United Nations Contributions

Documentation by Humanculture contributes to international research and governance discussions on biodiversity, climate adaptation, land stewardship, and Indigenous knowledge systems. Through field documentation, research, and conceptual work, this platform presents Humanculture’s contributions to global institutional discussions, including:

❋ UNU-CRIS (United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies)

Climate Stress on Indigenous Systems: Water, Food, and Governance as Integrated Peace Infrastructure

❋ EMRIP (Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)

Peace Infrastructure through Indigenous Systems of Governance in Climate-Driven Conflict: Observations from Maasai Communities in Northern Tanzania

❋ IPBES (Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services)

Indigenous Beekeeping as Pollinator Stewardship and Livelihood Resilience

Governance Capacity as Nexus Infrastructure: Supporting Uptake of IPBES Assessments in Indigenous and Community-Governed Contexts

Mobility as Access Governance Under Prolonged Drought: Practical Guidance for Nexus-Aligned Planning in Arid and Semi-Arid Contexts

The Chorotega Indigenous System of Earth-Responsive Material Transformation: IPBES ILK Concept Note

❋ FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations)

Indigenous-Governed Rural Production and Material Stewardship Under Climate Variability: The Chorotega System

Indigenous Systems of Distributed Groundwater Access for Family Farming Under Prolonged Drought

Indigenous Beekeeping as Pollinator Stewardship and Livelihood Resilience: Supporting Uptake of the IPBES Nexus

Pastoral Household Adaptation to Prolonged Drought Among Amazigh Communities in Southeastern Morocco

❋ UNESCO ( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)

Earth-Responsive Material Transformation Chorotega Indigenous Knowledge System Under Climate Variability - Open Science

Amazigh Desert Weaving: Indigenous Knowledge of Pastoral Fiber, Shelter, and Climate Adaptation - Gender Equality in Science

Maasai Pastoral Stewardship: Ecological Observation, Community Governance, and Survival Under Climate Variability - Gender Equality in Science

Chorotega Earth-Responsive Ceramics: A Living Community Model for Traditional Knowledge and Skills Transmission - World Heritage Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals WHITRAP Application for Good Practice

Maasai Groundwater Knowledge and Skills Transmission in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area - World Heritage Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals WHITRAP Application for Good Practice

Amazigh Desert Weaving: A Living Knowledge System of Pastoral Fiber, Shelter, and Climate Adaptation - World Heritage Contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals WHITRAP Application for Good Practice

❋ LCIPP (Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform)

Earth-Responsive Material Transformation: The Chorotega Indigenous System Under Climate Variability

Indigenous Systems Under Drought Conditions: Maasai Water Access Techniques

Bio-Ecological Sensing in Indigenous Governance: Pollinator Stewardship under Seasonal Variability in Maasai Pastoral Landscapes

❋ UNPFII (United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues)

Community Practice: The Chorotega Indigenous System of Earth-Responsive Material Transformation

Community Practice: Amazigh Pastoral Adaptation to Prolonged Drought in Southeastern Morocco

❋UNDRRR - (United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction)

Maasai Community Governance of Groundwater Access During Drought in Northern Tanzania: PreventionWeb Research Brief

Pastoral Adaptation to Prolonged Drought in Southeastern Morocco: Household Strategies Among Amazigh Nomadic Communities

❋ ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites)

Earth-Responsive Ceramic Production in the Chorotega Community of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua: A Living Indigenous Knowledge System within the Cultural Landscape of Granada

These contributions reflect the growing recognition that Indigenous systems contain important knowledge relevant to global environmental governance, sustainable development, and climate resilience.

Institutional Engagement and Global Platforms

The work associated with Humanculture and the Indigenous Systems platform contributes to global discussions on biodiversity, food systems, and Indigenous knowledge through participation in international research processes and United Nations–related platforms.

United Nations Recognition

Humanculture is registered with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) through the eSango platform as an Indigenous Peoples’ Organization (IPO). Once accredited, this enables participation in United Nations processes, including the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII).

Indigenous Collective Governance

Humanculture is a member of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IIFBES), a global caucus representing Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) within biodiversity-related United Nations processes.

Scientific and Technical Expertise

Humanculture founder and Executive Director, Stephanie Zabriskie, serves as an Expert Contributor to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), providing technical input to global assessments and supporting the integration of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) within international science and policy processes.

Food Systems and Family Farming

Humanculture contributes to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Family Farming Knowledge Platform, supporting global dialogue on pastoralist rights, sustainable food systems, and the preservation of traditional agricultural knowledge and practices.

Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience

Humanculture is registered on the global knowledge platform of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The organization contributes knowledge resources and practice documentation related to Indigenous governance systems, climate adaptation, and community-based approaches to disaster risk reduction.