The role of Traditional K nowledge, Agrobiodiversity and Biocultural Systems in Adaptation

1. The role of Traditional Knowledge, Agrobiodiversity and Biocultural Systems in Adaptation Krystyna Swiderska Senior Researcher International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) Krystyna.swiderska@iied.org IUCN WCC, Jeju, September 2012

2. Ecosystems & TK in Adaptation • Adaptation has tendedto focus on structural approaches, & agricultural intensification. • Leading CC economists have paid limited attention to ecosystems & TK (eg. “Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change” World Bank/IBRD, 2010) • Ecosystems or ES now feature in over half NAPA projects (2009). • But TK is largely marginalised at UNFCCC; and not always recognised in EbA community. • 350 million Indigenous People (farmers, pastoralists) sustain & adapt rich agrobiodiversity(eg. 1000s of varieties of major crops) in often in harshenvts which are most climate impacted. • This provides a vital gene pool for agricultural adaptation in future • Need to recognise the role of ecosystem stewards in enhancing the value/potential of ecosystems for adaptation

3. Types of TK for EbA in Agriculture • Knowledge about resilient species & varieties • Active plant breeding, conservation & seed selection for preferred/adaptive traits. • Traditional crops – the product of TK (conserved & improved through TK systems) • TK about wild crop relatives for breeding & domestication • Traditional farming practices/systems that conserve NRs & sustain ecosystem services (biodiversity, water, soil, nutrients) • TK for forecasting weather & extreme events • Farmers monitor changes in climate on the ground

4. Evidence from the field • Studies with communities in SW China, coastal Kenya and Bolivian Andes (2010). Methodology: • China: survey of 162 HH, 54 villages + 10 yrs PPB • Kenya: interviews/focus group discussions. 2 kaya forests, farms & fisheries, 2 counties. • Bolivia: participatory workshops & interviews. Cuchumuela community, highlands & valleys. • Areas where farmers & food security are severely impacted by changes in climate (eg. drought, pests, rising temperatures) • See “Adapting Agriculture with TK”, IIED, 2011

5. Findings: Diverse local crops are key for adaptation • In all 3 cases, maintenance of diverse varieties oflocal crops, has been the key to adaptation & crop production. • Diversity is used to reduce risk of crop loss • Local varieties/landraces are more genetically diverse & so can withstand stress better than modern varieties. • Evidence from China – spring drought 2010; genetic analysis in the lab. • Kenya, reverted to more resilient traditional crops, & grow different varieties together to reduce risk • Bolivia, adopted a less used but more resistant & flexible potato variety as main crop; use native plants for safe pest control in storage

6. Findings. Role of traditional crops & seed systems • Traditional crops are cheap and easily accessible because they come from farmer’s saved seed (unlike modern seeds/hybrids) • Seed exchange occurs between communities & over large distances & women play key role (eg. China). • Wide seed sharing will be critical for access to new seeds for climate change adaptation (eg. adaptation between altitudes in the Himalayas) • Traditional seed sharing needs to be revived eg. annual seed fairs & culture activities in SW China; biocultural /food sovereignty corridor in the Andes (Peru).

7. Need to protect BioculturalSystems as a whole • Field studies in 7 different case studies in India, China, Peru, Kenya, Panama (Protecting community rights over TK, 2005-2009) • Showed that TK and agrobiodiversity are dependent on: landscapes, customary laws, and cultural and spiritual values. • Cultural & spiritual values: are a key reason why communities sustain diverse traditional crops • Landscapes: provide the physical space for sharing; sustain wild relatives; cultural/spiritual values (eg. sacred mountains, forests) • Customary laws/local governance systems: key for resilience (sharing/reciprocity, equilibrium, duality). • EG. Kaya forests important adapted germplasm reserve but degrading due to CC and shift to government system – for resilience need to revert to customary system.

8. Ways Forward • Tackle rapid loss of TK & Agrobiodiversityloss eg. due to agriculture research, policy & IPRs (& multinational companies eg. in China) - esp. in remaining centres of diversity • Secure smallholders’rights to land, NRs, TK & seeds to protect local agrobiodiversity & adaptation processes • Combine Ecosystems + TK +science eg. Participatory Plant Breeding (PPB), to tackle growing extremes. • Support local initiatives eg. community seed banks, seed production, seed networks, markets for traditional crops. • Improve the evidence base! • IIED & partners’ new 5-year project: “Smallholder Innovation for Resilience : Strengthening Innovation Systems for food security in the face of climate change” – India, China, Peru, Kenya (funded by the EC) • Literature review; field studies to identify TK-based innovations for resilience; develop tools to strengthen farmer innovation systems.