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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN ASIA

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Shree Kumar Maharjan at Collaborating for Resilience (CoRe)
Shree Kumar Maharjan
  • Collaborating for Resilience (CoRe)
Thingreiphi Lungharwo
Thingreiphi Lungharwo
Thingreiphi Lungharwo
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Joan Carling
Joan Carling
Joan Carling
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Gam Shimray
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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATION IN ASIA
Contents
1. Indigenous Peoples and climate change adaptation in Asia
2. Indigenous Peoples’ issues and concerns relating to climate change
adaptation
2.1. Livelihood and well-being of Indigenous Peoples
2.2. Indigenous knowledge
2.3. Full and effective engagement in policies, strategies related to climate
change adaptation and access to resources
3. Indigenous adaptation practices and measures
... Their livelihoods depend on natural resources that are directly affected by climate change, and they often inhabit economically and politically marginal areas in diverse, but fragile ecosystems. In addition, they interpret and react to climate change impacts in creative ways, drawing on traditional knowledge as well as new technologies to find solutions, which may help society at large to cope with the impending changes (Jan and Anja, 2007). In Nigeria, just as in many developing countries in the Subtropical region the agricultural sector is more vulnerable to climate change landless farmers, livestock keepers, people in poor health, those who are undernourished , people with low economic power, women and children including women headed households, those with low level of education, and those with low technological know-how are more exposed to the risk of climate change (Barber, 2003). ...
... Some of these responses may be traditionally included in their normal subsistence activities, while others may be acute responses, used only in case of critical weather conditions (Stott and Kettleborough, 2002). Most research on people perception of climate changes were carried out in the developed countries of the world which dominate the uppermost northern region of the earth where the relationship between Scientists and Indigenous Peoples is high (Jan and Anja, 2007). Though the hope in this devastating scenario of climate change lies with the indigenous peoples themselves, who are very successful at preventing deforestation and managing natural environment, those in the developing countries are rarely considered (Jan and Anja, 2007). ...
... Most research on people perception of climate changes were carried out in the developed countries of the world which dominate the uppermost northern region of the earth where the relationship between Scientists and Indigenous Peoples is high (Jan and Anja, 2007). Though the hope in this devastating scenario of climate change lies with the indigenous peoples themselves, who are very successful at preventing deforestation and managing natural environment, those in the developing countries are rarely considered (Jan and Anja, 2007). Despite the fact that efforts have been made towards fighting climate change from scientific views, research and policies directed towards indigenous knowledge and perception are highly needed. ...
Indigenous People’s Perception on Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Article
Full-text available
  • Oct 2008
This study examines the way indigenous people in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State perceive climate change and their adaptation strategies to climate change. The paper also asks indigenous people of the impacts of climate change on their various activities and any perceive hindrance to its adaptation. A total of 225 questionnaires were administered in five settlements within the study area, although only 200 of these questionnaires were used for the purpose of analysis. Findings revealed that indigenous people in the study area perceived that the environment, climate in particular, has been changing over the years due to diverse human activities. Findings also revealed that the threat of climate change is more on health, food supply, biodiversity lost and fuelwood availability than on businesses and instigating of disaster; and it is the poor, who depend heavily on the natural resources that are mostly affected by incidence of climate change. In adapting to climate change indigenous people cultivate different/varieties of crops which are tolerant to climate change and shortening of growing season as adaptation strategies. Result further revealed that lack of improve seeds, lack of assess to water for irrigation, lack of current knowledge of modern adaptation strategies, lack of capital, lack of awareness and knowledge of climate change scenarios are the hindering factors to the adoption of modern techniques of combating climate changes in the area.
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... The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues stated that "climate change exacerbates the difficulties already faced by vulnerable populations [16]". Indigenous communities globally have been especially hard hit by long-standing colonial environmental mismanagement. ...
A Scoping Review of Nature, Land, and Environmental Connectedness and Relatedness
Article
Full-text available
The importance of nature and the environment in relation to human health is coalescing, as demonstrated by the increased research that attempts to measure nature connectedness and relatedness. These findings align with constructs of cultural connectedness that assess for land connectedness as part of Indigenous ways of knowing. From an Indigenous worldview, relationships with the environment are critical to wellbeing. The purpose of this comprehensive systematic scoping literature review was two-fold: (1) identify and summarize existing measures of land, nature, and/or environmental connectedness, relatedness, and attitudes and (2) evaluate the psychometric properties of these scales. In total, 1438 articles were retrieved from select databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL (EBSCO), and Academic Search Complete (EBSCO). The final searches and application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria resulted in 57 unique articles and 38 scales categorized as connectedness and relatedness scales (n = 9 scales), attitudinal and values-based scales (n = 16 scales), cultural and spiritually based scales (n = 9 scales), and paradigm-based scales (n = 4 scales) (articles could be placed in multiple categories). Psychometric properties and general outcomes associated with nature-related scales are reported, with implications for future education, research, practice, and policy.
