Download a literature review of indigenous knowledge on climate

M. Sraku-Lartey, E. Foli, D. Aboagye and P. O.
Adjei
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The application of Indigenous Knowledge as
a developmental resource was discussed at
the first Global Knowledge Conference held
in Toronto in June 1997.
Government leaders and civil society groups
at that conference urged the World Bank
and other donors to learn from local
communities
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Indigenous Knowledge for Development
Programme of the World Bank was
subsequently established in 1998 in
partnership with over a dozen organizations.
Countries have consequently undertaken
various activities to build on IK in the areas of
agriculture, healthcare, natural resources
management and education.
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The UN Declaration on Indigenous Peoples, in
June 2006 recognizes
◦ “that respect for indigenous knowledge, cultures
and traditional practices contributes to
sustainable and equitable development and
proper management of the environment.”
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The role of Indigenous Knowledge in
sustainable national development cannot be
overemphasised.
IK is applicable in several areas of
development
Emerging area for the application of IK
globally is in the area of climate change.
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change concluded in its fourth report that
global climate change is already happening
and that communities who live in marginal
lands and whose livelihoods are highly
dependent on natural resources are among
the most vulnerable to climate change
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The poor natural-resource dependent
communities in the developing world are
especially vulnerable to climate change,
especially those living in high-risk areas such
as small islands or low lying coastal areas
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Intensive studies have been conducted on
climate change globally on the challenges
encountered by local communities in
adapting to or mitigating the impact of
climate change all over the world.
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Initial efforts at dealing with the problem of
global warming concentrated on mitigation,
with the aim of reducing and possibly
stabilizing greenhouse gases (GHG)
concentrations in the atmosphere
Source: Schubert et al. 2007
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A desk study to analyse the available
literature on the use of Indigenous
Knowledge in climate change adaptation in
Ghana was undertaken
journal publications, research and technical
reports, online databases and the Internet
were used
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Online databases. (10)
Articles recorded in these databases were
accessed and reviewed.
Refereed journal articles (over 60)
Relevant books on the topic (5)
Government reports (5)
Technical reports (5)
Websites dealing with IK and climate change
were also part of the study(10)
Content analysis was undertaken
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Information base for a society which
facilitates communication and decisionmaking.
It is the basic component of any
country’s knowledge system.
knowledge that people in a given
community have developed over time
It is based on experience, often tested
over centuries of use and adapted to
local culture and environment, dynamic
and changing.
It is upon this knowledge that scientific
research builds.
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belongs to a specific ethnic group
local knowledge that is unique to a given
culture or society
oral in nature
made up of the collective testimonies and
recollections of the past
inherited from earlier generations and
transmitted in various forms of verbal
testimonies
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Application of IK in Ghana is widespread
Can be found in all regions
Applied in many different disciplines
Has not been documented
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Government has identified IK as a resource
that can be harnessed for national
development.
IK has thus been captured as a programme in
the National Science and Technology and
Innovation Development Programme of
Ghana.
In 1960 approximately 100 cultural or
indigenous groups were recorded in Ghana.
 These groups have many differences,
 their common trait is their Ghanaian
nationality.
 In this paper indigenous people refers to
local communities within an area.
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Ghana is experiencing changing climatic
patterns.
already experiencing an increase in extreme
weather conditions such as higher incidences
of flooding and longer periods of drought.
local communities have had to adapt to the
various climatic changes being experienced in
order to sustain their livelihoods.
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This is manifest in
◦ High temperatures
◦ Intense erratic rainfall
◦ Rise in sea level
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Forty years observed data (1960-2000)
shows that temperatures in all zones within
the country are rising,
rainfall in all agro-ecological zones of the
country has also decreased
rainfall becoming increasingly erratic.
the frequency and intensity of rainfall, floods
and landslides have been inconsistent
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extended periods of drought and intense heat
have been linked to changing climatic
patterns.
the impact of climate change is being felt in
all regions
the impact is not uniform
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based on forty-year observed data from
Ghana Meteorological Agency, it is predicted
that temperatures will continue to rise on
average at the following rate:
0.6oC by 2020
2.0oC by 2050
3.9oC by 2080 in all agro-ecological zones in
Ghana.
