Download The use of agrobiodiversity in adapting to climate change

The use of agrobiodiversity by indigenous peoples and rural communities in
adapting to climate change: Experiences, knowledge gaps and opportunities for
collaboration
June 17-20 2009
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Technical Report on the Workshop
BACKGROUND
Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research (PAR)
PAR brings together researchers, civil society, international organizations and others to share
knowledge and experiences that can improve the maintenance and use of all aspects of
agrobiodiversity. The Platform’s guiding principles include a concern with research of potential
global significance; a focus on work that complements existing research efforts and addresses
more than one component or level of agrobiodiversity; a commitment to working with poor
farmers, local communities and indigenous peoples on agendas of relevance to their needs. It
aims to work in ways that link custodians, managers and beneficiaries of biodiversity.
Currently hosted by Bioversity International, the Platform’s objectives are:
 To collate and synthesize agrobiodiversity data and information and disseminate
knowledge, making available relevant tools and practices that support improved use of
agrobiodiversity and identifying areas where collaborative knowledge generation is
needed.
 To identify ways in which the use of agrobiodiversity can contribute to addressing major
global challenges, to make relevant information easily available and to provide options on
the contribution of agrobiodiversity in these areas.
 To identify and facilitate relevant new and innovative research partnerships that
strengthen cross-cutting, multidisciplinary and participatory research and to contribute to
agrobiodiversity research capacity building in developing regions.
Agrobiodiversity and climate change
Agrobiodiversity includes all the components of biological diversity of relevance to food and
agriculture as well as the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms, at the
genetic, species and ecosystem levels that sustain the functions, structure and processes of the
agro-ecosystem. Maintained by farmers, communities and indigenous peoples, the nature and
character of agrobiodiversity in agro-ecosystems reflects the interactions between people, their
environment and their available biological diversity. The continued use and adaptive
management of agrobiodiversity is central to sustainable production to improving the livelihoods,
food security, and health of poor farmers throughout the world. At the global level, humanity
depends upon the adaptability of agriculture to cope with challenges such as climate change
and to meet basic needs.
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Significant agrobiodiversity has already been lost from many production systems leaving them
impoverished, vulnerable, dependent on external inputs and increasingly unsustainable.
However, much of the world’s agrobiodiversity is still being used by indigenous and traditional
agricultural communities that depend on agrobiodiversity for their livelihoods. In this role they act
as custodians of a diversity of crops, forages, livestock, agroforestry products, and fish, and the
other plant, animal and microbial species found in and around their production areas that are
managed and maintained to provide food, fuel, medicine and many other products necessary to
their wellbeing.
Climate change is one of many forces that are compelling rural communities and indigenous
peoples to adapt and change. Many communities are having to cope with specific trends such
as increased temperature or decreased rainfall under increasingly variable, unpredictable and
fluctuating production conditions. Traditional knowledge and materials built up over generations
of observation, experimentation and adaptation are often inadequate in the face of changing
circumstances.
The global processes that drive climate change may often be best met with local level responses
that are embedded in local cultures and based on agrobiodiversity. Agrobiodiversity not only
provides a ‘portfolio effect’ to buffer risks, it provides landscape, species, and genetic diversity
necessary for adaptability and resilience in the face of fluctuating and variable environments.
The practices and experiences being developed by indigenous peoples and traditional agrarian
communities in marginal areas constitute an important element in the strategies to cope with and
adapt to climate change. Because they are often embedded in local cultures of marginalized
communities this experience and knowledge is often unrecognized and undervalued. The
emphasis of climate change policies tends to be on macro-level global strategies which,
although vital, neglect the very real practical actions being undertaken or needed by poor rural
communities and by indigenous peoples seeking to maintain their culture, traditions and
production base. It is becoming increasingly evident that successful global strategies for
biodiversity conservation rely on local leadership and major investment in local capacity.
The workshop and its objectives
Over the last year the Platform, with the support of The Christensen Fund, has undertaken a
project aimed improving our understanding of the central role that agrobiodiversity plays in
coping with climate change. The work has the following objectives:
 To bring together and make available information on the use of agrobiodiversity by rural
and indigenous communities to cope with climate change, and relevant research work on
effect of climate change on agriculture and agrobiodiversity
 To support enhanced communication among agrobiodiversity researchers, maintainers
and users
 To prepare a synthesis and assessment on the maintenance and use of agrobiodiversity
by indigenous peoples and rural communities under conditions of climate change
 To identify new cross-cutting multidisciplinary research activities
The workshop was a key part of achieving these objectives. In particular it was expected that the
workshop would:
 Bring together indigenous community representatives, civil society and researchers and
support the increasing dialogue between these different groups
 Review available information and a draft discussion document prepared by the Platform
to help develop a synthesis document summarizing the state of knowledge assessing
needs and options for further work and identifying knowledge gaps.
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Set out key research issues and outline possible collaborative approaches and areas of
work for future projects, developing where possible outline project proposals.
Working methods and approaches
The workshop preparations and program sought to provide opportunities for:
 Sharing information
 Discussing key issues
 Identifying knowledge gaps and research needs
 Developing or suggesting new ideas, ways of working and new activities or project
concepts
 Developing new partnerships
Approximately 25 people were invited to the Workshop. Three days were set aside for
discussion with a field trip on the final day (June 20th), organized by University of Chiang Mai
Plant Genetic Resources and Nutrition Laboratory (CMUPNlab) who also happened to be cohosting the event. Participants came from indigenous groups, civil society organizations,
research institutes and international organizations, all with a common interest in the
maintenance and use of agrobiodiversity and the impact of climate change.
