Pastoralists’ knowledge and climate change

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the School of Geography & Environment of Oxford University have published the book “Indigenous peoples and climate change: emerging research on traditional knowledge and livelihoods” (2019, 128 pp) edited by Ariell Ahearn et al.

Although the indigenous knowledge of local communities cuts across numerous aspects of sustainability and resilience, policymakers are often not aware of the relevance of this knowledge for adaptation to climate change and to other transformations in societies, economies, institutions and technologies. This publication draws on recent and emerging research conducted directly with communities across Asia and the Pacific, Africa and the Americas. It aims at sharing experiences gained by researchers and the communities themselves with policymakers and other key stakeholders.

The book includes, among others, findings from studies on “The role of customary institutions in climate change adaptation among Afar pastoralists in north-eastern Ethiopia” by Mulubrhan Balehegn and Selam Balehey and “Seeing like the herder: climate change and pastoralists’ knowledge: insights from Turkana herders in northern Kenya” by Greta Simplici.

Posted on 10 June 2019 in Pastoralism & Climate Change, Pastoralism & Culture