation. While the website is no longer active, the legacy and ongoing work of the Global Diversity Fund and its sister organizations continue to inspire and influence conservation and development efforts around the world.

 

GlobalDiversityFund.net