Prior to the workshop the Platform Secretariat distributed relevant documents on climate change
and agrobiodiversity. All participants were invited to submit additional information and
documents that could contribute to the proceedings as well as key issues for discussion.
The primary focus of the first day of the workshop was information sharing through
presentations, making sure that the issues to be discussed were identified and agreed upon and
then a method worked out on how best to achieve the agreed objectives. Smaller group
discussions were the mainstay of the second and third days with particular topics and issues
being debated and conclusions being brought forward in plenary meetings whenever
appropriate.
It was hoped that clear conclusions and recommendations would be the outcome to guide the
Platform in the work it should undertake in this area in the future and provide material to share
with other groups around the world as well as key meetings including the 15th Conference of the
Parties of UNFCCC.
PROCEEDINGS
The workshop was successfully held on June 17-20 2009 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and was
attended by 26 participants from 14 countries. Presentations and discussions took place from
17-19 June and a field visit took place on the 20th. During the field visit, participants visited
Thung Luang, an upland village in Chiang Mai where farmers and local communities (belonging
to the Karen ethnic group) are working with Chiang Mai University to overcome the problem of
the rice gall midge, an insect pest of the foothill valleys that has moved to highland paddies in
the last few years, presumably as the result of climate change. The farmers from Thung Luang
and neighboring villages shared information and ideas on how to solve the problems of rice
production, with students and researchers from Chiang Mai University acting as interpreters.
The following is a brief synopsis of each of the presentations. A full list of the presentations can
be found in Annex 2 or in the agenda given in Annex 1 and the electronic copies are available
for download on the platform’s website
(http://www.agrobiodiversityplatform.org/blog/?page_id=900). For a list of background
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documents, information for the field trip and other papers that were made available to
participants for their preparation to the Workshop see Annex 3.
Synopsis of presentations
Climate change and Tibetan agrobiodiversity —Jan Salick
The IPCC predicts Tibetan climate will undergo increases in temperature and precipitation. This,
coupled with glacial retreat and loss of snow cover on mountains, will lead to unpredictability of
seasons and monsoons. Resultant impacts to agrobiodiversity and Tibetan agriculture include
changes in crop varieties, earlier planting and harvesting seasons and challenges to soil
management due to the faster decomposition of organic material. Other impacts include
encroachment of forest into higher elevations which reduces amount of alpine pasture available
for herding.
These changes also impact on indigenous communities’ livelihoods with effects on health being
a major concern. There is also greater proclivity for landslides, unpredictable river levels with
alternating levels of flood and slack. On the cultural front, the changes are seen to be retribution
caused by misconduct and pollution (both spiritual and physical). Adaptations to climate change
involve a change in crop focus, protecting the soil by incorporating more organic material,
increasing the amount of forest cover and preserving sacred sites which also serve as carbon
sinks. The role of traditional spiritual leaders and herbalists was crucial in local perceptions,
monitoring and adaptation to climate change in Tibetan ecosystems.
Valuation of the potato genetic diversity in highly vulnerable areas in Bolivia —Ximena Cadima
As a crop with high social and cultural identity, the potato constitutes the basis for the livelihood
strategies of thousands of local communities. Adverse climate in the high Andes has been a
common feature that shaped the high intraspecific diversity and hardiness of Andean potatoes.
However, recent and significant changes have increased the vulnerability and risk for farmers
and agricultural communities. Early droughts at the beginning of the planting cycle, shorter and
more intense rainfall patterns and more frequent hail storms and frost are causing havoc in
traditional potato cultivation in addition to increased frequency in the incidences of diseases and
insect pests.
The model of conservation and utilization of genetic resources includes such ex-situ means as
the use of germplasm banks and (in-situ) microcenters of diversity. In addition, the recovery of
local knowledge is seen to be vital in conserving the potato’s biodiversity. This is achieved
through documentation of local biodiversity methods, land management techniques, traditional
rituals as well as inventorying traditional uses of potato. Furthermore, developing technologies
for production and transformation of products, promoting farmer associations and links between
them and markets or enterprises all go towards improving the contribution of agrobiodiversity to
the wellbeing of local communities.
Saving vanishing crops and dying wisdom —Arivudai Nambi
Kolli Hills in southern India is a location known for its diversity of millets. A total of 21 landraces
are cultivated and used by the Malaiyalis, the tribal inhabitants of the region. These are
cultivated under different microclimates and land types. However, millet production is steadily
decreasing with tapioca rising as commercial crop fetching more money than millet according to
farmers. Other reasons given by farmers for the switch to tapioca include change of land use as
a result of inward migration, drudgery in processing millet, culinary esteem of alternate crops as
well as economic pressure.
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The Swaminathan Research Foundation has adopted and integrated a four point strategy (4 Cs)
in relation to millet as an attempt to strengthen resilience, assist in mitigation and adaptation to
climate change. It involves: conservation by strengthening the seed system, cultivation by
intercropping, commerce achieved by easing the drudgery of pounding by building processing
mills, and consumption which focuses on traditional recipes.
