The role of indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation in Africa

Filho, Walter Leal; Barbir, Jelena; Gwenzi, Juliet; Ayal, Desalegn Yayeh; Simpson, Nicholas P.; Adeleke, Lydia; Tilahun, Behiwot; Chirisa, Innocent; Gbedemah, Shine Francis; Nzengya, Daniel M.; Sharifi, Ayyoob; Theodory, Theobald Frank; Yaffa, Sidat

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2022.06.004

Cited by 46 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Changes in the availability of cuckoo birds, which are important for predicting the onset of the rainy season (see Table 3), were attributed to increased climate variability and change. The results here are consistent with other regional and global case studies, in which many indigenous knowledge holders notice changes in the IK and LK indicators used for weather and climate forecasts, thus reducing their reliance on the IK and LK forecasts of that indicator for climate decision-making (Speranza et al, 2010;Radeny et al, 2019;Ankrah et al, 2022;Leal Filho et al, 2022a). The attribution of the lack of availability of cuckoo birds to climate variability agrees with other studies that have shown how increased climate variability and change affect the indicators used for IK and LK climate forecasting, such as the extinction of some plants and animals in East Africa that are used for IK climate forecasts (Radeny et al, 2019).…”

Section: Blending Ik and Lk And Scientific Forecastssupporting

confidence: 88%

Role of Indigenous and local knowledge in seasonal forecasts and climate adaptation: A case study of smallholder farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Zvobgo

Johnston

Olagbegi

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Accessible, reliable, and diverse sources of climate information are needed to inform climate change adaptation at all levels of society, particularly for vulnerable sectors, such as smallholder farming. Globally, many smallholder farmers use Indigenous knowledge (IK) and local knowledge (LK) to forecast weather and climate; however, less is known about how the use of these forecasts connects to decisions and actions for reducing climate risks. We examined the role of IK and LK in seasonal forecasting and the broader climate adaptation decision-making of smallholder farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe. The data were collected from a sample of 100 smallholder farmers. Seventy-three of the 100 interviewed farmers used IK and LK weather and climate forecasts, and 32% relied solely on IK and LK forecasts for climate adaptation decision-making. Observations of cuckoo birds, leaf-sprouting of Mopane trees, high summer temperatures, and Nimbus clouds are the main indicators used for IK and LK forecasts. The use of IK and LK climate forecasts was significantly positively associated with increasing farmer age and farmland size. Farmers using IK and LK forecasts implemented, on average, triple the number of adaptation measures compared with farmers not using IK and LK. These findings demonstrate the widespread reliance of farmers on IK and LK for seasonal forecasts, and the strong positive link between the use of IK and LK and the implementation of climate adaptation actions. This positive association between IK and LK usage and the implementation of adaptation actions may be widespread in smallholder farming communities throughout Africa and globally. Recognition and inclusion of IK and LK in climate services is important to ensure their continued potential for enhancing climate change adaptation.

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Section: Blending Ik and Lk And Scientific Forecastssupporting

confidence: 88%

Role of Indigenous and local knowledge in seasonal forecasts and climate adaptation: A case study of smallholder farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Zvobgo

Johnston

Olagbegi

et al. 2023

Preprint

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“…Akinyi et al, look at the trade-offs and synergies related to implementing climate adaptation strategies among farmers (Akinyi et al, 2021). There have been studies on the impacts of climate change on water resources (Nkhonjera, 2017;Leal Filho et al, 2022a), with a consensus that adaptation and mitigation measures are necessary to cut the impacts on water resources. A study by (Zinyengere et al, 2013) projects an 18% decline in maize yields and suggests adaptation could potentially moderate the negative impacts of climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An overview of climate change adaptation and mitigation research in Africa

