Local Knowledge for Facilitating Adaptation to Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific: Policy Implications

摘要: Impacts of climate change are likely to be severe in the Asia-Pacific region but adaptive capacity is weak most countries and communities. As much adaptation site-specific has developed at individual community level, it crucial harness local knowledge designing strategies. Focus group interviews with diverse stakeholders including people policy makers over two years Bangladesh showed that indigenous strategies still remain reliable sustainable forms coping extreme events such as floods droughts. However, was rarely taken into consideration by very few institutional mechanisms exist mainstream traditional mechanisms. Several measures cope extremes various sectors (agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fisheries water resources) outlined here, guiding principles for integrating discussed. It concluded a shift paradigm from “top-down strategy” “bottom-up participatory approach” framework comprising both “scientific” “indigenous” adaptations well “planned” “autonomous” adaptations, vital facilitate future change. Tools global positioning systems, geographic information relational databases can used frameworks assessing spatial temporal impacts different options. A integrate outlined. Authors’ Email Addresses: ancha@iges.or.jp (Ancha Srinivasan) The views expressed this working paper those authors do not necessarily represent IGES. Working papers describe research progress published elicit comments further debate. 1 For comments, please contact Ancha Srinivasan, Principle Research Fellow, Climate Policy Project, IGES