Transcript Adaptive Pathways for the Future: Indigenous Peoples

Adaptive Pathways for the Future:
Indigenous Peoples, Traditional
Knowledge and Climate Change
Kirsty Galloway McLean
United Nations University
Traditional Knowledge Initiative
2010 International Climate Change Adaptation Conference, 1 July 2010
Indigenous peoples:
Population
Forest lands
Land surface
Biodiversity
5%
11%
22%
80%
Carbon footprint <.1%
live in marginal environments –
mountains, coastal areas, polar cap, forests
450 projects and
case studies
Indigenous
observations of
change
Role of traditional
knowledge
Adaptation and
mitigation strategies
Sectors:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Agriculture and food security
Biodiversity and natural ecosystems
Animal husbandry
Housing and infrastructure
Forests
Transport
Energy consumption and production
Human rights
The majority of
successful
adaptive strategies
rely in some way
on
traditional
ecological
knowledge
Traditional knowledge:
Knowledge, innovations and
practices of Indigenous
Peoples
Intergenerational
transmission of
knowledge over
thousands of years
History of effective
response to
changing climate
Changes in hunting
and gathering periods
Crop
diversification
Shifting
resource bases
Blending
traditional
knowledge and
modern
technologies
e.g. Arctic
Climate Impact
Assessment;
Cybertracker
Fire
management
e.g. WALFA,
Payment for
Ecosystem
Services
traditional wisdom +
scientific method
= new partnerships +
innovative ways of thinking
What do we need to
change?
We urgently
need to
generate,
interpret and use
information…
…yet traditional
knowledge is
rapidly
disappearing
Most of the world’s
6000 language
groups are
indigenous
90%
of these languages
will disappear by
2020
Global modeling
outputs / structure

Improve
understanding
impact / response
to change at
local level
Build effective
communication
to incorporate
community level
goals and integrate
human and
ecosystem
concerns
Involve Indigenous
Peoples in
policy and planning
UN Declaration
on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples
Published late July 2010
Requests:
[email protected]
Advance reading copy currently available for download
http://www.unutki.org/news.php?news_id=92&doc_id=101
UNU-IAS TKI
Building 1, Level 3, Red Precinct
Charles Darwin University Casuarina Campus
Ellengowan Drive
Darwin, NT 0909
Australia
Tel:
Fax:
E-mail:
Web:
+61-8-8946-6792 / 7652
+61-8-8946-7720
[email protected]
http://www.unutki.org | http://ias.unu.edu