DiverseK - Integrating diverse knowledge systems for environmental policy

Worldwide, the loss of biodiversity through increased land conversion, regional climate changes and catastrophic wildfires are causing irreversible consequences for habitats and livelihoods.

This calls for a reassessment of environmental policies in many areas under protection, particularly where conservation plans lack the full knowledge base to solve existing conflicts between restoration targets, local livelihood/traditions, and ecological processes in the context of their long-term variability.

For example, the view that fires are detrimental (or even "unnatural") contrasts with paleonvironmental and local/Indigenous knowledge highlighting the ecological importance of disturbance regimes, and their role in sustaining biodiversity and livelihoods in many areas of the world.

With climate change and biodiversity loss at the forefront of international concerns, there is an urgent need to draw together more diverse knowledges from science and local stakeholders, that is mostly missing in current ecosystem management. Filling this knowledge-gap also involves critical reflection on the ethical implications of field-based research, and the relationship of scientists to the people in the places they research.

Inclusive and integrative research can support local communities and other stakeholders as they face the most pressing challenges for environmental policy in a future warmer world, in ways that are socially just.

We believe that the new evidence to tackle future sustainability challenges comes from the integration of ecological and socio/cultural disciplines (traditionally separated within academia), but also Indigenous knowledge, typically outside of conventional Western academic disciplines.

This working group is timely considering the ongoing loss of traditional knowledge as a result of historical processes of colonisation, resource extraction and state intervention, and the shortcomings of public systems for dealing with vulnerable communities as highlighted by the last pandemic.

Planned timeline

Our approach bridges specific disciplines of the Social (TEK, Anthropology) and Environmental Sciences (Long-term ecology, Dendroecology), and focuses on environmental policy issues related to Biodiversity Conservation, Fire Management and Climate Impacts on ecosystems.

Year 1: Methodological advancements for knowledge integration

Methodological and ethical basis for the integration of diverse knowledges, and development of guidelines for best practice for researchers working at the interface between paleoecology and local knowledge.

Year 2: Stakeholder engagement to tackle regional policy challenges

Integrative engagement with local communities, academics and protected areas commission members, through a process of inter-cultural exchange to inform environmental management, such as landscape conservation, environmental risk management, land rights and cultural heritage.

Year 3: Global case studies

Contested management of protected areas: analyses of emerging conflicts between conservation targets, socio-ecological and environmental needs to inform on alternative and more sustainable measures for conservation in specific areas.

Learn more and participate

We aim to create a multi-disciplinary framework that provides key scientific advice for policy recommendations on terrestrial ecosystems, in line with Future Earth's mission to foster international effort for a more sustainable planet.

We welcome people interested in environmental policies related to restoration, fire impacts, carbon stocks, forest management, biodiversity, and livelihoods.

To join our integrated activities, please contact diversek.2018@gmail.com

Find out more about the group's scientific goals.

Find out more about the group's members.

Sign up to the DiverseK mailing list.

Follow the group on Twitter: https://twitter.com/diverse_K

PAGES SSC liaison

Aster Gebrekirstos (World Agroforestry, Kenya)