et al. 2022

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Research on climate change has increased significantly since the 1970s. There has also been a particular focus on Africa, given its vulnerability to climate change impacts and its urbanization trends that may have massive implications for climate change adaptation and mitigation. Despite the wealth of publications on climate change in Africa, there is a lack of review studies that highlight the overall research landscape. If this status of climate research is clarified, African countries can better deal with climate change. Hence, this paper aims to improve our understanding of the status and trends of research on climate change adaptation and mitigation in Africa. Our review, straddling from 1990 to late 2021, recognizes the foundations that underpin climate change adaptation and mitigation literature. Based on keywords associated with Africa's climate change adaptation and mitigation, we undertook bibliometric research by collecting 3,316 related SCI/SSCI articles. In addition, we provided a thematic evolution over three decades, compartmentalized into four sub-periods (1990–2007; 2008–2014; 2015–2019; 2020–2021). Priority research topics and themes have been dynamic over time, with some core concepts receiving more attention (vulnerability, food, water, and energy security). Although the number of published articles exhibited a rapidly growing trend, their distribution is extremely uneven. Articles were mainly published by institutions from certain parts of the continent, with the University of Cape Town, making the highest contribution. About 72% of the existing studies focused on climate change adaptation, while climate change mitigation was less represented with 22%. The results also showed that researchers have examined not all African countries. South Africa, Ethiopia, and Ghana are hot spots, while most countries are largely neglected. Africa and African countries need to improve their future research ability on climate change mitigation. Assessing climate change risks and measures in African countries should be prioritized.

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“…Climate change is one of the major threats affecting the livelihoods and food security of a large share of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa (Chimi et al, 2022). Indeed, in most Sub-Saharan African countries, agriculture is the major source of livelihood of the population and a key driver of food security (Kijazi et al, 2013;Leal Filho et al, 2022). Agriculture is highly dependent on rainfall, making it very vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…do not reach rural populations who do not have access to broadcasting channels and do not understand the languages in which the information is broadcast (Yegbemey and Egah, 2021). The rural population develops indigenous knowledge to predict climate events and reduce their vulnerability through the adjustment of their adaptation strategies (Kijazi et al, 2013;Leal Filho et al, 2022;Varah and Varah, 2022).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indigenous knowledge in this study means knowledge accumulated over many years through experiences, including daily practices, learning, and lessons during the interaction of human societies with their environments for forecasting the climatic events (Dambeebo et al, 2022). In the climatic events forecasted, four pillars of indigenous knowledge could be taken account (Leal Filho et al, 2022). These pillars are the type, application context, adaptation value, and effects in responses to climate change in Africa (Leal Filho et al, 2022).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Eliciting indigenous knowledge to predict climate events for the food security of agro-pastoral households in North Benin

Egah¹,

Yegbemey²,

Idrissou³

et al. 2023

Front. Environ. Econ.

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Populations are subjected to climatic uncertainties, the predictions of which are major challenges for the scientific community. This study analyzes indigenous climate event prediction and adaptation based on indigenous knowledge in North Benin. A sample of 80 holders of indigenous knowledge of prediction of climate events was selected using snowball sampling in the district of Gogonou. Data were collected during semi-structured interviews with the indigenous knowledge holders. Data included the profile of the knowledge holders, climate events and their prediction signs, and the planned responses in the face of climate events. Data were analyzed using discourse analysis and descriptive statistics. The results showed that the holders of indigenous knowledge of prediction of climate events are agropastoralists and some of their wives. They are over 60 years old and rooted in traditional religion. Climate events predicted were floods, pockets of drought, early cessation of rains, and invasion of fields by caterpillars. These climate events are predicted from animal, vegetable, and nature behaviors. The responses developed in the face of climate events are mainly the relocation of fields to firm land, the use of drought-tolerant varieties, the relocation of planting periods, and the planning of the suspension of children's schooling for spreading and planting operations. These findings demonstrate the necessity for policymakers to consider the value of indigenous knowledge to reduce the effects of climate change.

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The role of indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation in Africa

Cited by 46 publications

References 44 publications

Role of Indigenous and local knowledge in seasonal forecasts and climate adaptation: A case study of smallholder farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Role of Indigenous and local knowledge in seasonal forecasts and climate adaptation: A case study of smallholder farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

An overview of climate change adaptation and mitigation research in Africa

Eliciting indigenous knowledge to predict climate events for the food security of agro-pastoral households in North Benin

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