Other issues that need to be dealt with include landscape management, use of livestock as
draught animals, impact of seasonal migration on millet farming, labor, product diversification as
well as crop insurance and financial support for mitigating and adapting to climate risks. The way
forward involves addressing vulnerability through the use of seed banks and mitigation of effects
of climate change. Crucially, all coping strategies should be implemented at the local level.
Climate change, biodiversity and livelihoods in Indian Himalaya —Krishna G. Saxena
There is significant contrast between the perspectives of scientists and local farmers on how
climate change is affecting agriculture and biodiversity in this region, which leads to differing
coping strategies. Scientists argue that there is a great deal of uncertainty in predicting the
effects of climate change, as well as their complexity and as such, urgent global corrective
strategies and policies need to be undertaken. Farmers on the other hand, are living with the
uncertainty and thus tend to take autonomous rather than planned adaptations. For effective
sustainability, there has to be cooperation and collaboration between all the stakeholders so that
a unifying, standard and globally agreed methodology can be worked out to cope with the effects
of the changes.
Among other observations, farmers have noted that wild species are less sensitive to climatic
variability as domesticated species. This has been taken into account in some of the local
coping strategies which, based on local knowledge of selection of varieties, influence the choice
of crops for planting depending on their relationship to rainfall fluctuations. Conflict arises as a
result of economically-induced changes in crop production— focus has shifted from subsistence
farming to cash crops, which tend to have less stress tolerance. Nonetheless, socio-cultural
factors such as community pressure for proper management of agricultural land, limits to forest
resource utilization among other issues, favor sustainability.
Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Wild Relatives of Crops in China —Wang Xiwu
Crop wild relatives have characteristics of high yield, resistance to pests and diseases and in
general, high tolerances to adverse conditions. Under global environmental change, they will
prove to be very valuable in adapting to diverse & extreme conditions. China is rich in crop wild
relatives due to its immense variety of ecosystems, species and habitats.
However, human activities such as unmanaged agricultural extension, uncontrolled grazing,
desertification, land conversion for cultivation and infrastructure development among others
currently pose a serious threat to these resources. The wild relatives have also become
increasingly contaminated by domesticated and semi-wild varieties, increasing the genetic
erosions reducing the biodiversity. Some of the root causes of the threats include lack of
financial and political mechanism, low public awareness and lack of access to information
sharing among others. Though China has taken various measures over the years to conserve
and utilize the wild relatives of crops, initial measures have involved non-sustainable
approaches including the construction of physical barriers and removal of land from production.
As a result, the threats still exist.
The National Project for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Crop Wild Relatives
changes the past manners of physical isolation to mainstream conservation as part of agro-
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production, within the original habitat. Conservation of wild relatives of wheat, rice and soybean
in their natural habitats is the main aim and to this end, 8 pilot sites have been constructed for
tests with the experiences gained from pilot sites will be extended to 50 counties based on the
outcomes. The project has so far been running for 1.5 years and is supposed to be completed
after 6 years.
So far, it has been observed that fundamental work is necessary for project implementation
through the establishment of institutions, mechanisms development, baseline identification and
capacity building. Implementation of the project also needs to be in close coordination with
national and local efforts on related activities. It was noted that communications between the
project and farmers at the project sites needed to be strengthened so as to facilitate involvement
of all the stakeholders.
Use of agrobiodiversity by indigenous and rural farmers of Nepal in adapting to climate change:
Experiences and opportunities for collaboration —Rajju Malla Dhakal
Some indigenous methods in Nepal that incorporate agrobiodiversity include maintaining a
diverse portfolio of varieties of major crops and diversification of farming system. In addition,
searching for and exchanging seeds of drought resistant and other stress-tolerant varieties
through social seed networks help maintain diversity, trust, reciprocity and custom. Land use
management is achieved through home garden systems with high genetic diversity. Soil/Water
management practices include shifting cultivation, use of vegetative barriers in sloping land,
rainwater harvesting and legume integration to add nutrients to the soil.
Areas in which technical expertise has been integrated with traditional knowledge include the
use of contour hedgerow technology which improves soil condition, adoption of the improved
home garden system and agro-forestry on sloping land which reduces pressure on shifting
cultivation areas. Local landraces are promoted so as to build up the resilience of crop varieties,
whilst participatory plant breeding is undertaken to preserve traditional knowledge.
Communities, traditional farming and climate change: Challenges and opportunities —Archana
Godbole
Shifting agriculture in the Western Ghats is characterized by high biodiversity especially in
coarse millets. It is based on fallow cycles which vary with rainfall. Land use requires intensive
manpower and decisions are made on a communal basis. Lately, rubber, mango and cashew
are more often cultivated though untimely rains reduce the yields. Rice cultivation has also
diminished as a result of decreasing availability of water in the summer. This is due to loss of
forests in the catchment and crop raiding by elephants. Other problems include degradation of
cultural and traditional practices due to urbanization, loss of manpower due to migration and the
low remunerative nature of agricultural-based livelihoods.
Some of the methods for dealing with these problems include revival of traditional land use
management systems, eco-agriculture /conservation farming, enhancing ecosystem services
and inculcating carbon sequestration, partnerships and benefit sharing in agricultural practices.
