Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD)
Encyclopedia
Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD) is a non-governmental organization
(NGO) established in 1995 in Nepal
. It is committed to capitalize on local initiatives for sustainable management
of renewable natural resource
s and to improve the livelihoods of resource poor and marginalized people.
In the past fifteen years of partnership for development-oriented research in agriculture
and natural resource management
, LI-BIRD has contributed to the development of several innovative methodologies and approaches for participatory research and development, and has generated impacts that have enhanced the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers through appropriate technological and policy changes. LI-BIRD has been a pioneer organization in strengthening methodologies to use Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) and Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) for crop improvement and community-based biodiversity management, and has played an instrumental role in institutionalizing these approaches in the national systems of Nepal.
The national and international communities have been recognising LI-BIRD as a Centre of Excellence for its contribution in shaping national policy
, and for developing and promoting good practices for in-situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity
on-farm. Because of its impact-oriented approach and professional accountability
, LI-BIRD has become a partner of choice for farming communities and organizations engaged in Research and Development (R&D) in agriculture and natural resource management.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) established in 1995 in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. It is committed to capitalize on local initiatives for sustainable management
Sustainable management
Sustainable management takes the concepts from sustainability and synthesizes them with the concepts of management. Sustainability has three branches: the environment, the needs of present and future generations, and the economy...
of renewable natural resource
Natural resource
Natural resources occur naturally within environments that exist relatively undisturbed by mankind, in a natural form. A natural resource is often characterized by amounts of biodiversity and geodiversity existent in various ecosystems....
s and to improve the livelihoods of resource poor and marginalized people.
In the past fifteen years of partnership for development-oriented research in agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and natural resource management
Natural resource management
Natural resource management refers to the management of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants and animals, with a particular focus on how management affects the quality of life for both present and future generations ....
, LI-BIRD has contributed to the development of several innovative methodologies and approaches for participatory research and development, and has generated impacts that have enhanced the livelihoods of resource-poor farmers through appropriate technological and policy changes. LI-BIRD has been a pioneer organization in strengthening methodologies to use Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB) and Participatory Variety Selection (PVS) for crop improvement and community-based biodiversity management, and has played an instrumental role in institutionalizing these approaches in the national systems of Nepal.
The national and international communities have been recognising LI-BIRD as a Centre of Excellence for its contribution in shaping national policy
National Policy
The National Policy was a Canadian economic program introduced by John A. Macdonald's Conservative Party in 1876 and put into action in 1879. It called for high tariffs on imported manufactured items to protect the manufacturing industry...
, and for developing and promoting good practices for in-situ conservation of agricultural biodiversity
Agricultural biodiversity
Agricultural biodiversity is a sub-set of general biodiversity. It includes all forms of life directly relevant to agriculture: rare seed varieties and animal breeds , but also many other organisms such as soil fauna, weeds, pests, predators, and all of the native plants and animals existing on...
on-farm. Because of its impact-oriented approach and professional accountability
Accountability
Accountability is a concept in ethics and governance with several meanings. It is often used synonymously with such concepts as responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving...
, LI-BIRD has become a partner of choice for farming communities and organizations engaged in Research and Development (R&D) in agriculture and natural resource management.