Local ecological knowledge in natural resource management

Laxman Joshi, Luis Arévalo, Nelly Luque, Julio Alegre and Fergus Sinclair

Bridging Scales and Epistemologies Conference,17-20 March 2004, Alexandria, Egypt

Rationale

Rural people depend on natural resources for their livelihood

long term use depends on their ability to manage

farmers are heterogeneous in terms of their management ability, objectives, dependence, local context, experience and observations

In natural science, the emphasis is on practical explanatory and predictive knowledge

an output of learning, reasoning and perception and a basis for predictions of future events;

it is people’s understanding and interpretation based on some explainable logic of supposedly general validity.

Knowledge

Local Ecological Knowledge

local people’s knowledge about elements

and about processes and inter-

relationship between these elements of

their agro-ecosystem.

“supernatural”

Localknowledge

action

rules, normsand values

External source

external

perceptions

decisions

learning

Resource endowments

natural

process

descriptive

Predictingconsequences

Knowledge sphere

Methodology

Articulation and representation of local

ecological knowledge to effectively

incorporate local ecological knowledge

and local perspective in R&D programs.

Knowledge-based systems approach

Reported study : Indonesia

Sumberjaya, South Sumatra

coffee based – sun, shade and multistrata system on slopes

disputed land mostly local people long farming

experience

Reported study : Peru

Pucallpa – Shipibo Conibo community

fishing, hunting and gathering fruits and medicinal plants

farming relatively new

annual flooding (2-3 months)

Results – Indonesia

Farmer innovations (terraces, vegetation strips, furrows and compost pits, multi-storey system)

turbidity in paddy fields – nutrient source for plants but water flow must be regulated

landscape scale – riverside vegetation (roots) for watershed functions

Knowledge of other factors – exist but not always practisedKey reasons resource (especially time and labour)

constraints individual efforts not very effective insecure land tenure – uncertainty

Turbidity of water in fish

pond

Turbidity of water in paddy

fields

Turbidity of water in river

Land suitability for different

plants

Soil fertility

Soil organic matter

Land slope

Ground vegetation

Leaf litterQuantity &

quality

Trees, bamboos and

shrubs

Rainfall intensity

soil erosion

Rain water runoff

Water holding capacity of soil

Interception of raindrops

Soil nutrients

Ground cover

Rainfall duration

Plant growth

Root systemRoots hold

soil

Prevents excessive

drying of soil

Litter decomposition

shading eart

hwor

ms

Explanatory knowledge

Results – Peru

Soil fertility related to post-flooding condition of soils - dark non-clayey property and organic content (indicated by crop performance)

Knowledge about poor fertility indicator plants [e.g. shuashui (?), arrocillo (Rottboellia exaltata), gramalote (Brachiaria mutica)

Flood tolerant and flood susceptible fruits – but much contradiction among the people

Local ecological knowledge about soil resources – less sophisticated

Knowledge about fishing and hunting – richer?

Research indicate that LEK

has explanatory aspects, with a logical structure comparable to scientific understanding

comes largely from experience holistic and “un-disciplined” notions of description, classification and fertility of soils –

lacalized explanatory knowledge and underlying principles can be

generalized (regularity across similar agroecosystems) knowledge may not always translate into action – other

constraints LEK is not “opaque” - can be articulated and recorded

through structured discussions with local people

LEK research in NRM

focused development imperatives

useful for three aspects: Building on local practice Recognizing sophistication of local

knowledge (and terminology) for effective communication

Realising its limitations – windows for improvement

Ecological knowledge about NRM

ScientificK

LocalK

Policymakers

K

bridging through dialogue, appreciation, and respect of others’ knowledge systems and further investigation if required

three poorly connected major

knowledge systems