Bennett, T. M. B., N. G. Maynard, P. Cochran, R. Gough, K. Lynn, J. Maldonado, G. Voggesser, S. W... more Bennett, T. M. B., N. G. Maynard, P. Cochran, R. Gough, K. Lynn, J. Maldonado, G. Voggesser, S. Wotkyns, and K. Cozzetto, 2014: Ch. 12: Indigenous Peoples, Lands, and Resources. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 297- 317.
The risk of wildfire to communities throughout the United States is increasing; development in th... more The risk of wildfire to communities throughout the United States is increasing; development in the interface between wild lands and urban areas and the potential consequences of climate change are two factors that contribute to this growing threat. According to the National Association of State Foresters Communities at Risk Report FY2007, in recent years 4,762 communities have developed Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) to prioritize fuels reduction and strengthen emergency preparedness, public education, and community collaboration. However, across the nation there are more than 50,000 communities at risk from wildfire, and the majority of these communities still need to develop and engage in wildfire risk reduction activities. But, the development of CWPPs is just a first step. The long-term implementation of these efforts depends on clear strategies to sustain collaborative efforts, reduce hazardous fuels on public and private land, and engage citizens and CWPP stakehol...
The recognition of climate change issues facing tribal communities and indigenous peoples in the ... more The recognition of climate change issues facing tribal communities and indigenous peoples in the United States is growing, and understanding its impacts is rooted in indigenous ethical perspectives and systems of ecological knowledge. This foundation presents a context and guide for contemporary indigenous approaches to address climate change impacts that are comprehensive and holistic. Tribal communities and indigenous peoples across the United States are reenvisioning the role of science in the Anthropocene; working to strengthen government-to-government relationships in climate change initiatives; and leading climate change research, mitigation and adaptation plans through indigenous ingenuity. Unique adaptive capacities of tribal communities stem from their ethics and knowledge, and help frame and guide successful adaptation. As documented in the Special Issue of the
Change Journal on the impacts of climate change to
U.S. indigenous communities (Maldonado and others 2013),
these issues include the loss of traditional knowledge; impacts
to forests, ecosystems, traditional foods, and water; thawing
of Arctic sea ice and permafrost; and relocation of communities.
This collaboration, by more than 50 authors from tribal
communities, academia, government agencies, and NGOs,
demonstrates the increasing awareness, interest, and need to
understand the unique ways in which climate change will affect
tribal cultures, lands, and traditional ways of life. Climate
change is expected to affect animal and plant species that indigenous people depend on for their livelihoods, health and
cultural practices. The impacts of climate change on forests
and other ecosystems that are home to many of these species
require tribal engagement in climate change research, assessments, and adaptation efforts. This paper synthesizes key issues and case studies related to climate change impacts on tribally valued forest resources and tribal adaptive responses to climate change.
Sustainable management of natural resources requires informed decision making and post-decision a... more Sustainable management of natural resources requires informed decision making and post-decision assessments of the results of those decisions. Increasingly, both activities rely on analyses of spatial data in the f~r m s of maps and digital data layers. Fortunately, a variety of supporting maps and data layers rapidly are becoming available. Unfortunately, however, user-friendly tools to assist decision makers and analysts in the use and interpretation of these data generally are not available. Such tools would properly be in the form of decision support systems that incorporate basic geographic information system (GIS) functionality. A spatial decision support systern featuring basic GIs functionality was designed to illustrate how such systems may be used to support decision making and post-ciecision assessments. Thls utility is illustrated with four sustainable forest management examples. Decision making is the focus of three of the examples: ( I ) allocating funding for forest wildfire mitigation purposes, (2) identifying forested watersheds at risk of conversion to non-forest land uses, and (3) identifying lands in the Rczc:ky Mountains with potential for management for water yield. An assessment of the results of previous decisions is the focus of the example: f.4) evaluating the socio-economic effects of the allocation of wildfire mitigation funds. doi: 10.1300/509 1 v23n04-02 [Article copirs uvailirble for cc fee jhom 732P Hmvorth Docmwnt Delivery Service: I -800-HA WORTIi E-nail ciddress: docd deli re^? @Iznworthpress. corn> Website: < hrp:/hww. HnworthPress. corn>
Climate change related impacts, such as increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, higher te... more Climate change related impacts, such as increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, higher temperatures, extreme changes to ecosystem processes, forest conversion and habitat degradation are threatening tribal access to valued resources. Climate change is and will affect the quantity and quality of resources tribes depend upon to perpetuate their cultures and livelihoods. Climate impacts on forests are expected to directly affect culturally important fungi, plant and animal species, in turn affecting tribal sovereignty, culture, and economy. This article examines the climate impacts on forests and the resulting effects on tribal cultures and resources. To understand potential adaptive strategies to climate change, the article also explores traditional ecological knowledge and historical tribal adaptive approaches in resource management, and contemporary examples of research and tribal practices related to forestry, invasive species, traditional use of fire and tribal-federal coordination on resource management projects. The article concludes by summarizing tribal adaptive strategies to climate change and considerations for strengthening the federal-tribal relationship to address climate change impacts to forests and tribal valued resources.
