By JAMES LARAKI of NARI
INDIGENOUS
knowledge (IK) can be broadly defined as a set of knowledge that local
communities may have accumulated and use over generations in any given
environment.
This
definition could cover all forms of knowledge; technologies, skills, practices,
beliefs, and so on that may enable these communities to sustain their
livelihoods.
IK
is still intact among local communities in many parts of Papua New Guinea.
Using
such knowledge has made it possible for the local communities to live in
harmony with their environment for generations and has guided them on how to
utilise their natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Such
knowledge has been developed by people through experience and continued to
accumulate and use what worked for them.
IK
is becoming useful, especially when dealing with issues like climate change.
Researchers
and others concerned are now realising how local knowledge can enhance
scientific knowledge while devising strategies to cope with climate change
related effects.
Options are being explored
to integrate IK with external knowledge.
Mitigation and adaptation efforts are
the two options being pursued to address climate change. Mitigation efforts
relates to our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease the huge
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
Adaptation efforts recognise the risks
and the fact that the climate will continue to change. Adaptation efforts are
looking at ways to adjust existing or expected effects that climate change will
have in our communities.
Both actions are considered equally
important and challenging.
They require a significant amount of
attention, direct response, policies, plans and implementation strategies,
across all levels.
Promoting
the use of renewable energy sources or planting trees on grass lands is a
mitigation act, while an adaptation action may involve sharing information so
that local communities can better respond and adjust to the likely effects of
climate change.
This
information needs to be relevant and easily understood and adopted for communities
to participate fully in any efforts to mitigate and adapt to the likely effects
of climate induced stresses.
Adaptation
and mitigation actions are required at community levels to ensure they are part
of our efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.
To
this, we must also take note of the existing local knowledge.
Many
communities have already adapted to their environment.
They
have adapted to extreme conditions, and have developed ways to grow crops in
very dry or very wet land.
Researchers
are now also realising how this indigenous knowledge can enhance scientific
knowledge.
Researchers
are acknowledging that IK has provided communities with the skills and
experience of dealing with past and present effects of climate related and
other stresses.
It is on this basis that efforts are being
made to integrate IK into formal climate change mitigation and adaptation
options.
This
approach is something that we can also consider for own efforts here.
Local
communities in PNG may have preserved and apply traditional knowledge on
mitigating and adapting to effects of natural disasters and other climate
related stresses.
We
have to look at the benefits of integrating IK into the formal climate change
mitigation and adaptation strategies.
Integrating IK could add value to the
development of sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies
that are rich in local content and developed in conjunction with local people.
We
also have to take the bottom-up approach to encourage local participation.
Communities
should be encouraged to understand the concepts and learn how to analyse and develop
ways to cope with the changing conditions rather than providing them with
ready-made recipes.
We
need to understand how communities and households interact and share ideas, and
how the intended beneficiaries develop the skills and practices necessary to
forge their own path.
It is vital that the local communities should
be seen as equal partners in any efforts to addressing the likely effects of
climate change.
Local
actors should be encouraged to take the lead while efforts should be made to support
their efforts to take more responsibility in their efforts to cope with the
likely effects climate related stresses.
IK continues to play significant roles in
local communities, thus efforts must be made to utilise existing knowledge and
strengthen them where required.
The
impacts of climate change induced stresses vary from location to location (and
country to country) depending on its natural and socio-economic conditions.
Thus
it is important that we must make efforts to develop mitigation and adaptation
strategies locally taking into consideration existing local knowledge.
Past
experiences and the socio-cultural background of communities should also be
taken into consideration.
It
is also vital that these must be documented and shared with other communities
that are likely to face similar situations.
While
we note that IK alone is unlikely to provide all the necessary solutions, it is
important this are integrated with scientific knowledge in our efforts to mitigate
and adapt to the likely effects of climate change.
Various
studies and efforts are being made by different organisations on the likely
effects of climate change in PNG and we hope the importance of IK is taken into
consideration and local communities are engaged in such efforts.
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