Nonetheless issues such as the generation of public awareness, availability of manpower, long
term planning, marketing and other challenges will need to be dealt with for these methods to be
effected.
Dealing with the gall midge, a rice pest in highland paddies —Nantawat Tinpalanai
Presumably, as a consequence of climate change, the lowland rice gall midge has moved up the
mountains and is causing 70-100% losses in highland rice as observed on farmers’ rice fields in
the villages of Mae Win, Chiang Mai, Thailand. A project with the Chiang Mai University Plant
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Nutrition (CMUPN) laboratory attempts to solve the problem by developing rice varieties that
combine resistance to gall midges with culturally desirable traits (stickiness). In field trials, this
has succeeded in reducing losses to less than 30%. Farmers observe and research tends to
confirm that changing land use along with climate change have cause the gall midge to infest
highland areas wehere it was hitherto unknown, Coping with this impact of climate change was
possible based ion a community led-partnership where the farmers identified the problem and
worked with scientists in finding solutions that allowed them to continue living in the area.
CMUPN laboratory is currently evaluating farmers’ access to the non-sticky rice variety Muey
Nawng for local adaptation and resistance to local population of rice gall midge. It is also
involved in participatory breeding programs which combine gall midge resistance with local
adaptations, introduce yield enhancing traits and include other locally preferred traits. In
addition, it carries out agronomic measures as well as various training programs.
The Value of biodiversity for mobile (nomadic) indigenous peoples in the context of climate
change —Taghi Farvar
Indigenous peoples’ territories and community conserved areas (ICCAs) are natural and
modified ecosystems including significant biodiversity, ecological services and cultural values
voluntarily conserved by indigenous peoples and local communities through customary laws or
other effective means. They are significant because they conserve the habitats, species and
services of the ecosystems; form the basis of livelihoods and cultural identity for the indigenous
people; are built on sophisticated ecological knowledge systems, including sustainable use and
are managed through institutions highly skilled at adaptive management and capable of flexible
responses to intervening change. A key example is the Shahsevan Tribal Confederacy in Iran.
This group of tribes is a tightly-knit social organisation based on tribal structure and lineage/
kinship relations and community councils of elders. Each tribe has its own indigenous biocultural conservation territory and their seasonal nomadic migration is designed to fit ecological
conditions and conserve nature and its resources. Adaptive management systems are based on
community early warning systems, carrying capacity assessment and resilience in conditions of
climatic change.
Issues affecting the confederacy include invasions of territory and alienation of land which
reduce the area for migration, foreign inputs on ranching resulting in disastrous impacts on
nomads and lack of legislation to protect the rangeland used by nomadic people. Adaptation to
these issues has been achieved via various means including the use of trucks to speed up the
migration, use of mobile schools which fit well into the communities’ life style, introduction of a
new category for land governance by mobile people in IUCN-protected areas and the use of
mobile phone technology which makes scouting for pasture much simpler.
Indigenous peoples bio-cultural and climate change assessment initiative (IPCCA) —Alejandro
Argumedo
The main objective of the IPCCA is to empower indigenous peoples to develop and use
indigenous frameworks to assess the impact of climate change on their bio-cultural systems and
develop and implement strategies for building resilience and adaptive capacity to mitigate
impacts and enhance bio-cultural diversity.
Bio-cultural systems are complex systems of interconnected and interdependent parts that
emerge out of long term interactions between indigenous peoples and their natural
environments based on a reciprocal relationship. Their resilience emerges out of historical
interactions in a holistic world providing a long-term view of adaptation and change through
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indigenous knowledge systems which provide vision, coupled with local processes for adaptive
capacity. Buen Vivir is an example of one such historical interaction. It is a practical philosophy
of how to live harmoniously within a holistic world. Its development is a continuous creative
process of maintaining relationships, going beyond wellbeing and material wealth. It reallocates
growth and capital in a more holistic view of development and change.
In attempting to cope with the drivers of climate change (both direct and indirect) that affect
indigenous peoples, the IPCCA conceptual model will be adapted to each local context, to
produce a framework of drivers that impact on local bio-cultural diversity and the ability to
maintain indigenous resilience and buen vivir. Indigenous knowledge will be used to drive the
inquiry process, not only in deciding the indicators to be measured and appropriate
methodologies for local assessments but will also be digitally documented and categorized into
a knowledge base portal for further communication and discourse on both a local and global
context.
OUTCOME
The following documents were produced from discussions during the Workshop:
 Document describing the agreed Research Approach and Principles (drafted from the
Workshop discussion and circulated to all participants for further development);
 Document outlining the Research Agenda (drafted from the Workshop discussion and
circulated to all participants for further development).
Syntheses from workshop
In addition, the following points of substance for further dialogue were gleaned from
presentations, observations and discussions during the workshop:
On the issue of climate change and its effects on rural and indigenous farmers:
 Climate and weather patterns are changing due to climate change. They are location and
site specific, and so are their effects on agrobiodiversity conservation, utilisation and
production. These changes need to be characterised quantitatively and qualitatively at the
component, sub-system and system levels.
 There is need for a framework for indigenous peoples to assess the impact of climate
change on their own bio-cultural systems as well as agrobiodiversity.
 Indicators of climate change, such as unpredictability of frost and rain in the case of potato
production in Bolivia as observed by the farmers, need to be carefully documented so that
appropriate measures can be taken.
