The Role of Indigenous Knowledge & Biodiversity in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation
Introduction
Before the advent of scientific knowledge in predicting and controlling environmental occurrences, the people of old, in their various communities, developed a way of identifying climatic occurrences.[1] From the playful behaviour of cows, the movement of ants, the absence of numerous black swallows, the large presence of swarms of locusts, etc, Indigenous people have been able to correctly predict weather and climatic conditions.[2] The Paris Agreement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) acknowledges that adaptation action should be based on the best science and Indigenous Knowledge, and local knowledge systems.[3] Indigenous knowledge plays an important role in the body of knowledge necessary for sustainable practices that are increasingly recognized as vital in the global fight against climate change. Climate change is already affecting the lives, livelihoods, and human rights of more than 370 million Indigenous Peoples globally.[4] These communities have historically thrived by harmonizing with nature and adapting to climate fluctuations, depending heavily on precipitation patterns, temperature changes, and local biodiversity for their long-term survival. This article discusses the role that indigenous knowledge plays in climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. It highlights how traditional practices such as sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and climate-resilient agriculture contribute to environmental sustainability. The integration of indigenous knowledge with modern measures is shown to enhance the resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate impacts. The article further discusses the challenges of Indigenous knowledge and best practices necessary for effective application. Finally, the article highlights the concept of biodiversity and its benefits in climate action.
Understanding Indigenous knowledge
Indigenous knowledge in climate action refers to customs, traditions, practices, and wisdom developed by Indigenous peoples through their interactions with their environments over generations.[5] It is unique to different cultures across the world. It refers to the different ways in which people used to and are currently identifying, and anticipating climate occurrences without scientific intervention. ?It is often referred to as traditional, local, community, or rural knowledge.
Indigenous knowledge gives valuable ideas, guiding principles, practices, and measures that can serve as a foundation for effective development processes aimed at restoring social, economic, and environmental resilience across the globe. Indigenous peoples have thrived by working harmoniously with nature and adapting to climate variations, relying mainly on precipitation patterns, temperature fluctuations, and local biodiversity for their long-term sustenance.
Importance of indigenous practices in climate action.
Indigenous knowledge is crucial to activities aimed at preventing and mitigating the impact of climate change. The importance of Indigenous practices include:
1.???? Preservation of Biological Diversity: Biodiversity (Biological Diversity) plays a crucial role in supporting a healthy environment. Indigenous communities have practices like sacred groves. This practice preserves areas that have rare and endemic species. Forest islands is also another way where indigenous people preserve biodiversity. The Kayapo people of the Amazon are renowned for this practice.[6]
2.???? Disaster Preparedness: Indigenous knowledge can be applied in predicting adverse weather conditions and this helps in preparing for imminent disasters. Through cloud observation, animal behaviour, wind patterns, etc., Indigenous people used this to their advantage and for their safety. This knowledge helps them to migrate before fatal disasters occur. It also helps them to know when to plant and harvest to get the best possible yield in a party season.
3.???? Agricultural Resilience: By planting varieties of crops that can withstand certain weather conditions, building traditional irrigation measures, etc., indigenous knowledge allows for agricultural practices that can thrive in the face of climate change. An instance is the maintenance of Waffle gardens.[7] These gardens are built in a way that retains water and reduces evaporation. The Zuni people of the American Southwest engage in this practice.
4.???? Bush fallowing & Shifting Cultivation: Indigenous knowledge preserves the practice of Bush fallowing and shifting cultivation. Thus, after a planting season, an entire farm area that runs into 100s of hectares of farmland is left dormant for many years before planting is carried out again in that area. This practice is to allow the farmland to replenish and become more fertile. In the process, the farmland grows into a massive forest that houses biological diversity. This farmland also removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This practice is common within the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria.
Case study
The people of Emaswati
In a report published in March 2023 by Samkele Tfwala & Ors on the topic “Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation in Eswatini”,[8] they highlighted how the Indigenous people of Emaswati relied on Indigenous knowledge to anticipate and prepare for climate change was higlighted. Indigenous knowledge has been added to the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) of the people of Eswatini.
Challenges in the use of Indigenous knowledge in climate action.
Indigenous knowledge faces several challenges. Firstly, people believe that indigenous knowledge cannot be trusted as there are usually hard to validate mathematically. When compared with science, people place less relevance on indigenous knowledge as it cannot be calculated with mathematical accuracy.[9] Secondly, Indigenous knowledge, at times, is usually specific to a certain environment. This may hinder the effectiveness of such knowledge when it is being transferred to another community.
Thirdly, in some communities, beliefs persist that the negative impacts of climate change are linked to actions deemed inappropriate by community members, such as improper dress and bad behaviour.[10] These attitudes can hinder efforts to educate people about the scientific basis of climate change and undermine initiatives aimed at promoting adaptation strategies.