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peop... more American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peoples have depended on a wide variety of native fungi, plant and animal species for food, medicine, ceremonies, community and economic health for countless generations. Climate change stands to impact the species and ecosystems that constitute Climatic Change
There is increasing recognition of the significance of how traditional knowledges (TKs) can infor... more There is increasing recognition of the significance of how traditional knowledges (TKs) can inform our understanding of the impacts of climate change and strategies for adaptation and mitigation. And yet there are potential risks to indigenous peoples in sharing TKs in federal and other non-indigenous climate change initiatives. We intend the term indigenous peoples to designate the diverse populations in the U.S. who could interact with federal and non-indigenous climate change initiatives in ways that involve TKs, whether in the U.S. they are federally-recognized, state-recognized, or unrecognized. We refer to “indigenous peoples” and “tribes” interchangeably in this document, unless we are talking about a specific group or a specific status related to recognition. These guidelines are intended to examine the significance of TKs in relation to climate change and the potential risks to indigenous peoples in the U.S. for sharing TKs in federal and other non-indigenous climate change initiatives. Although it is common to refer to "traditional knowledge(s)" as individual pieces of information, this term also refers to traditional “knowledge systems" that are deeply embedded in indigenous ways of life. These guidelines use the phrase "traditional knowledges" deliberately in plural form because knowledges are emergent from the symbiotic relationship of indigenous peoples and places - a nature-culture nexus. Tribes and indigenous peoples use “knowledges” to emphasize that there are diverse forms of traditional knowledge and knowledge systems that must be recognized as unique to each tribe and knowledge holder. These guidelines should be used to inform the development of specific protocols in direct and close consultation with indigenous peoples. [http://climatetkw.wordpress.com/] Federal agencies and national climate change initiatives are recognizing the significance of TKs, and are proposing and funding collaborative efforts between indigenous communities and federal and non-indigenous climate change entities in ways that involve TKs. This interaction requires an understanding of how individual tribes and knowledge holders choose to share or not to share TKs.
Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-XXX. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Xx p.
The scientific and policy literature on climate change increasingly recognizes the vulnerabilitie... more The scientific and policy literature on climate change increasingly recognizes the vulnerabilities of indigenous communities and their capacities for resilience. The role of gender in defining how indigenous peoples experience climate change in the United States is a research area that deserves more attention. Advancing climate change threatens the continuance of many indigenous cultural systems that are based on reciprocal relationships with local plants, animals, and ecosystems. These reciprocal relationships, and the responsibilities associated with them, are gendered in many indigenous communities. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians experience colonization based on intersecting layers of oppression in which race and gender are major determinants. The coupling of climate change with settler colonialism is the source of unique vulnerabilities. At the same time, gendered knowledge and gender-based activism and initiatives may foster climate change resilience. In this literature synthesis, we cross-reference international literature on gender and climate change, literature on indigenous peoples and climate change, and literature describing gender roles in Native America, in order to build an understanding of how gendered indigeneity may influence climate change vulnerability and resilience in indigenous communities in the United States.
