Indigenous Knowledge Crucial to Tackling Climate Change, Experts Say
Traditional skills and knowledge should be seen as a complement, not a barrier, to scientific knowledge and climate adaptation efforts, say experts.
In the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes, indigenous farmers gather at the top of mountains the night after the winter solstice - not to enjoy the view, but to forecast the timing and quantity of rains.
If the Pleiades star cluster appears large and bright, then rains will be abundant. If it looks small and dim, then the rains will be poor - in which case, the farmers delay the planting of their crops.
"What could at first glance seem like a far-fetched ancestral tradition actually showcases indigenous peoples' ability to make useful and constructive observations on climate forecasting," said Douglas Nakashima, head of the small islands and indigenous knowledge section at the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Juan Carlos Huayllapuma/CIFOR