International Society of Ethnobiology

In 2009, Traditional Owners in North Queensland identified that an ethnobotany research and resource centre could support them in the conservation, management, use and communication of their Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The Tropical Indigenous Ethnobotany Centre (TIEC) - the first Indigenous-driven ethnobotanical research centre in Australia - was established to meet that need.

The TIEC was developed in partnership between the Australian Tropical Herbarium, Traditional Owners, the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA), CSIRO and The Cairns Institute.

Gerry Turpin, the first formally trained Indigenous ethnobotanist in Australia attended and presented at the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) Congress 2024 in Marrakech, Morocco. The ISE (ISE) aims to strengthen relationships and understanding between human societies and the natural world, as well as promoting biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity.

“ISE believes that sustainable, appropriate solutions to global problems can only arise through collaboration among people of diverse cultures and worldviews. The Society therefore works to engage people and community groups who have wide ranging expertise and experience in effective dialogue and action.” (ISE, 2024).

This year’s congress was the 18^th ISE World Congress and focussed on the rich connections between biodiversity and cultural landscapes, celebrating the intimate relationships between people, animals, and plants. In 2022, Gerry, in collaboration with the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA), made an application to hold an ISE Congress in Australia. The application was successful, and the ESA was awarded the 2026 ISE Congress to be held in Cairns. This will be the first time that an ISE Congress will be held in Australia, and it will be hosted by the ESA.  In Marrakech Gerry Turpin joined the ISE Board and is currently putting together an Organising Committee to plan for the 2026 Congress.