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Rainfall is predicted to decrease on average
by
2.8% by 2020,
10.9% by 2050
18.6% by 2080 in all agro-ecological zones.
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Sea level changes predict an average rise
◦ 5.8cm by 2020
◦ 16.5cm by 2050
◦ 34.5cm by 2080
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Currently the east coast of Ghana, (Keta area)
is experiencing an annual coastal erosion rate
of 3 meters.
Some communities (Totope, Gleefe) have
almost disappeared
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on fisheries
on human health
on land management
on agricultural production
rural livelihoods and poverty linkages
on the environment
Gyampoh et al. (2009) for example studied
five regions in Ghana (Upper East, Upper West,
Northern, Western and Volta Regions) and
analysed the use of indigenous knowledge in
coping with climate change in those areas.
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In a similar study conducted in three rural
communities in Ghana, Arku (2013)
concluded that people’s understanding of
what constitutes climate change is similar
within local communities - change in the
rainfall amount and distribution.
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Results of the various studies
indicated that
◦ adaptation to climate change and
variability occurs at multiple levels,
◦ from the smallholder to the national
and global level.
◦ Farmers in Ghana are vulnerable to
shocks such as flooding, seasonal
variation and increases in temperature.
Coping strategies are usually adopted
to reduce vulnerability to these shocks
 Strategies adopted included traditional
water conservation where water was
reused for other purposes
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the use of disease resistant and
drought tolerant species.
 planting mixtures of crops and
cultivars adapted to different moisture
conditions to help reduce the risk of
complete crop failure
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using landraces resistant to climate
stresses
 mulching or water conservation
 engaging in multiple vocations during
periods of drought,
 engaging in irrigated farming,
 rearing of animals to supplement
income,
 petty trading
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The importance of traditional
knowledge for the protection of
biodiversity and the achievement of
sustainable development is slowly
being recognized internationally
(Gadgil et al, 1993) and its relevance
in national discourse cannot be
underestimated.
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The use of IK to manage the environment
constitutes an integral part of the cultural
identity and social integrity of many
indigenous populations.
Their knowledge embodies a wealth of
wisdom and experience of nature which has
been gained over centuries from direct
observations, and transmitted—most often
orally—over generations.
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traditional knowledge systems adopt a more
holistic approach to its knowledge
◦ do not separate observations into different
disciplines as Western science
◦ do not interpret reality on the basis of a linear
conception of cause and effect
◦ looks at knowledge as a world in which all elements
are part of an entangled and complex web of
interactions
The ‘ethical space’ between Indigenous and Western
Knowledge (JEROME A. HAMMERSMITH)
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It is hard to compare the two systems of
knowledge that are so profoundly different.
Trying to analyse and validate traditional
knowledge systems by using external
(scientific) criteria carries the risk of
distorting such systems in the process.
we cannot also extract just those parts of
traditional knowledge that seem to measure
up to scientific criteria and ignore the rest.
each knowledge system is unique
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dialogue can become a tool for social
cohabitation, as well as for discovering and
enhancing knowledge.
dialogue can catalyse the development of IK.
It should be started between the locals and
the scientists
meanings in knowledge should be shared
leaving no room for ambiguity.
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From the literature it is evident the various IK
strategies have not been documented
Even though IK is being used by local people
the local strategies have also not been
validated for use .
Use appears therefore to be limited to the
communities that use them.
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There are two NGO’s in Ghana working on
Indigenous Knowledge
They are Centre For Indigenous Knowledge
Systems (CEFIKS) and Centre for Indigenous
Knowledge and Organizational Development
(CIKOD)
Ghana Government has expressed the desire
to harness Indigenous Knowledge for national
development.
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There should be collaboration between these
organisations and research institutions
◦ to harness and validate the local Indigenous
Knowledge
◦ to document the validated information
◦ Ethical considerations and fair use policies should
be initiated.
◦ Locals should not be short-changed
◦ Science should improve on this knowledge
◦ Country should reap benefits from this knowledge
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It is anticipated that if efforts are made to
address the issues raised and measures are
put in place we can begin to use our local
knowledge to our advantage.