IPCCAIPCCA

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change

AssessmentAssessment

Bridging Ecosystems Based

Adaptation and Community

Based Adaptation through an

Indigenous, Biocultural

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

Indigenous, Biocultural

Methodology

Alejandro Argumedo

Coordinator IPCCA Secretariat

Asociacion ANDES

For BirdLife side event COP 10

The challenge of CCThe challenge of CC

Climate change is an emergent

global phenomenon with local

impacts on ecosystems and

people

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

Living in fragile ecosystems,

indigenous peoples are at

the frontlines of climate

change

The IPCCA is an indigenous biocultural response to the narrow mainstream approach to CC with thus far little inclusion of local processes –both for

The IPCCA as a Response

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

of local processes –both for understanding how they link to global processes in climate change and to build appropriate mitigation and adaptation strategies

���� IPCCA as a Response���� IPCCA as a Response• The IPCCA aims to contribute through:

– Providing a deeper understanding of local processes and how they relate to climate change

– Developing locally sound mitigation and adaptation responses, feeding into effective

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

adaptation responses, feeding into effective policies across scales

• It is entirely indigenous led and managed by a Steering Committee of indigenous leaders

• First local biocultural climate change evaluations began in 2009 – today there are 9 underway in a diversity of biocultural systems

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

Why a Biocultural Approach?Why a Biocultural Approach?

• Indigenous peoples view the world holistically

• Physical, biological, cultural and spiritual spheres of life are all interconnected and are understood as one system

• Territory is a fundamental

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

• Territory is a fundamental aspect

• The focus of such a worldview and engagement with the cosmos is on relationships and processes

A Quechua exampleA Quechua example

• Biocultural Systems

• Three Ayllus

• Adaptation is born

of analysis across

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

of analysis across

complex system – it

brings together

issues of rights with

ecosystems &

people

IPCCA MethodologyIPCCA Methodology

Developed through the

process of IPCCA Local

Assessments – still evolving

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

• Underlying principles:

Participatory,

emancipatory &

indigenous

• Gender balanced

• Phased approach

Base

Line

Evaluation

of

Conditions

and TrendsVisioning

and

Scenarios

Developing

Responses

Life Plans

Adaptation

Plans

Implementati

on of

Responses

via

Rights,

Territory,

Landscape,

Conservation

etc.

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

etc.

Phases of Assessment:

1.Developing a Base Line

2.Evaluating Conditions and Trends

3.Engaging in Visioning and Scenarios

4.Developing Life Plans or Adaptation Plans

5.Implementing Responses

Conclusions

• A locally developed biocultural

methodology leads to evidence based

adaptation strategies – specific to a

biocultural system

Indigenous Peoples’ Biocultural Climate Change AssessmentCreating Connections between Local Indigenous Biocultural Realities and Complex Global Systems

biocultural system

• Strategies are cost effective

• Incorporate both community and

ecosystem realms

• Responses can further and support rights in

the face of rapid and extreme changes