The language barrier is also another setback for Indigenous knowledge as many Indigenous languages are usually unwritten. Translations may not completely convey the entire body of knowledge appropriately. Furthermore, many nations may not have a policy or a predisposition to receive Indigenous knowledge in climate change action. These setbacks make it challenging for this body of knowledge to be adequately implemented.
Best practices for Indigenous knowledge application.
1.???? Knowledge sharing and integration: Integrating the different indigenous knowledge of various communities will be a very helpful tool in the fight against climate change. This is because integration will allow a certain body of knowledge to receive global application. Applying different indigenous practices from different parts of the world will help breach any indigenous knowledge gap and occasion a more sustainable society. Thus, nations must present their Indigenous body of knowledge in their Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)
2.???? Policy recommendations & Indigenous acceptance: Effective Indigenous practices should form part of the policy posture of a nation and the world at large. Thus, legislation on climate change, while setting out earth-preserving measures may also include obligations that emanate indigenously. This does not only allow the nation and the world to reap the benefit that comes with the Indigenous practice, it also ensures that such Indigenous practice is preserved transgenerationally. It can also be a catalyst in shifting the world to acknowledge and imbibe indigenous practices in other areas like health, sports, etc.
3.???? Awareness and sensitization campaign: The people in these indigenous communities may be unaware of the effects of climate change in other places and what is coming. There is a need for an awareness campaign to be initiated for these indigenous communities. This will awaken their preparedness towards climate occurrences and sharpen their intuition and indigenous climatic studies.
4.???? Generational Knowledge preservation: There should be measures to document the available body of Indigenous knowledge. While it has been passed down from several generations, urbanization and the outbreak of scientific knowledge have pushed indigenous knowledge to the backseat. While this is happening, the older members of Indigenous communities who are the carriers of this knowledge are bowing to age and death. Thus, urgent measures must be initiated for knowledge preservation.
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5.???? Evaluation System: There should be an evaluation system to monitor climate changes predicted by Indigenous knowledge and the effectiveness of the adaptation or mitigation measures adopted. A feedback loop should also be created for communities to communicate their observations.
6.???? Fusion with scientific knowledge: The use of terracotta materials,[11] for instance, which was indigenously used to keep cold water into cooling technology for buildings is a remarkable indication of what can be achieved if indigenous knowledge is fused with scientific knowledge. This will offer a two-factor authentication framework in the fight against climate change, and this can only yield good results.
Understanding biodiversity
Also known as biological diversity, biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth at all its levels. This includes genes, and ecosystems, and can encompass the evolutionary, ecological, and cultural processes that sustain life.[12] It is made up of the diversity of species, ecosystems, and genetic variations within species. Biological diversity can be Genetic Diversity, Species Diversity, or ecosystem diversity. Biodiversity encompasses everything from genes and bacteria to large ecosystems like forests and coral reefs. It is the outcome of 4.5 billion years of evolution. Over time, human activity has played an ever-growing role in shaping it.[13]
Nature is facing a severe crisis, with up to one million species at risk of extinction, many potentially vanishing within the next few decades. Irreplaceable ecosystems, including areas of the Amazon rainforest, are shifting from carbon sinks to carbon sources due to widespread deforestation. Additionally, 85 percent of wetlands, such as mangrove swamps and salt marshes, which play a critical role in absorbing carbon, have been lost.[14]
Function of Biodiversity in Fighting Climate Change.
Biodiversity has been referred to as man’s “strongest natural defense against change”.[15] It fights against Climate Change in the following ways:
1.???? Carbon Sequestration: Ecosystems rich in biodiversity, such as forests, wetlands, and oceans, play a vital role in absorbing and storing carbon dioxide (CO?) from the atmosphere. Forests, specifically, serve as major carbon reservoirs, while marine environments like mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs trap and hold carbon within their organic matter and sediments.[16] By acting as these natural carbon repositories, they help lower the levels of greenhouse gases, contributing to the reduction of global warming.
2.???? Buffer against natural disasters: Areas that are healthy and rich in biodiversity provide natural protection against extreme weather events linked to climate change, like floods, droughts, and storms. For example, mangrove forests shield coastal areas from storm surges and prevent erosion,[17] while wetlands act as sponges, soaking up surplus rainwater and helping to minimize flooding risks.
3.???? Supporting sustainable practices: Biodiversity form the backbone of sustainable agriculture and fisheries, alleviating the strain on natural resources and lowering carbon emissions.[18] Practices like agroforestry and organic farming promote biodiversity while helping to combat climate change by preventing land degradation and minimizing emissions.
4.???? Resilience to climate change: Ecosystems with high biodiversity are more resilient to climate change impacts. A diverse range of species helps ecosystems recover from disturbances such as storms, droughts, or temperature fluctuations. This resilience is crucial for maintaining the ecosystem services that humans rely on, such as clean water, fertile soils, and pollination.[19]
Biodiversity Conservation Case Study: The Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Project
The Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction Project is a successful biodiversity conservation effort launched in 1995, to restore balance to the Yellowstone ecosystem. Wolves were reintroduced after being hunted to extinction in the park in the early 20th century.? Their absence had caused an overpopulation of elk, leading to overgrazing and vegetation degradation. Once reintroduced, wolves helped control elk populations, allowing plants and trees to recover.