On the need to promote and integrate indigenous peoples’ knowledge and expertise with
modern scientific methodology:
 It is important to recognize that indigenous people have their own interpretation of climate
change. Their own knowledge and that generated by modern science are two different points
of view and need not correspond one to one. There is thus a need to recognize that these
are different knowledge systems.
 The knowledge of agrobiodiversity and the social systems that are in use need to be
documented and communicated for public policy formulation and institutional support so that
indigenous knowledge and social organizations and processes are recognised as an integral
and important part of the national knowledge system to be researched, applied and
developed.
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Indigenous innovation systems including the stakeholders involved in their management and
sustainability need to be recognised and their functional roles explicitly defined making it
possible for complementary behavioural changes in all relevant stakeholders to occur in
response to climate change impact, adaptability and mitigation.
Research is needed to ensure that indigenous knowledge and social organizations and
processes regarding agrobiodiversity conservation and use continue to evolve and improve,
particularly in relation to climate change impact and adaptability.
Currently, participatory approaches involving indigenous peoples lack capacity and hence
there is need to create a multi-stakeholder team or partnership-based agreements.
Partnerships, sharing and collaboration among stakeholders are vital. This should involve
the revival of low input traditional agriculture, empowerment and participation of communities
coupled with strong linkages with markets.
In regard to agrobiodiversity and ecosystem services:
 Operating at the heart of all agricultural systems are natural and managed processes of
transformation by agrobiodiversity of environmental and land resources into biological
products and ecosystem services. Agrobiodiversity in use for both these outputs need to be
documented and understood, protected and enhanced to enable effective responses to be
formulated towards the new local and global challenges related to climate change.
 The role of indigenous peoples’ territories and community conserved areas (ICCAs) needs to
be made more prominent due to their significance in the conservation of the habitats,
species and ecosystem services as well as forming the basis of the livelihoods and cultural
identity of the indigenous people who in turn have sophisticated knowledge systems
concerning the agrobiodiversity present in these areas.
On the issue of land use management systems:
 The contribution of local land management approaches (such as the home garden system in
Nepal) to local and national food and nutritional security, climate change adaptation and
mitigation, agrobiodiversity conservation and use, and maintenance and growth of customary
and formal knowledge regarding agrobiodiversity, must be supported through enabling
policies, complementary institutional arrangements, and financial rewards to maximise their
value and benefits.
 Indigenous soil and water conservation measures such as shifting cultivation, use of
vegetative measures in sloping land, rainwater harvesting and legume integration to add
nutrients to soil (as in Nepal) need to be supported and integrated with more modern
methods. Areas in which this has taken place include the use of contour hedgerow
technology which improves the condition of the soil, the aforementioned home garden
system, and agro-forestry in sloping land which reduces pressure on shifting cultivation.
Conservation of indigenous varieties and crop wild relatives and their role in climate change
adaptation:
 Conservation of indigenous varieties of crops is important as a tool for adaptation to climate
change. This can be integrated with modern technological innovations for adaptation and
mitigation. Sustainability of such efforts will depend on whether they are used for commercial
purposes or for fulfilling the food security needs of farmers.
 Genetic resources are crucial to cope with climate change; plants and animals with no
economic value so far will now become important. As the future needs for human survival
are unknown, maximum genetic resources have to be conserved at the lowest possible
public cost. An appropriate strategy has to rely primarily on in situ conservation with ex situ
gene banks being complementary.
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Given the importance of crop wild relatives, which have high yield and considerable
tolerance to adverse conditions, efforts such as the National Project for the conservation and
sustainable utilization of crop wild relatives in China need to be supported, evaluated and
emulated.
The role played by governmental, nongovernmental and other institutional organizations:
 Policy changes on climate change and agrobiodiversity need to adapt a bottom-up approach
and address the top-down approach implemented by the IPCC.
 In cases of farmer migration brought about by climate change, local authorities and the
government should play a role in promoting favorable economic and social outcomes. A
case in point is the Himalayas in NE India where an influx of skilled migrants from
Bangladesh (which is flood-prone) has been experienced, and is accentuated by new crops
which have adapted to higher areas. The government could promote this for commercial
crops.
 (With regards to potato farming in Bolivia) Institutional organizations need to provide support
and technical alternatives to communities and farmers for the adaptation of potato production
systems to the impact of climate change particularly in highly vulnerable areas.
Marketing, communication and public awareness:
 Valuable knowledge about ecosystems can be administered through already existing social
and cultural networks which form the back bone of virtually all indigenous societies. They
have a diversity of knowledge as well as effective communication networks which should be
put into use in the management of climate change.
 Traditional knowledge, experiences and practice on climate change, its impacts and
adaptation strategies ought to be digitally documented and categorized into a knowledge
base portal that will eventually act as a communication and networking tool.
 Communications between farmers and projects that are currently being implemented (such
as the crop wild relatives project in China) need to be strengthened at the project sites so as
to facilitate involvement of all the stakeholders.
 Currently existing traditional methods such as local portfolios of major crop varieties or social
seed networks which are useful for the exchange of drought resistant varieties at the same
time helping maintain diversity, trust, reciprocity and custom in Nepal, need to be supported,
strengthened and built upon by external organizations hoping to make an impact in these
communities.
