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
Mar 27, 2015
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