Local community perceptions of change and climate variability in tropical forests of Papua (Indonesia)

Local Community Percep2ons of Change and Climate Variability in Tropical Forests of Papua (Indonesia) ICE 2012, Montpellier, 21-‐25 May 2012 Manuel Boissière, Bruno Locatelli, Douglas Sheil, Michael Padmanaba , ErmayanD

Site descrip2on YOKE Mamberamo Papua Indonesia

Site descrip2on Some numbers: -‐  Mamberamo Raya YOKE Regency: 2,8 million hectare -‐  90% natural forest (swamp, montane, Mamberamo mangrove, lowland) -‐  Mamberamo-‐Foja Wildlife Reserve: +-‐ 2 Papua million hectares Indonesia -‐  PopulaDon: about 19,000 inhabitants, culDvators, hunter gatherers, sago collectors -‐  Threats: logging (>600,000 ha), coal mining project, dam project

Introduc2on •  Why quesDons on percepDon of CC maQer? •  What diﬀerences between scien2ﬁc and local knowledge about seasonality, climate variability and climate? •  Seasonality = normal variaDon in weather during an average year •  Climate variability = deviaDon from average •  Climate change = long-‐term trend in climate, from decades to millions of years.

Methods •  FGD part of a broader research •  4 groups of women, men of diﬀerent age per village •  Household surveys •  ClimaDc data: no local meteorological staDon, database WorldClimCL25 (mean climate based on interpolaDon of weather staDon data)

Seasonality Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Papasena Perception Climate data Kwerba Perception Climate data Blue = wet Burmeso Perception Orange = dry Climate data White = unclear Metaweja Perception Climate data Yoke Perception Climate data!

Climate variability •  Recorded inter-‐annual variability is relaDvely minor. •  Precipita2on/temperature: lower coefficient of inter-‐annual variaDon than 70%/95% of other places in the world with similar climate. •  Local people: three major events related to climate variability in the last 10 years: extreme heat, strong winds, and flash floods.

Future changes Climate Models Temperatures: Increasing Annual precipitaDons: ? Local Percep2on: No perceived change

How do people adapt to clima2c events? Village Event Coping strategyBurmeso Dry season Use spades to break hard soil, same techniques for cultivation Stay in the forest, in small settlements, seeking shade under trees Flood Temporarily relocate to higher ground Plant only short-term crops: reduce the risk of losing produceKwerba Long rain Temporarily relocate to higher ground. Gardens are moved, old flooded gardens still used afterwards. Roof tiles replaced with grass or Pandanus leaves Long Rain call rituals drought Easier to catch fish (clearer water) Moving Metaweja Floods Temporarily relocate far from the main rivers Gardens moved to higher ground PlanDng Annual crops harvested before next rainy season Streams change directions and locations of natural fishponds change Taboos to prevent floods: no gardens planted in sacred mountain Rituals and taboo Taboo against planting near the river: avoid crops swept away Other strategies Gnemo decreasing and replaced by fern leaves as wild vegetable DroughtPapasena Floods Gardens and hunting areas moved to higher ground1&2 Houses built on higher stilts Droughts Plant cassava, fast growing crops Hunt in areas not affected, near gardensYoke Dry season Go further looking for drinking water (not salty) Gardens are not moved Damaged houses repaired together with whole community!

Beyond climate: percep2on of other changes 160 140 1. Why are forests 2. How are forest areas 120 important? changing? 100 Responses 80 152 60 40 88 73 20 42 34 16 0 Food Ecosystem ConstrucDon Agriculture Shelter For future services generaDon 80 70 60 3. What causes forest Number of answers 50 cover change? 40 72 30 59 49 20 40 10 18 12 10 10 8 0 Clima2c events NOT perceived cause of forest cover change

Discussion & conclusion •  Meteorological data: general informaDon on climate variability. •  Local people: more detailed and locally relevant informaDon on changes. •  They react to changes that does not include “climate change” => respond to climate variability and to non clima2c events (economic, poliDcal) •  Local knowledge = complementary source of informa2on for analysing extreme events (ﬂoods and droughts), and consequences. •  Future research and adapta2on programs should use the similariDes between local and technical knowledge (engagement in common acDviDes) and the gaps as direcDon for further clariﬁcaDon.

Manuel Boissière (m.boissiere@cgiar.org)

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Local community perceptions of change and climate variability in tropical forests of Papua (Indonesia)

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Local community perceptions of change and climate variability in tropical forests of Papua (Indonesia) Presentation Transcript