This article explores the economic and cultural development potential of wildland fire management... more This article explores the economic and cultural development potential of wildland fire management for American Indian communities. Wildland fire management provides opportunities to engage in “conservation-based development”—helping communities to strengthen their connections with the land, improve ecosystem health, stimulate small-business development, and reduce their risk from fire. Indian communities—many of which are rural and dependent on natural resources for their cultural, spiritual, and economic livelihood—are an important example of the potential of wildland fire management for conservation-based development. To examine this potential we asked the question: What are the opportunities and issues for fire-management activities to augment tribal economies, providing jobs and small-business development opportunities while restoring the ecosystem and providing opportunities for cultural development? To answer the question we interviewed representatives of all federally recognized tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
Currently, biophysical risk factors figure prominently in federal resource allocation to communit... more Currently, biophysical risk factors figure prominently in federal resource allocation to communities threatened by wildfire. Yet, disaster research demonstrates that socioeconomic characteristics impact disaster risk and resilience. Consequently, this study evaluates whether federal wildfire program resources are reaching socially vulnerable populations. Biophysical and social vulnerability indicators were included in a series of regressions to identify predictors of participation in three wildfire mitigation programs in Arizona. Findings indicate that mitigation activities are closely correlated with biophysical risk to wildfire, but socially vulnerable communities are less likely to participate even when exposed to high wildfire risk. This finding suggests a need for a more strategic and equitable distribution of federal resources to mitigate wildfire risk.
Bennett, T. M. B., N. G. Maynard, P. Cochran, R. Gough, K. Lynn, J. Maldonado, G. Voggesser, S. W... more Bennett, T. M. B., N. G. Maynard, P. Cochran, R. Gough, K. Lynn, J. Maldonado, G. Voggesser, S. Wotkyns, and K. Cozzetto, 2014: Ch. 12: Indigenous Peoples, Lands, and Resources. Climate Change Impacts in the United States: The Third National Climate Assessment, J. M. Melillo, Terese (T.C.) Richmond, and G. W. Yohe, Eds., U.S. Global Change Research Program, 297- 317.
The risk of wildfire to communities throughout the United States is increasing; development in th... more The risk of wildfire to communities throughout the United States is increasing; development in the interface between wild lands and urban areas and the potential consequences of climate change are two factors that contribute to this growing threat. According to the National Association of State Foresters Communities at Risk Report FY2007, in recent years 4,762 communities have developed Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) to prioritize fuels reduction and strengthen emergency preparedness, public education, and community collaboration. However, across the nation there are more than 50,000 communities at risk from wildfire, and the majority of these communities still need to develop and engage in wildfire risk reduction activities. But, the development of CWPPs is just a first step. The long-term implementation of these efforts depends on clear strategies to sustain collaborative efforts, reduce hazardous fuels on public and private land, and engage citizens and CWPP stakehol...
The recognition of climate change issues facing tribal communities and indigenous peoples in the ... more The recognition of climate change issues facing tribal communities and indigenous peoples in the United States is growing, and understanding its impacts is rooted in indigenous ethical perspectives and systems of ecological knowledge. This foundation presents a context and guide for contemporary indigenous approaches to address climate change impacts that are comprehensive and holistic. Tribal communities and indigenous peoples across the United States are reenvisioning the role of science in the Anthropocene; working to strengthen government-to-government relationships in climate change initiatives; and leading climate change research, mitigation and adaptation plans through indigenous ingenuity. Unique adaptive capacities of tribal communities stem from their ethics and knowledge, and help frame and guide successful adaptation. As documented in the Special Issue of the
Change Journal on the impacts of climate change to
U.S. indigenous communities (Maldonado and others 2013),
these issues include the loss of traditional knowledge; impacts
to forests, ecosystems, traditional foods, and water; thawing
of Arctic sea ice and permafrost; and relocation of communities.