This, in turn, benefited other species like beavers, whose dams create aquatic habitats for fish and amphibians. Key elements of the project included scientific monitoring, public education, and legal protection for wolves. Beginning with the landmark Endangered Species Act of the 1970s, and culminating in 1995, fourteen gray wolves were captured in Canada and relocated to the Lamar Valley in Yellowstone.[20]
The impact of the project extended beyond wolves, restoring the park’s ecological health and creating a balanced food web. Lessons learned include the importance of predator species in maintaining biodiversity and the interconnectedness of ecosystems. This project demonstrates that reintroducing key species can have positive effects on entire ecosystems.
Conclusion
Indigenous knowledge is important in tackling the diverse challenges posed by climate change. With a foundation in centuries of sustainable environmental management, it provides valuable insights and practices that enhance scientific methods. Integrating Indigenous knowledge into climate action will ensure holistic, sustainable, and culturally sensitive solutions that mitigate environmental impacts and empower Indigenous communities. Acknowledging and valuing this knowledge is vital for building resilience, preserving biodiversity, and ensuring inclusive and effective climate strategies. As we confront the complexities of climate change, the wisdom of Indigenous peoples serves as an essential ally, leading us toward a more harmonious and sustainable future.
[1] United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 4 December 2023, Local and Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Climate Change, accessed on 23 June 2024, https://www.unesco.org/en/climate-change/links
[2] Samkele Tfwala, Sizwe Mabaso, Minky Groenewald, Khetsiwe Khumalo, Sipho Matsebula, Gugu Sibandze, March 2023, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation in Eswatini, accessed on 12 June 2024 https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/napgn-en-2023-traditional-indigenous-knowledge-eswatini.pdf
[3] United Nations, Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience, accessed on 15 June 2024, https://unfccc.int/topics/adaptation-and-resilience/the-big-picture/introduction
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[5] Kavita S.?Philip, 2015, Indigenous Knowledge: Science and Technology Studies, ScienceDirect, accessed on 17 June 2024, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780080970868850126
[6] The Kayapo Project, Equipe da Bà: Alliance Between Technology, Knowledge, and Ancestral Wisdom to Conserve the Mēbêng?kre Forest, 10 September 2024,? https://kayapo.org/the-forest-team/
[7] Grey Moran, 26 October 2021, The Resurgence of Waffle Gardens Is Helping Indigenous Farmers Grow Food with Less?Water, Civileats, accessed on 16 September 2024, https://civileats.com/2021/10/26/resurgence-waffle-gardens-helping-indigenous-peoples-thrive-amid-droughts-grow-food-less-water/
[8] Samkele Tfwala, Sizwe Mabaso, Minky Groenewald, Khetsiwe Khumalo, Sipho Matsebula, Gugu Sibandze, March 2023, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation in Eswatini, accessed on 12 June 2024 https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/napgn-en-2023-traditional-indigenous-knowledge-eswatini.pdf
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[10] Samkele Tfwala, Sizwe Mabaso, Minky Groenewald, Khetsiwe Khumalo, Sipho Matsebula, Gugu Sibandze, March 2023, Traditional and Indigenous Knowledge for Climate Change Adaptation in Eswatini, accessed on 12 June 2024 https://napglobalnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/napgn-en-2023-traditional-indigenous-knowledge-eswatini.pdf
[11] Soumia?Rahmani,?Dalel?Kaoula,?Mohamed?Hamdy, 2022, Exploring the thermal behaviour of building materials: Terracotta, concrete hollow block and hollow brick, under the arid climate, case study of Biskra-Algeria, ScienceDirect accessed on 15 September 2024,? https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2214785322008665
[12] American Museum of Natural History, What Is Biodiversity? Accessed on 7 September 2024, https://www.amnh.org/research/center-for-biodiversity-conservation/what-is-biodiversity
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[15] United Nations, Biodiversity - our strongest natural defense against climate change, accessed on 7 September 2024, https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity#:~:text=When%20human%20activities%20produce%20greenhouse,based%20solutions%20to%20climate%20change.
[16] European Commission, 2009, Nature’s Role in climate change, accessed on 17 July 2024, https://climate.ec.europa.eu/document/download/f3af59f0-0b0a-4a0e-ac29-f10cc9b2e4d0_en?filename=nature_and_climate_change_en.pdf
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[19] Hina Akram, Shoaib Hussain, Purabi Mazumdar, Kah Ooi Chua, Talib E. Butt, Jennifer Ann Harikrishna, 23 August 2023, Mangrove Health: A Review of Functions, Threats, and Challenges Associated with Mangrove Management Practices, MDPI, accessed on 23 July 2024, https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/9/1698
[20] The Yellowstone Project, accessed on 15 September 2024, https://www.yellowstone.org/wolf-project/