Abstract

Science helps us to perceive and understand diverse biological and cultural realities. To enhance these perceptions and understandings, today it is essential to overcome physical, conceptual, and institutional barriers that have come to characterize global society. “Face-to-face” encounters with other living beings and cultures are irreplaceable. Physical, emotional, and sensorial experiences in these encounters transform the notion of biological and cultural diversity from a concept into an experience of biocultural co-inhabitation. This is illustrated with stories of inter-species and inter-cultural encounters at the Omora Ethnobotanical Park in the Cape Horn Biosphere reserve in Chile We concisely discuss the philosophical implications of this biocultural education approach, and how it could help to set priorities to conserve biological and cultural diversity not only in Chile but also in other regions of the planet.