The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel

Nyong, Anthony; Adesina, F. A.; Elasha, Balgis Osman

doi:10.1007/s11027-007-9099-0

Cited by 588 publications

(431 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Unfortunately, the value attached to indigenous people, knowledge and practices seem to erode in different parts of the world with globalisation (see for example, Kipur, 2009;Nyong and Elasha, 2007) contrary to development paradigms which strongly promote importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge, local views and priorities into programmes and policies (Chambers, 1983). In the case of Sidama, all focus group discussions magnified the erosion of respect for norms and values.…”

Section: Perception Of Causes Of Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers and policy-makers’ perceptions of climate change in Ethiopia

Hameso

2017

Climate and Development

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Reference:Hameso, Seyoum (2017) The study forms part of the broader research project into actual and perceived climate change that included climate data (see Hameso, 2015) and book chapter on farmers perceptions about climate change (Hameso, 2014) but this paper reports on and compares climate change as perceived by farmers and policy makers. I acknowledge comments from two anonymous reviewers.2

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Section: Perception Of Causes Of Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Farmers and policy-makers’ perceptions of climate change in Ethiopia

Hameso

2017

Climate and Development

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“…As traditional healers can borrow from Western biomedicine, and traditional agricultural practices can be combined with modern agrochemicals and new technologies, so too the farmers' climate knowledge can incorporate the use of scientific forecasts. Climate scientists can benefit from recognizing this openness, since such recognition could allow them to design forecasts that would respond to farmers' priorities and would therefore be more widely used by them (Nyong et al 2007). Indigenous knowledge can help finetune climate predictions, much as traditional healing systems has provided many pharmaceuticals, techniques, information and ideas that Western biomedicine has adopted.…”

Section: Interface With Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Indigenous climate knowledge in southern Uganda: the multiple components of a dynamic regional system

et al. 2009

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Farmers in southern Uganda seek information to anticipate the interannual variability in the timing and amount of precipitation, a matter of great importance to them since they rely on rain-fed agriculture for food supplies and income. The four major components of their knowledge system are: (1) longstanding familiarity with the seasonal patterns of precipitation and temperature, (2) a set of local traditional climate indicators, (3) observation of meteorological events, (4) information about the progress of the seasons elsewhere in the region. We examine these components and show the connections among them. We discuss the social contexts in which this information is perceived, evaluated, discussed and applied, and we consider the cultural frameworks that support the use of this information. This system of indigenous knowledge leads farmers to participate as agents as well as consumers in programs that use modern climate science to plan for and adapt to climate variability and climate change.

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“…In sub-Saharan Africa, population pressure and land fragmentation forced small farms to turn to small ruminants, and particularly goats, as they were unable to support cattle, and in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia, pastoralists claim that invasion by woody species drove them to increasingly substitute their cattle for camels and goats (Peacok and Sherman, 2010). In other cases, a switch from cattle to small ruminants occurs in arid-semiarid rangelands of East and West Africa in times of drought, when forage is scarce (Nyong et al, 2007). Therefore, rather than being drivers of desertification, goats are actually one of the most adaptable large herbivorous species to marginal mountainous or desert areas (Silanikove, 2000).…”

Section: Interaction Of Goats With Other Livestock Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Goat grazing, its interactions with other herbivores and biodiversity conservation issues

García

Celaya

García

et al. 2012

Small Ruminant Research

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a b s t r a c tGoats have developed in harmony with local conditions of climate, terrain, vegetation, and even pathogens over centuries in many areas, while they have been blamed of causing environment degradation in other ones. The paper summarizes the situation of goat's population worldwide, the status of the breeds and the multiple implications of their conservation, the interactions of goats with other animal species (wild or domestic) and the main issues regarding the consequences of goat grazing from the environmental point of view. It underlines that most of the environmentally harmful effects of goat grazing arise from improper management practices at very high grazing pressures whereas goat grazing can be a useful tool for conservation if managed adequately. Moderate grazing pressures can be compatible with high levels of biodiversity and provide externalities, whereas high intensity at short term can be a valuable tool for weed control. Goat genetic heritage is seriously threatened and requires more studies and greater support from national and international institutions, in parallel with other efforts in rural development, especially for remote areas which hold an outstanding reservoir of livestock diversity adapted to the local conditions and managed by impoverished communities. A multidisciplinary approach of scientists, policy makers, rangeland managers and local communities is required for the design of future sustainable management plans.

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The value of indigenous knowledge in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in the African Sahel

Abstract: Adaptation, Africa, Indigenous knowledge, Mitigation, Sahel, Sustainable development,

Cited by 588 publications

References 15 publications

Farmers and policy-makers’ perceptions of climate change in Ethiopia

Farmers and policy-makers’ perceptions of climate change in Ethiopia

Indigenous climate knowledge in southern Uganda: the multiple components of a dynamic regional system

Goat grazing, its interactions with other herbivores and biodiversity conservation issues

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