Acknowledging Indigenous and Local Knowledge to Facilitate Collaboration in Landscape Approaches—Lessons from a Systematic Review

Portia Adade Williams,Likho Sikutshwa,Sheona Shackleton

doi:10.3390/land9090331

Portia Adade Williams, Likho Sikutshwa + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/land9090331

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Abstract

The need to recognize diverse actors, their knowledge and values is being widely promoted as critical for sustainability in contemporary land use, natural resource management and conservation initiatives. However, in much of the case study literature, the value of including indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) in the management and governance of landscapes tends to be overlooked and undervalued. Understanding ILK as comprising indigenous, local and traditional knowledge, this systematic review synthesizes how ILK has been viewed and incorporated into landscape-based studies; what processes, mechanisms and areas of focus have been used to integrate it; and the challenges and opportunities that arise in doing so. Queries from bibliographic databases (Web of Science, JSTOR, Scopus and Africa Wide) were employed. Findings from the review underscore that the literature and case studies that link landscapes and ILK are dominated by a focus on agricultural systems, followed by social-ecological systems, indigenous governance, natural resource management, biodiversity conservation and climate change studies, especially those related to early warning systems for disaster risk reduction. The growing importance of multi-stakeholder collaborations in local landscape research and the promotion of inclusive consultations have helped to bring ILK to the fore in the knowledge development process. This, in turn, has helped to support improved landscape management, governance and planning for more resilient landscapes. However, more research is needed to explore ways to more effectively link ILK and scientific knowledge in landscape studies, particularly in the co-management of these social-ecological systems. More studies that confirm the usefulness of ILK, recognize multiple landscape values and their interaction with structures and policies dealing with landscape management and conservation are necessary for enhanced sustainability.

Highlights

The global movement towards more pluralistic and integrative approaches to understanding and addressing the complex sustainability challenges facing humanity today acknowledges the need to value multiple knowledge systems, to facilitate collaboration and mutual learning between different actors, and for integration across social and ecological systems, as well as the sustainable development goals [1,2,3]
We considered an initial start date of 2002 because this was the date when the World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in Johannesburg, South Africa and the value of indigenous and local knowledge (ILK), as well as the historical relationship indigenous and local people have with their environment, was formally acknowledged and recognized as critical for sustainable natural resource management [7]
Our review shows a growing interest in research related to the integration of ILK in landscape approaches

Summary

Introduction

The global movement towards more pluralistic and integrative approaches to understanding and addressing the complex sustainability challenges facing humanity today acknowledges the need to value multiple knowledge systems, to facilitate collaboration and mutual learning between different actors, and for integration across social and ecological systems, as well as the sustainable development goals [1,2,3]. Land 2020, 9, 331 important concepts that are being widely promoted as critical for sustainability in contemporary land use, natural resource management, climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation initiatives. These concepts are indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) (see [4]) and landscape level approaches (see [5]). The latter recognize important social-ecological connections and interrelations and include, for example, integrated landscape management (ILM) and landscape stewardship. The importance of recognizing indigenous and local knowledge systems emerged in 1987 from the We consider how ILK is incorporated into case studies that take a landscape approach.

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