The WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre (GTMC) Indigenous Knowledges and Biodiversity Unit values and promotes respectful knowledge exchanges with Indigenous Peoples on medicinal plants, biodiversity conservation and ensuring equitable access, use and benefits for their health, well-being and rights.

Engaged in UN consultations and multistakeholder partnerships, GTMC supports related advances through the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), 2024 WIPO treaty and COP16 on biodiversity in Colombia to ensure equitable benefit-sharing and the protection of Indigenous intellectual property. Aligned with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the One Health approach, GTMC integrates health and biodiversity, fostering sustainable practices.

Key efforts of the Unit include mapping biodiversity linked to traditional medicine, documenting ecological resources, and developing policies that respect Indigenous knowledge and support initiatives that support biodiversity conservation. Through its partnerships, technical tools, and knowledge-sharing platforms, GTMC advocates for fair access and supports policies that bridge health and environmental conservation for holistic well-being.