Conclusions/Recommendations
The workshop participants agreed/planned to:
 Prepare a publication drawing attention to the practical experiences of indigenous peoples
and rural communities in coping with climate change. It is hoped to distribute this at the 15th
Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
in Copenhagen in December 2009 as well as at other major international events;
 Continue the discussion among workshop participants on identification of locations where
climate change linked with agrobiodiversity research relevant to indigenous peoples and
rural communities will be particularly useful. A first step would be a simple compilation of the
key characteristics of such sites and some work on the ways in which they could be best
identified;
 Continue collecting information related to cases on how indigenous people and traditional
farming communities are adapting to climate change making use of agrobiodiversity;
 Prepare a discussion paper that would draw on the information from case studies and the
discussion paper circulated at the Workshop and present the most important conclusions
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and main elements of the research agenda review. The aim would be to submit this for
publication to an appropriate journal;
Plan to prepare for a Side Event at the UNFCCC COP15 in December 2009 in Copenhagen,
in collaboration with indigenous peoples groups and other interested organizations;
Ensure that the conclusions and further work from the workshop reach a wider audience
including plans to take the outputs of our work to UNFCCC debates (September and
December, 2009), the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (1923 October 2009) and CBD meetings in May and December, 2010. This will require further
discussions among all Workshop participants on the best way to do this.
Proceedings of the workshop together with all the documentation that was shared amongst
participants will be posted on the section of the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research
Website dedicated to climate change (Online:
http://www.agrobiodiversityplatform.org/blog/?page_id=897).
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Annex 1. Agenda of the Workshop
Wednesday 17 June - Chair: Pablo Eyzaguirre
8.00
Registration
9.00
Welcome and opening by organizers:
Benjavan Rerkasem (Chiang Mai University)
Phrang Roy (The Christensen Fund)
Pablo Eyzaguirre (Bioversity International)
9.15
Introductions by participants
10.00
10.30
Coffee break
Objectives and plans for the workshop - Pablo Eyzaguirre
Presentations by participants with comments by discussants
11.00
”Climate Change and Tibetan Agrobiodiversity” - Jan Salick
Discussant: Ximena Cadima
Rapporteur: Paul Bordoni
11.30
”Valuation of the potato genetic diversity in highly vulnerable areas in
Bolivia” - Ximena Cadima
Discussant: Joan Carling
Rapporteur: V. Arivudai Nambi
12.00
“Saving Vanishing Crops and Dying Wisdom“ - V. Arivudai Nambi
Discussant: Prasert Trakansvphakon
Rapporteuse: Rajju Malla-Dhakal
12.30
Lunch
Presentations by participants with comments cont’d
13.30
“Climate change, biodiversity and livelihoods in Indian Himalaya“ Krishna Gopal Saxena
Discussant: Anothai Sirabanchongkran
Rapporteuse: Archana Godbole
14.00
“Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Wild Relatives of Crops in
China” - Wang Xiwu
Discussant: Lorenza Mayocyoc Daguitan
Rapporteur: Ian Gordon
15.00
15. 30
Coffee break
General discussion on presentations to date
16.00
“Using agrobiodiversity to help cope with climate change: Experiences
from indigenous communities“ - collated by the Platform - Paul Bordoni
Discussants: all
16.30
Discussion: “Significance of indigenous and community responses to
12
climate change and their role in global climate change and
agrobiodiversity agendas” - Pablo Eyzaguirre
17.15
“Issues of shifting cultivation” – Prasert Trakansvphakon
17.45
Discussion on programme for days 2 and 3
18.00
19:00
Close
Dinner at Chiang Mai University
Thursday 18 June
Chair: Ian Gordon
Presentations by participants with comments by discussants
8.30
“The use of Agrobiodiversity by Indigenous and Rural Farmers of Nepal
in Adapting to Climate Changes: Experiences and Opportunities for
Collaboration” - Rajju Malla-Dhakal
Discussant: Amir Kassam
Rapporteur: Krishna Gopal Saxena
9.00
“Communities, Traditional farming and climate change Challenges and
Opportunities” - Archana Godbole
Discussant: Alejandro Argumedo
Rapporteuse: Jan Salick
9.30
“Dealing with the gall midge, a rice insect pest in highland paddies” Nantawat Tinpalanai
Discussant: Kanok Rerkasem
Rapporteuse: Joan Carling
10.00
Chair: Amir Kassam
10.30
Coffee break
11.00
”The Indigenous Peoples Assessment of Climate Change” - Alejandro
Argumedo
Discussant: Pablo Eyzaguirre
Rapporteur: Gladman Chibememe
11.15
Discussions on information availability, analysis and synthesis “What
information can we make available, how, in what form, for whom?”
