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Greenler SM, Lake FK, Tripp W, McCovey K, Tripp A, Hillman LG, Dunn CJ, Prichard SJ, Hessburg PF, Harling W, Bailey JD. Blending Indigenous and western science: Quantifying cultural burning impacts in Karuk Aboriginal Territory. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024; 34:e2973. [PMID: 38616644 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
The combined effects of Indigenous fire stewardship and lightning ignitions shaped historical fire regimes, landscape patterns, and available resources in many ecosystems globally. The resulting fire regimes created complex fire-vegetation dynamics that were further influenced by biophysical setting, disturbance history, and climate. While there is increasing recognition of Indigenous fire stewardship among western scientists and managers, the extent and purpose of cultural burning is generally absent from the landscape-fire modeling literature and our understanding of ecosystem processes and development. In collaboration with the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources, we developed a transdisciplinary Monte Carlo simulation model of cultural ignition location, frequency, and timing to simulate spatially explicit cultural ignitions across a 264,399-ha landscape within Karuk Aboriginal Territory in northern California. Estimates of cultural ignition parameters were developed with Tribal members and knowledge holders using existing interviews, historical maps, ethnographies, recent ecological studies, contemporary maps, and generational knowledge. Spatial and temporal attributes of cultural burning were explicitly tied to the ecology of specific cultural resources, fuel receptivity, seasonal movement patterns, and spiritual practices. Prior to colonization, cultural burning practices were extensive across the study landscape with an estimated 6972 annual ignitions, averaging approximately 6.5 ignitions per Indigenous fire steward per year. The ignition characteristics we document align closely with data on historical fire regimes and vegetation but differ substantially from the location and timing of contemporary ignitions. This work demonstrates the importance of cultural burning for developing and maintaining the ecosystems present at the time of colonization and underscores the need to work collaboratively with Indigenous communities to restore ecocultural processes in these systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Skye M Greenler
- Oregon State University College of Forestry, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Frank K Lake
- U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station, Arcata, California, USA
| | - William Tripp
- Karuk Tribe, Department of Natural Resources, Orleans, California, USA
| | | | - Analisa Tripp
- Karuk Tribe, Department of Natural Resources, Orleans, California, USA
| | | | | | - Susan J Prichard
- University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Paul F Hessburg
- University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, Seattle, Washington, USA
- U.S. Forest Service PNW Research Station, Wenatchee, Washington, USA
| | - Will Harling
- Mid Klamath Watershed Council, Orleans, California, USA
| | - John D Bailey
- Oregon State University College of Forestry, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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Yates C, Evans J, Vernooij R, Eames T, Muir E, Holmes J, Edwards A, Russell-Smith J. Incentivizing sustainable fire management in Australia's northern arid spinifex grasslands. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 344:118384. [PMID: 37392692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
Fire management across Australia's fire-prone 1.2 M km2 northern savannas region has been transformed over the past decade supported by the inception of Australia's national regulated emissions reduction market in 2012. Today, incentivised fire management is undertaken over a quarter of that entire region, providing a range of socio-cultural, environmental, and economic benefits, including for remote Indigenous (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) communities and enterprises. Building on those advances, here we explore the emissions abatement potential for expanding incentivised fire management opportunities to include a contiguous fire-prone region, extending to monsoonal but annually lower (<600 mm) and more variable rainfall conditions, supporting predominantly shrubby spinifex (Triodia) hummock grasslands characteristic of much of Australia's deserts and semi-arid rangelands. Adapting a standard methodological approach applied previously for assessing savanna emissions parameters, we first describe fire regime and associated climatic attributes for a proposed ∼850,000 km2 lower rainfall (600-350 mm MAR) focal region. Second, based on regional field assessments of seasonal fuel accumulation, combustion, burnt area patchiness, and accountable methane and nitrous oxide Emission Factor parameters, we find that significant emissions abatement is feasible for regional hummock grasslands. This applies specifically for more frequently burnt sites under higher rainfall conditions if substantial early dry season prescribed fire management is undertaken resulting in marked reduction in late dry season wildfires. The proposed Northern Arid Zone (NAZ) focal envelope is substantially under Indigenous land ownership and management, and in addition to reducing emissions impacts associated with recurrent extensive wildfires, development of commercial landscape-scale fire management opportunities would significantly support social, cultural and biodiversity management aspirations as promoted by Indigenous landowners. Combined with existing regulated savanna fire management regions, inclusion of the NAZ under existing legislated abatement methodologies would effectively provide incentivised fire management covering a quarter of Australia's landmass. This could complement an allied (non-carbon) accredited method valuing combined social, cultural and biodiversity outcomes from enhanced fire management of hummock grasslands. Although the management approach has potential application to other international fire-prone savanna grasslands, caution is required to ensure that such practice does not result in irreversible woody encroachment and undesirable habitat change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Yates
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Jay Evans
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Roland Vernooij
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Eames
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ed Muir
- Indigenous Desert Alliance, West Perth, 6005, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jarrad Holmes
- PEC Consultants (People, Environment, Carbon), Lake Barrine, 4884, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrew Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia.
