Indigenous perspectives of climate change and adaptation in NE Arnhem Land

Lisa PetheramDr Natasha Stacey (CDU)

Prof Bruce Campbell (CGIAR)Dr Chris High (Open Uni)

The PhD project

• Cat Tien National Park - Vietnam: PES

• NE Arnhem Land - Australia: Climate change adaptation

“Visual techniques to facilitate learning and communication in natural resource

management”

Aims of the climate change case study

• To encourage learning & communication on climate change perceptions, observations & adaptation preferences-understanding

- communication- knowledge sharing - community empowerment-community direction

• BROADER AIM: To understand factors important in integrating indigenous perspectives into climate change adaptation policy

Conceptual framework

• Broad epistemology - ‘constructivism’ (Berger & Luckman 1967)

• ‘Social learning’ theory (Leeuwis 2002)

• Deliberate facilitation of learning processes

• VISUAL: Visual sociology & anthropology, communication, participation, learning, community development

• CLIMATE CHANGE: Adaptation, disaster & hazard, geography, development

CC Adaptation• ‘a set of actions & decision making processes’

(Nelson et al 2007)

• mitigation & adaptation

• WHO/WHAT? - Goals differ depending on who or

what is adapting. Imposed by government or local groups or individuals

• WHEN? Anticipatory or reactive. Short term, long term.

• 1st Generation & 2nd Generation Adaptation studies (Burton et al 2002) Infrastructure/technology Biophysical/Social-ecological?

Why remote Indigenous perspectives?

• Only 2.5% of Australia’s population, but own and occupy large expanses of the country’s remote areas so their adaptation strategies will have a significant impact on Australia’s environment and economy

• Indigenous coastal communities are considered to be highly vulnerable to climate change impacts.

• Relatively unexplored area of study

• Policy that integrates local preferences is more likely to be effective (and have greater adherence) (IIED 2009)

Field work

Gove PeninsulaNE Arnhem Land

1) Ways people value their landscape2) Perceived current issues & concerns3) Perceptions of climate change4) Observations of climate change5) Perceived impacts of climate change on community6) Preferences for adaptation

Field research focus

Fieldwork

• Workshops and interviews• Field transect walks/drives

- Rich picture diagrammingVisual techniques

Visual techniques- Participatory sculpting

Visual techniques- Participatory generated photography (‘photovoice’)

Visual techniques- Photo & video elicitation

Visual techniques- Seasonal calendar analysis

- Video workVisual techniques

-

Visual techniques- Visual choice modelling

Visual techniques- Interactive DVD ROM creation

Visual techniques

Perceptions of CC • Familiarity with the term

• BUT many misconceptions

• Strong interest to learn more

• Deep concern about the way it will threaten country & people

• Desire to raise awareness, especially among children

‘so they know what is happening, what to do and so they don’t get worried’

• BUT also great worry about current poverty issues

Observed changes• Many changes over last 50 years

• BUT ‘Strange changes’ - particularly last 5 years. Unpredictable and some dramatic

• Climate change, mining, development, recreation & pollution, spirits?

• Attribute to human sources e.g. ‘big cities’‘What we are doing to mother nature. She is now

weeping’

• Some certain of CC. ‘they should get out of their office more and take a look!’

• Few specifically about climate change• Return to current issues• Strengthen general adaptive capacity to

current issues

Adaptation strategies

• Communication, transparency & indigenous involvement

• Self-sufficiency and improved capacity• Knowledge sharing on NRM and CC and stricter

regulations for protected & sacred areas• Indigenous practices as a way of dealing with

problems• Culture for physical and emotional health• Basic infrastructure and more efficient energy.

Adaptation preferences

1) Ways people value their landscape2) Perceived current issues & concerns3) Perceptions of climate change4) Observations of climate change5) Perceived impacts of climate change on community6) Preferences for adaptation

Field research focus

General changes

Semantics

SensitivityScenarios

Evolving frame of research

CURRENT VULNERABILITY eg Klein et al 2007

WAYS TO STRENGTHEN ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

COMMUNITY ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

COMMUNITY ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

- opportunity- capacity

- opportunity- capacity

- motivations- preferences- motivations- preferences

COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

COMMUNITY CHARACTERISTICS

- diversity- assets

- location- poverty

- diversity- assets

- location- poverty

- perceptions- attitudes & values- culture &/ norms

- capacity

- perceptions- attitudes & values- culture &/ norms

- capacity

Current issues Current issues

Historic events Historic events

COMMUNITY VULNERABILITYCOMMUNITY VULNERABILITY

Untangling vulnerability

Externalcharacteristi

csinteractions

Externalcharacteristi

csinteractions

COMMUNITY VULNERABILITYCOMMUNITY VULNERABILITY

Community adaptation preferences

Community adaptation preferences

CC Prediction

s

CC Prediction

s

CC knowledge

CC knowledge

Western scienceWestern science

Indig. knowledg

e

Indig. knowledg

e

Communication processes

Communication processes

Community action

Community action

Policy change and/or

institutional support

Policy change and/or

institutional support

Improved community

adaptive capacity

Improved community

adaptive capacity

Community adaptive strategies

Community adaptive strategies

Building community adaptive capacity

Evolving frame of research

CURRENT VULNERABILITY e.g Klein et al 2007

WAYS TO STRENGTHEN ADAPTIVE CAPACITY

- Enablers & disablers- Development lense - Mainstreaming

Summary• Research on adaptation is difficult• Important not to undermine complexity of adaptation• Examining climate change alone not useful • Effective communication is integral• Mainstreaming adaptation into different policy areas is needed• More time! Involvement of indigenous researchers is needed

Petheram, L, Zander, K., Campbell, B.M., High, C., and Stacey, N. (2010)‘Strange Changes’: Indigenous perspectives of climate change and adaptation in NE Arnhem Land (Australia). Global Environmental Change 20: 681-692.

Thanks