This document summarizes the role of traditional indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation. It notes that indigenous peoples only make up 5% of the population but inhabit 22% of the land, including forests, coastal areas, and polar regions. It discusses how traditional knowledge, gained over thousands of years, has proven effective for climate adaptation through practices like crop diversification and adjusting resource use. The document calls for greater recognition and inclusion of traditional knowledge in policy and climate modeling to help communities better cope with climate impacts at a local level. It expresses concern that most indigenous languages may disappear by 2020, threatening the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge.

1. Adaptive Pathways for the Future : Indigenous Peoples, Traditional Knowledge and Climate Change Kirsty Galloway McLean United Nations University Traditional Knowledge Initiative 2010 International Climate Change Adaptation Conference, 31 June 2010

2. Indigenous peoples: Population 5% Forest lands 11% Land surface 22% Biodiversity 80% Carbon footprint <.1% live in marginal environments – mountains, coastal areas, polar cap, forests

3. 450 projects and case studies Indigenous observations of change Role of traditional knowledge Adaptation and mitigation strategies

5. The majority of successful adaptive strategies rely in some way on traditional ecological knowledge

6. Intergenerational transmission of knowledge over thousands of years Traditional knowledge: Knowledge, innovations and practices of Indigenous Peoples History of effective response to changing climate

7. Crop diversification Shifting resource bases Changes in hunting and gathering periods

8. Blending traditional knowledge and modern technologies e.g. Arctic Climate Impact Assessment; Cybertracker

9. Fire management e.g. WALFA, Payment for Ecosystem Services

10. traditional wisdom + scientific method = new partnerships + innovative ways of thinking

11. What do we need to change?

12. We urgently need to generate, interpret and use information…

13. … yet traditional knowledge is rapidly disappearing

14. Most of the world’s 6000 language groups are indigenous 90% of these languages will disappear by 2020

15. Global modeling outputs / structure  Improve understanding impact / response to change at local level

16. Build effective communication to incorporate community level goals and integrate human and ecosystem concerns

17. UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Involve Indigenous Peoples in policy and planning

18. Published late July 2010 Requests: tki@ias.unu.edu Advance reading copy currently available for download http://www.unutki.org/news.php?news_id=92&doc_id=101

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