Integrating indigenous environmental and scientific knowledge for ecosystem-based adaptation of Muro Practices on Lembata Island

Abstract

Previous studies argued that indigenous environmental knowledge was only part of local wisdom and tended to pay attention to the threat of its extinction. Indigenous environmental knowledge has not yet received recognition as an alternative perspective in dealing with the complexities of environmental management and climate change, along with the dominance of the western paradigm and current knowledge systems. This study aims to assemble the indigenous environmental knowledge systems of fisheries from communities along the coast of Lembata Island to assist in the conservation of marine ecosystems. Desk studies were used for information gathering, and the results were analyzed within the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) framework. Our results indicate that local communities in Lembata island have Muro as a temporary closure measure to manage coastal resources initiated by indigenous people that are valuable for the local people and simultaneously benefit the coastal ecosystem, including biodiversity. The results have implications for considering indigenous environmental knowledge to maintain the balance and continuity of coastal ecosystems and the main foundation in natural resource management.