The Important Role of Indigenous People in Conservation Efforts

Since time immemorial, native populations have lived close to the land and been the primary caretakers of the natural environment. Relying on what local flora and fauna have to offer, cultivating native resources, and appreciating the delicate balance of ecosystems was critical to their survival. A deep respect for the planet came with this work and teachings about how to live in harmony with nature were passed down from one generation to the next.

Why indigenous involvement matters

The importance of the participation of native peoples in conservation cannot be overstated. These populations balance their needs with those of the natural world, taking only what they require and focusing on long-term sustainability. The knowledge that the indigenous people have acquired over time places them in a unique position to understand how the natural world is changing. The challenges of a warming planet, pollution, unfettered extraction of resources, and other concerns often come to the attention of these populations before mainstream society since they typically live close to the land.

Traditional indigenous practices are conservation-focused with sustainable approaches to agriculture and water management. Furthermore, native people are more apt to be good stewards of the land and animal species. They’re involved in safeguarding sensitive ecosystems that help to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce the impact of global warming. Plus, protecting these natural environments ensures that they remain critical habitats for a diversity of plants and wildlife.

Indigenous voices can provide important insights into what’s going on in nature. Their intimate knowledge of ecosystems and traditional practices can provide climate solutions. Combining their wisdom with the growing body of scientific knowledge can be invaluable in the search for ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Learning from traditional land management practices

There are many examples around the world of long-held indigenous farming and land management methods that support sustainability. Following is a look at a few of them.

In Central America and Mexico, there’s a traditional agriculture approach called milpa. This farming method allows produce to be grown within the forest while allowing the land to regenerate. Rather than clear away trees from large swaths of land for crop cultivation, the local people cultivate small plots of land within the forest itself. Bean, corn, squash, and other vegetables are grown in these gardens and—after the plants are harvested that year—the land is returned to its natural state. New garden plots are prepared in the next growing season. The result is better soil fertility and more biodiversity.

On a related note, pragmatic farming and forest protection programs have existed in Burkina Faso, Mali and West Africa for centuries. Native populations have created a way of growing produce in forest lands that mitigates the risk of soil erosion and enhances soil fertility. And, cultivating a diversity of crops guards against losing the entire harvest to disease, extreme weather, blight, or pests. The influence of droughts and heavy rainfall is reduced with this approach.

Customary fire management by Australia’s aboriginal people has been an effective way to look after the land. These cultural burnings use controlled low-intensity fires to manage the vegetation and encourage biodiversity while reducing the amount of plant life that can supply fuel to a wildfire. This means that when a fire ignites naturally because of extremely dry conditions, it’s typically more manageable and can be more easily suppressed.  

Conservation and indigenous collaboration

There are a growing number of initiatives that recognize the intelligence that indigenous people bring to conserving the natural world and recognize how collaboration is critical. Her are a few instances.

In the Northwest Territories in Canada, two indigenous-led programs protect large areas of land and water. One initiative hands over the administration of these regions to local native nations who rely on indigenous laws and traditions in managing the landscape. A second project funds more than 240 separate efforts to protect species at risk and sensitive ecosystems, maintain cultural sites, and monitor the health of natural habitats.

In banning oil and gas exploration from culturally significant areas, protecting sacred lands as national monuments, involving indigenous vices in legislation, restoring some endangered species with native knowledge, protecting Alaska from the impact of mining and more, the United States is recognizing the role of indigenous populations.

The United Nations Development Program supports indigenous people around the globe with a host of different initiatives. These include grants that enable efforts related to climate change adaptation and mitigation, biodiversity conservation, managing chemicals and waste, preserving international waters, and protecting against land degradation. To date, some 50 countries have benefited from funds to conserve biodiversity, recover from climate change, and support sustainable livelihoods.

In closing

Oftentimes, the climate solutions that governments and other organizations are looking for can be found within the traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous people. Learning from these people can make a significant difference in fighting climate change.