(Plenary)
12.30
13.30
Lunch
Discussions on “Research gaps, knowledge needs and possible project
ideas” (Working Groups)
15.30
Coffee break
”The value of biodiversity for mobile (nomadic) indigenous peoples in the
context of climate change” - Taghi Farvar
Discussant: Nicholas Meitiaki Soikan
Rapporteur: Paul Quek
13
16.00
Discussions on “Research gaps, knowledge needs and possible project
ideas”, continued (Working Groups)
17.30
Film on Pastoralists - MPIDO - Nicholas Meitiaki Soikan
18.00
Close
Friday 19 June
8.30
Report back from Working Groups on “Research gaps, knowledge needs
and possible project ideas” – discussion
10.00
10.30
Coffee break
Discussions “Strategies and activities to enhance collaboration and
communication” (in working Groups or Plenary)
12.30
13.30
Lunch
Agreement on conclusions and recommendations
15.30
16.00
Coffee break
Next steps – actions agreed to from Workshop end to end of 2010
17:25
Brief introduction by Benjavan Rerkasem
17.30
Close
Saturday 20 June – Field Trip
8:30
Leave on field trip
16.00
Planned return to Chiang Mai
14
Annex 2. List of presentations made by participants during the workshop (also available
on the PAR Website http://www.agrobiodiversityplatform.org/blog/?page_id=900).












Analysis of agrobiodiversity as a coping strategy to deal with climate change - Paul
Bordoni (pdf – 2.5 MB)
Climate change agrobiodiversity and livelihoods in Indian Himalaya - Krishna Gopal
Saxena (pdf – 0.5 MB)li>
Communities traditional farming and climate change - Archana Godbole (pdf – 1.9 MB)
Conservation and sustainable utilization of wild relatives of crops - Song Dongfeng (pdf –
1.8 MB)
Indigenous peoples biocultural diversity - Alejandro Argumedo (pdf – 0.7 MB)
introduction-to-field-trip–the-spread-of-rice-gall-midge-to-higher-altitudes.pdf (2.5 MB)
Migration territories of mobile indigenous peoples and other iccas - Taghi Farvar (pdf –
2.5 MB)
Saving vanishing drops and dying wisdom - Arivudai Nambi (pdf – 3.2 MB)
The problem of Mae Win sub district - Nantawat Tinpalanai (pdf – 0.7 MB)
Tibetan agriculture and climate change - Jan Salick (pdf – 4.8 MB)
Use of agrobodiversity by indigenous and rural farmers of Nepal in adapting to climate
change - Rajju Malla Dhakal (pdf – 2.8 MB)
Valuation of the potato genetic diversity in highly vulnerable areas in Bolivia - Ximena
Cadima (pdf – 4.5 MB)
15
Annex 3. List of background documents, information for the field trip and other papers
made available to participants for their preparation to the Workshop (also available through
the section on Climate change of the Platform for Agrobiodiversity Research Website. Online:
[http://www.agrobiodiversityplatform.org/blog/?page_id=897]).
Background documents






Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change
Jan Salick and Anja Byg. University of Oxford and. Missouri Botanical Garden. May 2007
www.tyndall.ac.uk/publications/Indigenouspeoples.pdf (1.6 MB)
Towards Food Sovereignty
Reclaiming autonomous food systems
Michel Pimbert
www.iied.org/pubs/pdfs/G02268.pdf (4.19 MB)
Climate change and food security: a framework document
FAO, 2008
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/k2595e/k2595e00.pdf (751 KB)
Climate change and food security: a framework document – Summary
FAO, 2008
ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/i0145e/i0145e00.pdf (380 KB)
Investing in Sustainable Agricultural Intensification: The Role of Conservation
Agriculture — A Framework for Action.
FAO 2008
www.fao.org/ag/ca/doc/proposed_framework.pdf
Guide on Climate Change and Indigenous Peoples
Tebtebba Foundation, 2009
www.tebtebba.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=285&Itemid=2
7 (5.3 MB)
Fieldtrip


Introduction to the fieldtrip: A Collaborative Project of Mae Win Villages and
CMUPNlab for Rice Gall Midge Control in Upland Paddies
intro-to-field-trip.pdf (227 KB)
Coping with the Rice Gall Midge, a New Insect Pest of Highland Paddies, In Upland
Villages in Mae Win, Chiang Mai, Thailand CMUPNlab, Chiang Mai University, Thailand
coping-with-gall-midge-in-mae-win.pdf (26 KB)
Papers


Climate change, biodiversity and livelihoods in Indian Himalaya
K.G. Saxena, School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New
Delhi 110067, India
& K.S. Rao, Department of Botany, Delhi University, Delhi 110007, India
kg-saxena-climate-change-biodiversity-and-livelihoods-in-indian-himalaya.pdf (118 KB)
Communities, Traditional farming and climate change: Challenges and
Opportunities
Archana Godbole, Applied Environmental Research Foundation , India,
www.aerfindia.org
16


archana-godbole-communities-traditional-farming-and-climate-change-challenges-andopportunities.pdf (24 KB)
Saving Vanishing Crops and Dying Wisdom
V.Arivudai Nambi, Principal Scientist (Biodiversity), M.S.Swaminathan Research
Foundation Chennai – 600 113, India