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... Their livelihoods depend on natural resources that are directly affected by climate change and variability, and they often inhabit economically and politically marginal areas in diverse, but fragile ecosystems. In addition, they interpret and react to climate change impacts in creative ways, drawing on traditional knowledge as well as new technologies to find solutions, which may help society at large to cope with the impending changes (Jan and Anja, 2007). Doss and Morris (2001) emphasized that the perspectives of the indigenous people, the way they think and behave in relation to climate change and variability, as well as their values and aspirations have a significant role to play in addressing and managing climate change and its impacts. ...
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Assessment of the Impact and Management of Flood, Drought and River Bank Erosion: A Case Study of Char Land Peoples of Gangachara Upazila, Rangpur District, Bangladesh
Article
Full-text available
  • Jan 2017
Bangladesh, due to its geo-physical position and socioeconomic context, is highly prone to regular natural hazards and the impacts of climate change. Environmental impacts on agriculture damage a large quantity of crop production. The damages become severe in river side char areas, because these areas are very vulnerable to flood and riverbank erosion during monsoon and very arid condition during dry season. Riverine char lands, among other ecosystems of the country, are considered as hotspots for climatic hazards. An integrated approach which combines traditional knowledge with innovative strategies has been adopted to address current vulnerability while building adaptive capacity to face new and dynamic challenges. The process involves four interrelated strategies: promotion of climate-resilient livelihood strategies, disaster risk reduction strategies, capacity development for local civil society, and advocacy and social mobilization with particular focus on gender. In Bangladesh, flood and river bank erosion is a very common event and it has been occurred since 1988 and its process is still going on. It is characterized with the climatic stress such as heavy rainfall impacting adversely on the socioeconomic development of this area. The people of Noali Char, Kolkondo Char and Char Alambiditor depend on agriculture for their livelihood. This study examines flood, drought and river bank erosion-induced multiple forms of impacts which had been exposed to poor villagers. This report touches the women roles and explores the people's indigenous survival techniques. The responsible constraints are weak socioeconomic status, adverse climatic consequences, limited low effective indigenous managements which have been ignored by local leaders and goverenment. A negative matter is that without organizational support the villagers run their management procedures in own way. Hopefully this report will be act as a supportive tool as showing recommendations to the planners and policy makers in formulating micro or macro level policy for the improvement this community in terms of these events.
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Plant Genetic Resources and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge Conservation Toward Resilience to Climate Change
Chapter
  • Jan 2015
Climate change is a stark reality and its effects are discernible even today. Changing climatic parameters will have impact on the global agriculture conditions with variable severity from region to region. On the one hand, unpredicted changes in climatic factors are quite likely to threaten the production and productivity of economically important plant species particularly that of food crops; at the same time, agriculture productivity requires significant increase to meet the expected growth in demand for food by the ever-increasing world population. Crop diversity, an important component of total plant biodiversity, is considered essential for sustainability of agriculture systems and for achieving food security under changing climate scenario. Plant genetic resources (PGRs) serve as the key ingredients for breeding crop varieties with resilience to different types of biotic and abiotic stresses resulting due to changes in climatic parameters. It makes the conservation and multiplication of plant genetic resources an essential strategy for development of crop genotypes with resilience to climate change and for achieving the overall goal of food security. Indigenous traditional knowledge, handed down from generation to generation over centuries, has been recognized as a treasure of information which can be utilized for developing resilience to climate change and for framing strategies for natural resource management in response to environmental changes. Indigenous traditional knowledge and judicious use of PGRs underline indigenous and local communities’ understanding of phenomenon of climate change and strategies to develop resilience in response to such changes for global sustainable development. Documentation, recognition, and scientific validation of traditional practices of local communities for conservation of biodiversity and sustainability of agriculture are essential for resilience to changing climatic conditions.
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“Up On the Mountain”: Ethnobotanical Importance of Montane Sites In Pacific Coastal North America
Article
Full-text available
  • Mar 2011
The Pacific Coastal Mountains of western North America have immense ethnobotanical significance. Since time immemorial, Indigenous Peoples have journeyed from permanent settlements in lowland regions to upland sites in order to harvest and process a range of plant resources –foods, materials and medicines– as well as to hunt and fish, and undertake spiritual activities. Two culturally significant montane areas, widely separated geographically, are described as case examples: pt-én'i (Botanie Valley) in Nlaka'pmx territory of southern interior British Columbia, famous for its abundance of edible root resources; and iwamkani, an iconic huckleberry picking location for the Klamath in southern Oregon. Patterns of montane use are notably consistent throughout the region. Indigenous People intentionally modified montane landscapes through fire and other means to enhance resource productivity and predictability. In turn, mountain environments and resources have significantly influenced Indigenous Peoples' lifeways and knowledge systems. The integrity of montane biocultural systems has been threatened by industrial development, fire suppression and, most recently, the changing global climate. Yet, montane areas remain as key elements of biocultural heritage and must be protected for continued social-ecological health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples.
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