Protocols and Partnerships for Engaging Pacific Island Communities in the Collection and Use of Traditional Climate Knowledge

Growing interest in traditional knowledge (TK), particularly in relation to the prediction of weather or climate extremes, raises issues concerning the appropriate storage and management of the information collected. The Traditional Knowledge Database (TK Database) for the storage and use of TK associated with weather and climate prediction in the Pacific was designed with the following principles in mind: (1) preservation of the knowledge, maintaining cultural context wherever possible; (2) respect for intellectual property and cultural sensitivities around data sharing and use; (3) appropriate system design, accounting for ongoing costs of system maintenance and often intermittent Internet access; and (4) moving beyond data preservation to ensure continued use and growth of the TK. The TK Database was successfully deployed to four countries in the south Pacific and is regularly used by their national meteorological services, and partner organizations, both to preserve TK related to weather and climate and as a tool to assist in monitoring the TK indicators. As the first database of its kind, the TK Database fills a critical gap in the appropriate storage and application of TK and provides an important foundation for future developments.

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“…The processes, including governance, surrounding this are described more fully in Malsale et al . (in preparation).…”

Section: Why Create a Database?mentioning

confidence: 99%

A database for traditional knowledge of weather and climate in the Pacific

Chambers

Plotz

Dossis

et al. 2017

Meteorological Applications

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“…Globally, remote communities are facing increased exposure to extreme weather events, and this is expected to add additional pressure on those already exposed to significant climate-related hazards and risks, including small island developing states in the Pacific (Nurse et al 2014;Malsale et al 2018). By closely observing their local environment over many generations, local communities across the world have developed skills that increase their resilience to extreme weather and climate events, including tropical cyclones, floods and drought (Lefale 2010;Chand et al 2014;Masinde 2015;Handmer and Iveson 2017;.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditional knowledge, also known as indigenous knowledge, is used here to refer to knowledge held by both indigenous and nonindigenous peoples living on the land; this knowledge can evolve over time (Malsale et al 2018). Traditional weather and climate knowledge encompass a range of time scales, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To this end, data collected by Pacific NMSs and their in-country partners was used to identify what types of forecasts are used by communities and the communication media used to obtain them. This information was used to explore similarities and differences between multiple communities in four countries with differing cultural backgrounds, geographies and governance systems (Malsale et al 2018). Given the remoteness and strong cultural heritage of many communities, the emphasis was placed on the usage of traditional versus contemporary forecast systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Obtaining a better understanding on the usage and sources of weather and climate forecasts by Pacific Island communities was part of a wider project in the Pacific aiming to increase resilience to natural hazards (Chand et al 2014;Chambers et al 2017;Malsale et al 2018). This included the documentation of methods of traditional knowledge (TK) forecasting specifically related to weather and climate; determining how geographically widespread this knowledge was applied; if these forecasts had been impacted by environmental change (climate or land-use); development of ways to incorporate TK forecasts into routine NMS forecast products and producing improved climate communication products for local communities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Traditional or contemporary weather and climate forecasts: reaching Pacific communities

et al. 2019

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In most countries, weather and seasonal climate forecasts are available through national meteorological services (NMSs). However, uptake of NMS forecasts in remote Pacific communities can be limited, particularly those relating to expected impacts. To address this, NMSs need a clearer understanding of the types of information local communities currently use and how this information is received, to enable them to modify their products and their delivery to better meet community needs. Structured community interviews across four Pacific countries (Niue, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu) were undertaken by NMSs and their incountry partners. These interviews highlighted that remote communities mainly relied on weather and climate forecasts based on traditional knowledge (TK) alone or in combination with contemporary (NMS) forecasts. Many who had access to both forecasts systems indicated that they only sourced contemporary forecasts in the lead up to and during extreme events, particularly cyclones, to assist their decision-making. Recent extreme events in the Pacific have shown that self-reliant communities, with knowledge of traditional ways of forecasting, and responding to climate extremes, experience several benefits including reduced social-economic disruption and lower than expected death rates, particularly when combined with contemporary warnings. Therefore, there is a need to better understand the role of local traditional knowledge-based forecasts and for NMSs to work towards improving the content and communication of their forecasts to enable communities to take advantage of all available forecast information. For effective risk reduction, warnings and responses should therefore complement contemporary forecasts, rather than replace, TK-based forecasts.

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Sojourners in a New Land: Hope and Adaptive Traditions

Peterson

2019

Louisiana's Response to Extreme Weather

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The Louisiana State flag has a mother Pelican caring for and protecting the next generation. Like the pelican on the flag, the task in Louisiana is to provide care for and protection of generations yet to come. The task facing us now, however, is rejuvenating rural communities that are suffering from inadequate physical and social structures. This rejuvenation will benefit and heal the current communities as they prepare to become areas of hospitality for those who are and will become sojourners from Louisiana coastal and riverine areas. At the core of hospitality of receiving the stranger are the acts of welcoming, supplying food, storytelling, and relationship and community building (Buber 1970). Culture, which includes "art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions, and beliefs," is an overlooked element in rebuilding cities and rural areas, ravaged by disasters, war, and other forms of distress, according to a joint World Bank and UNESCO report (UNESCO 2018). This chapter explores the role of culture in the resettlement inland of coastal Louisianans.

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Protocols and Partnerships for Engaging Pacific Island Communities in the Collection and Use of Traditional Climate Knowledge

Cited by 25 publications

References 26 publications

A database for traditional knowledge of weather and climate in the Pacific

A database for traditional knowledge of weather and climate in the Pacific

Traditional or contemporary weather and climate forecasts: reaching Pacific communities

Sojourners in a New Land: Hope and Adaptive Traditions

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