Greek Scientists Society

Biocultural heritage, encompassing the intricate interlinkages between biodiversity, cultural identity, traditional knowledge, and community practices, is under increasing threat from globalisation, environmental degradation, and fragmented policy responses. Despite the growing recognition of its importance for sustainable development, climate resilience, and social cohesion, biocultural heritage remains insufficiently integrated into mainstream frameworks of innovation, education, and policy. In this talk, I propose a transdisciplinary strategy for revitalising biocultural heritage by leveraging community-driven innovation, participatory policy models, and digital knowledge systems. Drawing from European and Mediterranean contexts, the presentation highlights successful collaborations between scientific communities, civil society, and policymakers that have led to tangible outcomes in cultural landscape preservation, intergenerational knowledge transfer, and ecosystem regeneration. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of scientific networks, such as the Greek Scientists Society, in mobilising knowledge and facilitating south-north and cross-sectoral exchange. The presentation introduces an Innovation & Strategy model tailored for biocultural contexts. This model includes actionable pathways for:
1. Integrating traditional ecological knowledge into educational curricula and research agendas;
2. Aligning intellectual property frameworks with community rights and benefit-sharing mechanisms;
3. Co-creating digital infrastructures (e.g. living archives, citizen science platforms) that support cultural ecosystem services and heritage preservation;
4. Mobilising funding from EU programmes and philanthropy to support community-led projects.
A core argument of this talk is that we must shift from extractive research and preservation paradigms towards models of co-creation and local empowerment. By placing communities at the centre of decision-making and innovation, we ensure that biocultural heritage is not only preserved, but dynamically evolved to meet current and future challenges. Drawing insights from projects I’ve supported across academia, NGOs, and innovation ecosystems, the talk will also address how biocultural heritage can be linked to green entrepreneurship, responsible tourism, and circular economy models. The discussion will be practical, strategic, and solutions-oriented—speaking to academics, community leaders, and policymakers alike. Ultimately, the aim is to offer a roadmap for scaling inclusive and resilient biocultural practices that serve both local priorities and global sustainability goals.