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Melton CC, De Fries CM, Smith RM, Mason LR. Wildfires and Older Adults: A Scoping Review of Impacts, Risks, and Interventions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6252. [PMID: 37444100 PMCID: PMC10341407 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20136252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is leading to worsening disasters that disproportionately impact older adults. While research has begun to measure disparities, there is a gap in examining wildfire-specific disasters. To address this gap, this scoping review analyzed literature to explore the nexus of wildfires and older adults. We searched peer-reviewed literature using the following inclusion criteria: (1) published in a peer-reviewed journal; (2) available in English; (3) examines at least one topic related to wildfires; and (4) examines how criterion three relates to older adults in at least one way. Authors screened 261 titles and abstracts and 138 were reviewed in full, with 75 articles meeting inclusion criteria. Findings heavily focused on health impacts of wildfires on older adults, particularly of smoke exposure and air quality. While many articles mentioned a need for community-engaged responses that incorporate the needs of older adults, few addressed firsthand experiences of older adults. Other common topics included problems with evacuation, general health impacts, and Indigenous elders' fire knowledge. Further research is needed at the nexus of wildfires and older adults to highlight both vulnerabilities and needs as well as the unique experience and knowledge of older adults to inform wildfire response strategies and tactics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Lisa Reyes Mason
- Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, Denver, CO 80210, USA; (C.C.M.); (C.M.D.F.); (R.M.S.)
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Díaz SC, Quezada LC, Álvarez LJ, Loján-Córdova J, Carrión-Paladines V. Indigenous use of fire in the paramo ecosystem of southern Ecuador: a case study using remote sensing methods and ancestral knowledge of the Kichwa Saraguro people. FIRE ECOLOGY 2023; 19:5. [PMID: 36712840 PMCID: PMC9869829 DOI: 10.1186/s42408-022-00164-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Indigenous Kichwa Saraguro people of southern Ecuador have long relied on traditional burning to manage their environment. However, their traditional use of fire in one of the most important ecosystems in southern Ecuador, the herbaceous paramo, is not well known. This lack of knowledge does not allow for the improvement of local regulations related to integrated fire management, which is a shortcoming compared to other regulations applied in South America. In this context, and to understand the impacts of the Indigenous use of fire, a climatic analysis of the area was carried out, generating a historical climograph (period: years 1981-2021) and four annual climographs that were contrasted with a remote sensing study of fire severity over 4 years (years 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021). In addition, traditional fire use was determined through the application of semi-structured interview questionnaires applied to 61 women and 89 men, whose data were analyzed with the level of information fidelity (LIF), informant consensus factor (ICF), and principal component analysis (PCA). Therefore, in this study, we argue that it is important to incorporate the concepts of (i) wildfire severity and (ii) cultural burning in wildfire policies and regulations in southern Ecuador. RESULTS The results indicate that low-severity fires occur within the Saraguro territory and that fire use knowledge is transmitted to new generations incorporating both how and where to perform traditional burning. They also know when to burn using the burning calendar that is generally applied during the climatic phenomenon known as "Veranillo del Niño" (VdN). CONCLUSIONS These results can help decision-makers design policies, regulations, and proposals for the correct use of fire as a tool for the management of ecosystems in southern Ecuador affected by wildfires. In addition, the results can be used to improve the National Strategy for Integrated Fire Management 2021-2025 promoted by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Ecological Transition of Ecuador.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Celi Díaz
