How do indigenous and local knowledge systems respond to climate change?

Ruxandra Popovici, Andre G.de L. Moraes, Zhao Ma, Laura Zanotti, Keith A. Cherkauer, Anna E. Erwin, Katy E. Mazer, Edwin F.Bocardo Delgado, José P.Pinto Cáceres, Pranay Ranjan, Linda S. Prokopy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) systems are critical for achieving biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation, and other environmental goals. However, ILK systems around the world are increasingly threatened by multiple stressors. Our study assesses the effect of climate change on ILK held by crop farmers in Peru’s Colca Valley. We collected qualitative data on farmers’ ILK through semi-structured interviews, which we supplemented with climatological trend analysis in four Colca Valley districts. We found that shifts in the rainy season together with warmer weather affected farmers’ ILK, which was less effective for informing crop planting and irrigation practices in the context of climate uncertainty and unpredictability. Changing and uncertain ILK poses obstacles to adaptation strategies that require long-term institution building from local resource users, who may prioritize short-term solutions addressing urgent needs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number27
JournalEcology and Society
Volume26
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Adaptation
  • Climate change
  • Community-based natural resource management
  • Coproduction
  • Indigenous and local knowledge
  • Institutions
  • Peru

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology

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