va-nambi-saving-vanishing-crops-and-dying-wisdom.pdf (60 KB)
The use of Agrobiodiversity by Indigenous and Rural Farmers of Nepal in Adapting
to Climate Changes: Experiences and Opportunities for Collaboration
Rajju Malla Dhakal (LiBird)
r-malla-dhakal-the-use-of-abd-by-indigenous-and-rural-farmers-of-nepal-in-adapting-toclimate-changes.pdf (18 KB)
17
Annex 3. List of participants
Name
1
Alejandro Argumedo
Asociacion ANDES
Ruinas 451
Cusco, Peru
Email: [email protected]
2
Name
Paul Bordoni
Platform for Agrobiodiversity
Research Secretariat
c/o Bioversity International
via dei Tre Denari 472/a
00057 Maccarese
Rome, Italy
Tel: (39) 06 6118 212 - 302
Fax: (39) 06 619 79661
Email: [email protected]
3
Ximena Cadima
Fundación PROINPA
Av. Meneces s/n km 4. (zona El Paso)
Casilla Postal 4285
Cochabamba – Bolivia
Tel (office) (591-4) 4319595 (Int.134)
Fax (591-4) 4319600
Cell. 77952801
Email: [email protected]
4
Joan Carling
Secretary General of the Asia
Indigenous Peoples Pact
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
5
Gladman Chibememe
Africa 2000 Network
72 Bishop Gaul Ave
P.O. Box 4775
Harare, Zimbabwe
Cell.:+263 11751307
Email: [email protected]
6
Lorenza M. Daguitan
Tebtebba
MRDC, Makamkamlis, Sagada 2619
Mountain Province, Philippines
Tel. (TEBTEBBA Main Office): +63 74
4447703
Email: [email protected]
7
Song Dongfeng
Project Officer
UNDP
No. 2 LiangMaHe NanLu
Beijing 100600
China
Tel. 8610-8532 0734
Fax: 8610-8532 0900
Email : [email protected]
Mohammed Taghi Farvar
CENESTA
Ancienne Ecole
1180 Bugnaux
Switzerland
Tel.: +41-79-283-0812
Email: [email protected]
8
Pablo Eyzaguirre
Bioversity International
via dei Tre Denari 472/a
00057 Maccarese
Rome, Italy
Tel: (39) 06 6118 267
Fax: (39) 06 619 79661
Email: [email protected]
10
Archana Godbole
Director AERF
Applied Environmental Research
Foundation, 46/4/G2, Hill View
Apartment, Paud Road
Pune Maharashtra 411038
India
Tel. +0091 20-4004233
Fax: +0091 20-4004244
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
9
18
www.aerfindia.org
11
Ian Gordon
ICIPE
Nairobi, Box 30772-00100
Kenya
Tel. (office) +254 (0)20 8561309
Cell: +254 (0)733 779835
Email: [email protected]
12
Amir Kassam
88 Gunnersbury Avenue
Ealing, London W5 4HA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)208 993 3426 (home)
Cell: +44(0)7768011313
Email: [email protected]
13
Rajju Malla-Dhakal
Executive Director, Local Initiatives for
Biodiversity, Research and Development (LIBIRD)
P.O. Box 324
Pokhara, Kaski
Nepal
Tel: (+977)-61-535357/526834
Fax: (+977)-61-539956
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.libird.org
14
Arivudai Nambi
Principal Scientist (Biodiversity)
M S Swaminathan Research
Foundation
Third Cross Street
Taramani Institutional Area
Chennai - 600 113 (India)
Tel: +91 44 2254 2790 / 2254 1229
Fax: +91 44 2254 1319
Email: [email protected]
15
Paul Quek
Bioversity International
c/o Stesen Kuarantin Lepas Masuk, Jabatan
Pertanian Bangunan JKR (P) 1746
P.O. Box 236, UPM Post Office, 43400
Serdang
Selangor Darul Ehsan, Serdang
Malaysia
Tel. (60-3) 89423891
Fax: (60-3) 89487655
Email: [email protected]
16
Benjavan Rerkasem
Plant Genetic Resources and Nutrition
Laboratory
Faculty of Agriculture
Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
17
Kanok Rerkasem
Plant Genetic Resources and Nutrition
Laboratory
Faculty of Agriculture
Chiang Mai University
Chiang Mai 50200
Thailand
Email: [email protected]
18
Phrang Roy
Institutions and Policies
The Christensen Fund
Palo Alto
CA – 94301
USA
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]
19
Jan Salick
Missouri Botanical Garden/ University of
Oxford
PO Box 299
St Louis MO
63166 USA
Email: [email protected]
20
Krishna Gopal Saxena
Professor and Dean
School of Environmental Sciences
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New
Delhi 110 067, India
Tel.: +91-11-26704302/ 26704305;
Residence: +91-11-26741577
Cell: 9971461199
19
Email: [email protected]
21
Anothai Sirabanchongkran
Chiang Mai
Email: [email protected]
22
Nicholas M. Soikan
MPIDO (Mainyoito Pastoralist
Integrated Development
Organization); Marist International
College Road off Langata Road,
Karen.
P.O. Box 226 - 00206 Kiserian,
Kenya.
Tel: +254 20 882944/50
Cell: +254 721959013
Email: [email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]
23
Nipol Sri-uangdoi
Thung Luang village
Email: [email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]
24
Nantawat Tinpalanai
Thung Luang village
Email: [email protected];
[email protected];
[email protected]
25
Prasert Trakansvphakon
Regional Director of IKAP
Chiang Mai
Email: [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected]
26
Wang Xiwu
Senior Manager for Policy and
Incentive Mechanisms
UNDP
No. 2 LiangMaHe NanLu
Beijing 100600
China
Tel. 8610-8532 0734
Fax: 8610-8532 0900
Email : [email protected]
20