- Carrera de Gestión Ambiental, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, 1101608 Loja, Ecuador
| | - Liliana Correa Quezada
- Departamento de Ciencias Jurídicas, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, 1101608 Loja, Ecuador
| | - Leticia Jiménez Álvarez
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, 1101608 Loja, Ecuador
| | - Julia Loján-Córdova
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, 1101608 Loja, Ecuador
| | - Vinicio Carrión-Paladines
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad Técnica Particular de Loja, San Cayetano Alto s/n, 1101608 Loja, Ecuador
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Larson S, Jarvis D, Stoeckl N, Barrowei R, Coleman B, Groves D, Hunter J, Lee M, Markham M, Larson A, Finau G, Douglas M. Piecemeal stewardship activities miss numerous social and environmental benefits associated with culturally appropriate ways of caring for country. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 326:116750. [PMID: 36413954 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Prior research has identified both the contribution that people make to nature and the contribution that nature makes to people (by enhancing wellbeing) - with clear conceptual models to describe the interactions. Prior research has also made a clear case for incorporating insights from multiple perspectives and knowledge systems when seeking to better understand this interactive system. What is lacking, is guidance on how to operationalise some of these ideas to provide bespoke advice to environmental managers. Arguably, we have an adequate, albeit imperfect, understanding of how to operationalise (measure, value and/or otherwise account for) some parts of the conceptual model. There is, for example, abundant literature that describes different ways of valuing Ecosystem services, and a growing body of literature that describes and quantifies the ecological benefits of various stewardship activities, which will subsequently also generate an indirect benefit to people (since improved ecological conditions will improve Ecosystem services). In comparison, we know relatively little about the way in which stewardship activities directly benefit people - and it is on this gap that our paper focuses. We partially fill that knowledge gap by first reaching out to and learning from some of Australia's First Nations People. Key learnings underscore the inter-connectedness of the system, and the need for resource managers to not only monitor the extent and condition of natural system but also the extent and condition of an inextricably connected human system, in addition to the human-nature interactions. We clearly identify ways in which those insights can be used to improve and extend accounting frameworks, such as SEEA Ecosystem Accounts developed by the United Nations that are often used by natural resource managers. In so doing, we generate new insights about Indigenous stewardship (Caring for Country) and methods of accounting for and monitoring stewardship activities. As such, our work provides a practical illustration of one way to populate conceptual models with 'real world' data that also incorporates different world views, to support decision makers for improved social and environmental outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silva Larson
- James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia.
| | - Diane Jarvis
- James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, 4870, Australia.
| | | | - Ryan Barrowei
- Traditional Owner for Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT, Australia
| | - Bessie Coleman
- Traditional Owner for Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT, Australia
| | - David Groves
- Traditional Owner for Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT, Australia
| | - Joshua Hunter
- Traditional Owner for Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT, Australia
| | - Maria Lee
- Traditional Owner for Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT, Australia
| | - Michael Markham
- Traditional Owner for Kakadu National Park, Jabiru, NT, Australia
| | - Anna Larson
- University of Adelaide, South Australia, 5005, Australia.
| | - Glenn Finau
- University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia.
