Bridging Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge systems and practices for sustainable management of aquatic resources from East to West Africa

Abstract

Indigenous peoples are the custodians of some of the world's most biologically diverse territories. Aside from being responsible for much of the world's linguistic and cultural diversity, their traditional knowledge has been, and continues to be, an invaluable resource for all of humanity. Nonetheless, their norms, belief systems, languages, and ways of life are under threat, sometimes even extinction. For example, colonization and the introduction of non-Indigenous practices suppressed traditional knowledge and cultural heritage, which was a long-term and cumulative understanding of their ecosystems' dynamics. In this study, we review the cultural and spiritual practices that have shaped Indigenous resource use and techniques in the conservation and management of aquatic ecosystems in East and West Africa, identify challenges to Indigenous knowledge systems within the current Western scientific framework, and suggest best practices in research and management that combine Indigenous and non-Indigenous approaches. We recognize that, while mainstream approaches to ecosystem management have scientific backing, with assumptions that frequently exclude Indigenous perspectives, ethics, and values from traditional natural resource governance, community understanding and perspectives in catchment resource management are critical considerations that must be incorporated into mainstream approaches to ecosystem management. Our study concludes by emphasizing the critical need to pair traditional knowledge with scientific approaches for improved aquatic resource management and by providing recommendations to bridge Indigenous and non-Indigenous knowledge systems.