Ethics of extraction: Biodiversity and indigenous knowledge

Abstract

Extraction of local knowledge of people has gone on for a very long time without any reciprocity or accountability towards the knowledge providers. The paper looks at several kinds of accountability of researchers such as towards (a) providers, the communities, individuals and professional; (b) professional bodies, and (c) one s own conscience. Various forms of natural and non-natural rewards for individual and collective research are discussed next. Finally, the issue of accountability towards future generation which does not vote in the present day decision making is discussed.