| | - Michael Douglas
- University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
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Apiti A, Tassell-Matamua N, Lindsay N, Dell K, Pomare P, Erueti B, Masters-Awatere B, Te Rangi M. Indigenous Māori of Aotearoa (New Zealand): Environmental Identity, Rather Than Māori Identity Per Se, Has Greatest Influence on Environmental Distress. ECOPSYCHOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1089/eco.2022.0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ariana Apiti
- Centre for Indigenous Psychologies, School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Natasha Tassell-Matamua
- Centre for Indigenous Psychologies, School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Nicole Lindsay
- Centre for Indigenous Psychologies, School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Kiri Dell
- Graduate School of Management, University of Auckland, Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Pikihuia Pomare
- Centre for Indigenous Psychologies, School of Psychology, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand
| | - Bevan Erueti
- School of Health Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, Aotearoa New Zealand
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Ullmann AL, Haag I, Bulbulshoev U. Ecological Calendars of the Pamir Mountains: Illustrating the Importance of Context-Specificity for Food Security. GEOHEALTH 2022; 6:e2022GH000610. [PMID: 36467255 PMCID: PMC9714832 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Communities in the Pamir Mountains of Central Asia are among the most vulnerable to climate change due to their geographic location and subsistence-based livelihoods. Historically, ecological calendars supported their agropastoral lifestyles which provided anticipatory capacity to seasonal changes. Due to decades of Soviet colonization and socioecological transformations, knowledge of these ecological calendars fell into disuse. In 2016, Savnob and Roshorv, two villages in the Bartang Valley of Tajikistan, began the revitalization of these calendars using a participatory action research process through knowledge co-generation. We undertook a comparative analysis to investigate the importance of context-specificity to ensure food security and reduce their vulnerability to climate change. A preliminary analysis of the temperature regime and local language terms, relating to the positioning and quality of land, framed our methods-of-analysis. We compared the villagers' ecological calendars by focusing on indicator species, potentially threatening weather events, land-use, livelihood activities, and the role of the vernal equinox. Despite their close geographic proximity, context-specificity determined by distinct microecologies influences the timing and practice of these communities' livelihood activities. These villages have different dependencies on biotic and abiotic events, crops, and land-use; all of which affect food security and survival. These differences contributed to mutual support between the two villages, increased the availability of food, and thereby, lowered their vulnerability to climate change. As Savnob's and Roshorv's ecological calendars are updated with changing climate, they can once again enhance their anticipatory capacity while reducing their vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. L. Ullmann
- School of Life SciencesTechnical University of MunichFreisingGermany
| | - I. Haag
- South Asia InstituteHeidelberg UniversityHeidelbergGermany
| | - U. Bulbulshoev
- School of Professional and Continuing EducationUniversity of Central AsiaKhorogTajikistan
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Bakar N, Franco FM. The fading popularity of a local ecological calendar from Brunei Darussalam, Borneo. JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE 2022; 18:33. [PMID: 35429986 PMCID: PMC9013451 DOI: 10.1186/s13002-022-00525-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Local ecological calendars are ecocultural frameworks that link temporal and spatial scales, contributing to resilience and adaptive management of natural resources and landscapes. They also facilitate management, access and withdrawal of provisioning ecosystem services. In this article, we describe how the ecological calendar of the Kedayan people of Brunei Darussalam links skyscape and biodiversity with sociocultural aspirations to foster adaptive management of landscape, and provide an understanding of the transmission of calendric knowledge in the community. METHODS In 2018, we collaborated with sixteen purposively sampled knowledge keepers from the Kedayan community of Brunei Darussalam to document the Kedayan local ecological calendar, and develop a calendrical pictogram. Using a structured questionnaire, we then interviewed 107 randomly selected community members, to understand the contemporary relevance and popularity of the Kedayan calendar, and the transmission of calendric knowledge in the community. RESULTS Our findings reveal that very few respondents (n = 27, 25.3%) are aware of the existence of Kedayan ecological calendar; majority (n = 80, 74.7%) were not aware of its existence. There is no statistically significant correlation between consulting healers, knowledge on appropriate time requisite to consult healers, and awareness and self-professed knowledge of Kedayan calendar. Only 14 (13.1%) of the respondents reported to have received some form of calendric knowledge, while the majority (86.9%; n = 93) never received any calendric knowledge. Only a negligible 1.9% reported to have transmitted calendric knowledge to others indicating a breakdown in transmission of calendric knowledge. CONCLUSION The calendric pictogram would help the community in revitalizing their calendar. However, the community will have to invest on enhancing transmission of calendric knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurzahidah Bakar
- Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
| | - F. Merlin Franco
- Institute of Asian Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
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Ecocultural or Biocultural? Towards Appropriate Terminologies in Biocultural Diversity. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11020207. [PMID: 35205074 PMCID: PMC8869769 DOI: 10.3390/biology11020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Biocultural diversity has made notable contributions that have furthered our understanding of the human culture-nature interrelationship. However, the usage of the term 'biocultural' is not unique to biocultural diversity. It was first used in biocultural studies within anthropology decades ahead of biocultural diversity. The existing literature on biocultural diversity does not acknowledge the prior existence of biocultural studies, or provide a clear demarcation between usages of the two terms. In this article, I discuss the varying contexts in usage of the term 'biocultural' between biocultural diversity and biocultural anthropology. While biocultural diversity deals with the linkages between biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity, biocultural studies in anthropology deal with the deterministic influence of physical and social environment on human biology and wellbeing. In biocultural studies, 'biocultural' refers to the integration of methodically collated cultural data with biological and environmental data. 'Bio' in biocultural anthropology therefore denotes biology, unlike biocultural diversity where it refers to biodiversity. Both biocultural studies and biocultural diversity apply 'biocultural' as descriptor to generate overlapping terminologies such as 'biocultural approach'. Such a confusing scenario is not in the interest of biocultural diversity, as it would impede theoretical advancements. I propose that advocates of biocultural diversity explore its harmonies with ecoculturalism and the possibilities of suitably adapting the term 'ecoculture' in lieu of 'bioculture'. Using 'ecocultural' instead of 'biocultural' as a descriptor to coin terminologies could solve confusions arising from the expanding usage of the term 'bioculture'.
