Knowledge and Practices of Indigenous Peoples in the Context of Resource Management in Relation to Climate Change in Southeast Asia

In this article, we document how four indigenous peoples in insular Southeast Asia (Indonesia and the Philippines) have reacted to external interventions and discuss to what extent climate change has been a factor in the adjustment of their way of life. All groups share a similar environment, that i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Sustainability 2020-10, Vol.12 (19), p.7983
Main Authors: Persoon, Gerard A., Minter, Tessa
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
Anthropogenic factors
Arable land
Case studies
Climate change
Cultural characteristics
Encroachment
Ethnography
Field study
Forest degradation
Human influences
Indigenous peoples
Knowledge
Logging
Native peoples
Rainforests
Resource management
Sustainability
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Summary:In this article, we document how four indigenous peoples in insular Southeast Asia (Indonesia and the Philippines) have reacted to external interventions and discuss to what extent climate change has been a factor in the adjustment of their way of life. All groups share a similar environment, that is tropical low land rainforest. However, their traditional modes of exploitation of this environment vary, which can be ascribed to specific geographical and cultural characteristics. In recent years, these indigenous peoples have faced encroachment of their lands through logging and mining activities and the arrival of migrants looking for arable lands. They have developed various ways to cope with the changing conditions, ranging from efforts to retreat into the remaining rainforest to increased resource extraction and losing a long-term interest in the sustainability of their home territory. The younger generation seems to take a different stand towards their future in relation to their natural environment and the way of life of their ancestors. Though there can be no doubt about climate change in the context of insular Southeast Asia, this change is difficult to differentiate from the cumulative environmental impacts brought about by other forms of anthropogenic change, notably forest degradation. Examples that will be discussed in this article are the Agta of Northeastern Luzon in the Philippines, and the Orang Rimba, the Mentawaians, and the Ngaju Dayak in Indonesia.
ISSN:2071-1050
2071-1050
DOI:10.3390/su12197983