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McKemey MB, Rangers B, Rangers YM, Costello O, Hunter JT, Ens EJ. ‘Right‐way’ science: reflections on co‐developing Indigenous and Western cross‐cultural knowledge to support Indigenous cultural fire management. ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Daniels CW, Russell S, Ens EJ. Empowering young Aboriginal women to care for Country: Case study of the Ngukurr
Yangbala
rangers, remote northern Australia. ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Wysong ML, Gregory P, Watson AWT, Woolley L, Parker CW, Country Managers Y, Rangers K, Mangala Rangers N. Cross‐cultural collaboration leads to greater understanding of the rare Spectacled Hare‐wallaby in the west Kimberley, Western Australia. ECOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT & RESTORATION 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/emr.12524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Edwards A, Archer R, De Bruyn P, Evans J, Lewis B, Vigilante T, Whyte S, Russell-Smith J. Transforming fire management in northern Australia through successful implementation of savanna burning emissions reductions projects. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 290:112568. [PMID: 33887642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Savannas are the most fire-prone of Earth's biomes and currently account for most global burned area and associated carbon emissions. In Australia, over recent decades substantial development of savanna burning emissions accounting methods has been undertaken to incentivise more conservative savanna fire management and reduce the extent and severity of late dry season wildfires. Since inception of Australia's formal regulated savanna burning market in 2012, today 25% of the 1.2M km2 fire-prone northern savanna region is managed under such arrangements. Although savanna burning projects generate significant emissions reductions and associated financial benefits especially for Indigenous landowners, various biodiversity conservation considerations, including fine-scale management requirements for conservation of fire-vulnerable taxa, remain contentious. For the entire savanna burning region, here we compare outcomes achieved at 'with-project' vs 'non-project' sites over the period 2000-19, with respect to explicit ecologically defined fire regime metrics, and assembled fire history and spatial mapping coverages. We find that there has been little significant fire regime change at non-project sites, whereas, at with-project sites under all land uses, from 2013 there has been significant reduction in late season wildfire, increase in prescribed early season mitigation burning and patchiness metrics, and seasonally variable changes in extent of unburnt (>2, >5 years) habitat. Despite these achievements, it is acknowledged that savanna burning projects do not provide a fire management panacea for a variety of key regional conservation, production, and cultural management issues. Rather, savanna burning projects can provide an effective operational funded framework to assist with delivering various landscape-scale management objectives. With these caveats in mind, significant potential exists for implementing incentivised fire management approaches in other fire-prone international savanna settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, 0909, Australia; Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, East Melbourne Vic, 3002, Australia
| | - Ricky Archer
- North Australian Land and Sea Management Alliance, PO Box 486 CDU NT 0815, Australia
| | - Phillip De Bruyn
- Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 65 Broome, WA, 6725, Australia
| | - Jay Evans
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, 0909, Australia; Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, East Melbourne Vic, 3002, Australia
| | - Ben Lewis
- Fire Stick & Associates, PO Box 18 Pine Creek NT 0847, Australia
| | - Tom Vigilante
- Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation, PMB 16 Kalumburu, WA, 6740, Australia
| | - Sandy Whyte
- APN (Aaak Puul Ngantam) Cape York, Level 1 18-20 Donaldson street, Cairns Qld, 4870, Australia
| | - Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, 0909, Australia; Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, East Melbourne Vic, 3002, Australia; North Australian Land and Sea Management Alliance, PO Box 486 CDU NT 0815, Australia
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Russell-Smith J, Yates C, Vernooij R, Eames T, van der Werf G, Ribeiro N, Edwards A, Beatty R, Lekoko O, Mafoko J, Monagle C, Johnston S. Opportunities and challenges for savanna burning emissions abatement in southern Africa. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 288:112414. [PMID: 33831642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Savanna fires occurring in sub-Saharan Africa account for over 60% of global fire extent, of which more than half occurs in the Southern Hemisphere contributing ~29% of global fire emissions. Building on experience in reducing savanna fire emissions in fire-prone north Australian savannas through implementation of an internationally accredited 'savanna burning' emissions abatement methodology, we explore opportunities and challenges associated with the application of a similar approach to incentivise emissions reduction in fire-prone southern African savannas. We first show that for a focal region covering seven contiguous countries, at least 80% of annual savanna large fire (>250 ha) extent and emissions occur under relatively severe late dry season (LDS) fire-weather conditions, predominantly in sparsely inhabited areas. We then assess the feasibility of adapting the Australian emissions abatement methodology through exploratory field studies at the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site in north-west Botswana, and the Niassa Special Reserve in northern Mozambique. Our assessment demonstrates that application of a savanna burning emissions abatement method focused on the undertaking of strategically located early dry season (EDS) burning to reduce LDS wildfire extent and resultant emissions meets key technical criteria, including: LDS fine fuels tend to be markedly greater than EDS fuels given seasonal leaf litter inputs; LDS fires tend to be significantly more severe and combust more fuels; methane and nitrous oxide emission factors are essentially equivalent in EDS and LDS periods under cured fuel conditions. In discussion we consider associated key implementation challenges and caveats that need to be addressed for progressing development of savanna burning methods that incentivise sustainable fire management, reduce emissions, and support community livelihoods in wildfire-dominated southern African savannas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Cameron Yates
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Roland Vernooij
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Eames
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Guido van der Werf
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natasha Ribeiro
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, P.O. Box 257, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Andrew Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robin Beatty
- International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia; 321 Fire, Praia Do Tofo, Inhambane, 1300, Mozambique
| | - Othusitse Lekoko
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB, 0022, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Jomo Mafoko
- Department of Forestry and Range Resources, Private Bag BO 199, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Catherine Monagle
- International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sam Johnston
- International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
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15
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McKemey MB, Ens EJ, Hunter JT, Ridges M, Costello O, Reid NCH. Co‐producing a fire and seasons calendar to support renewed Indigenous cultural fire management. AUSTRAL ECOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle B. McKemey
- Ecosystem Management School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales 2351Australia
| | - Emilie J. Ens
- Department of Environmental Sciences Macquarie University Sydney New South WalesAustralia
| | - John T. Hunter
- Ecosystem Management School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales 2351Australia
| | - Malcolm Ridges
- Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (NSW) University of New England Armidale New South WalesAustralia
| | - Oliver Costello
- Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation Rosebank New South Wales Australia
| | - Nick C. H. Reid
- Ecosystem Management School of Environmental and Rural Science University of New England Armidale New South Wales 2351Australia
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16
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Combining Indigenous Knowledge and Modern Education to Foster Sustainability Competencies: Towards a Set of Learning Design Principles. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12176823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
An important step in the endeavor towards a more socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable world is identifying and fostering sustainability competencies (SCs). There are major international initiatives that identify sustainability-related goals (the Sustainable Development Goals) and those that recognize the crucial role of education in achieving such goals (the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development). There are also academic studies that address education for sustainable development. Usually, such initiatives and studies take western worldviews for granted. This limits opportunities for other worldviews which could contribute to sustainability. It is unclear what indigenous knowledge and pedagogies, apart from the dominant western approaches, could help to enhance SCs. To address this gap, a qualitative study was conducted in Ethiopia, a country with more than seventeen centuries old indigenous education system and indigenous knowledge. To utilize alternative worldviews and pedagogies vis-à-vis fostering SCs and incorporating them in modern education systems, five learning design principles were proposed. These are: define worldviews, utilize indigenous knowledge, use sustainability-oriented pedagogies, engage learners, and build on students’ experiences. Theoretically, the study contributes to sustainability, education for sustainable development, and indigenous knowledge. The findings may serve as a starting point in designing education and training for broader sustainability approaches.
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