This collaboration, by more than 50 authors from tribal
communities, academia, government agencies, and NGOs,
demonstrates the increasing awareness, interest, and need to
understand the unique ways in which climate change will affect
tribal cultures, lands, and traditional ways of life. Climate
change is expected to affect animal and plant species that indigenous people depend on for their livelihoods, health and
cultural practices. The impacts of climate change on forests
and other ecosystems that are home to many of these species
require tribal engagement in climate change research, assessments, and adaptation efforts. This paper synthesizes key issues and case studies related to climate change impacts on tribally valued forest resources and tribal adaptive responses to climate change.
Sustainable management of natural resources requires informed decision making and post-decision a... more Sustainable management of natural resources requires informed decision making and post-decision assessments of the results of those decisions. Increasingly, both activities rely on analyses of spatial data in the f~r m s of maps and digital data layers. Fortunately, a variety of supporting maps and data layers rapidly are becoming available. Unfortunately, however, user-friendly tools to assist decision makers and analysts in the use and interpretation of these data generally are not available. Such tools would properly be in the form of decision support systems that incorporate basic geographic information system (GIS) functionality. A spatial decision support systern featuring basic GIs functionality was designed to illustrate how such systems may be used to support decision making and post-ciecision assessments. Thls utility is illustrated with four sustainable forest management examples. Decision making is the focus of three of the examples: ( I ) allocating funding for forest wildfire mitigation purposes, (2) identifying forested watersheds at risk of conversion to non-forest land uses, and (3) identifying lands in the Rczc:ky Mountains with potential for management for water yield. An assessment of the results of previous decisions is the focus of the example: f.4) evaluating the socio-economic effects of the allocation of wildfire mitigation funds. doi: 10.1300/509 1 v23n04-02 [Article copirs uvailirble for cc fee jhom 732P Hmvorth Docmwnt Delivery Service: I -800-HA WORTIi E-nail ciddress: docd deli re^? @Iznworthpress. corn> Website: < hrp:/hww. HnworthPress. corn>
Climate change related impacts, such as increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, higher te... more Climate change related impacts, such as increased frequency and intensity of wildfires, higher temperatures, extreme changes to ecosystem processes, forest conversion and habitat degradation are threatening tribal access to valued resources. Climate change is and will affect the quantity and quality of resources tribes depend upon to perpetuate their cultures and livelihoods. Climate impacts on forests are expected to directly affect culturally important fungi, plant and animal species, in turn affecting tribal sovereignty, culture, and economy. This article examines the climate impacts on forests and the resulting effects on tribal cultures and resources. To understand potential adaptive strategies to climate change, the article also explores traditional ecological knowledge and historical tribal adaptive approaches in resource management, and contemporary examples of research and tribal practices related to forestry, invasive species, traditional use of fire and tribal-federal coordination on resource management projects. The article concludes by summarizing tribal adaptive strategies to climate change and considerations for strengthening the federal-tribal relationship to address climate change impacts to forests and tribal valued resources.
American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peop... more American Indian and Alaska Native tribes are uniquely affected by climate change. Indigenous peoples have depended on a wide variety of native fungi, plant and animal species for food, medicine, ceremonies, community and economic health for countless generations. Climate change stands to impact the species and ecosystems that constitute Climatic Change
There is increasing recognition of the significance of how traditional knowledges (TKs) can infor... more There is increasing recognition of the significance of how traditional knowledges (TKs) can inform our understanding of the impacts of climate change and strategies for adaptation and mitigation. And yet there are potential risks to indigenous peoples in sharing TKs in federal and other non-indigenous climate change initiatives. We intend the term indigenous peoples to designate the diverse populations in the U.S. who could interact with federal and non-indigenous climate change initiatives in ways that involve TKs, whether in the U.S. they are federally-recognized, state-recognized, or unrecognized. We refer to “indigenous peoples” and “tribes” interchangeably in this document, unless we are talking about a specific group or a specific status related to recognition. These guidelines are intended to examine the significance of TKs in relation to climate change and the potential risks to indigenous peoples in the U.S. for sharing TKs in federal and other non-indigenous climate change initiatives. Although it is common to refer to "traditional knowledge(s)" as individual pieces of information, this term also refers to traditional “knowledge systems" that are deeply embedded in indigenous ways of life. These guidelines use the phrase "traditional knowledges" deliberately in plural form because knowledges are emergent from the symbiotic relationship of indigenous peoples and places - a nature-culture nexus. Tribes and indigenous peoples use “knowledges” to emphasize that there are diverse forms of traditional knowledge and knowledge systems that must be recognized as unique to each tribe and knowledge holder. These guidelines should be used to inform the development of specific protocols in direct and close consultation with indigenous peoples. [http://climatetkw.wordpress.com/] Federal agencies and national climate change initiatives are recognizing the significance of TKs, and are proposing and funding collaborative efforts between indigenous communities and federal and non-indigenous climate change entities in ways that involve TKs. This interaction requires an understanding of how individual tribes and knowledge holders choose to share or not to share TKs.
Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-XXX. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Xx p.
The scientific and policy literature on climate change increasingly recognizes the vulnerabilitie... more The scientific and policy literature on climate change increasingly recognizes the vulnerabilities of indigenous communities and their capacities for resilience. The role of gender in defining how indigenous peoples experience climate change in the United States is a research area that deserves more attention. Advancing climate change threatens the continuance of many indigenous cultural systems that are based on reciprocal relationships with local plants, animals, and ecosystems. These reciprocal relationships, and the responsibilities associated with them, are gendered in many indigenous communities. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians experience colonization based on intersecting layers of oppression in which race and gender are major determinants. The coupling of climate change with settler colonialism is the source of unique vulnerabilities. At the same time, gendered knowledge and gender-based activism and initiatives may foster climate change resilience. In this literature synthesis, we cross-reference international literature on gender and climate change, literature on indigenous peoples and climate change, and literature describing gender roles in Native America, in order to build an understanding of how gendered indigeneity may influence climate change vulnerability and resilience in indigenous communities in the United States.
This article explores the economic and cultural development potential of wildland fire management... more This article explores the economic and cultural development potential of wildland fire management for American Indian communities. Wildland fire management provides opportunities to engage in “conservation-based development”—helping communities to strengthen their connections with the land, improve ecosystem health, stimulate small-business development, and reduce their risk from fire. Indian communities—many of which are rural and dependent on natural resources for their cultural, spiritual, and economic livelihood—are an important example of the potential of wildland fire management for conservation-based development. To examine this potential we asked the question: What are the opportunities and issues for fire-management activities to augment tribal economies, providing jobs and small-business development opportunities while restoring the ecosystem and providing opportunities for cultural development? To answer the question we interviewed representatives of all federally recognized tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
Currently, biophysical risk factors figure prominently in federal resource allocation to communit... more Currently, biophysical risk factors figure prominently in federal resource allocation to communities threatened by wildfire. Yet, disaster research demonstrates that socioeconomic characteristics impact disaster risk and resilience. Consequently, this study evaluates whether federal wildfire program resources are reaching socially vulnerable populations. Biophysical and social vulnerability indicators were included in a series of regressions to identify predictors of participation in three wildfire mitigation programs in Arizona. Findings indicate that mitigation activities are closely correlated with biophysical risk to wildfire, but socially vulnerable communities are less likely to participate even when exposed to high wildfire risk. This finding suggests a need for a more strategic and equitable distribution of federal resources to mitigate wildfire risk.
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Papers by Kathy Lynn
Change Journal on the impacts of climate change to
U.S. indigenous communities (Maldonado and others 2013),
these issues include the loss of traditional knowledge; impacts
to forests, ecosystems, traditional foods, and water; thawing
of Arctic sea ice and permafrost; and relocation of communities.
This collaboration, by more than 50 authors from tribal
communities, academia, government agencies, and NGOs,
demonstrates the increasing awareness, interest, and need to
understand the unique ways in which climate change will affect
tribal cultures, lands, and traditional ways of life. Climate
change is expected to affect animal and plant species that indigenous people depend on for their livelihoods, health and
cultural practices. The impacts of climate change on forests
and other ecosystems that are home to many of these species
require tribal engagement in climate change research, assessments, and adaptation efforts. This paper synthesizes key issues and case studies related to climate change impacts on tribally valued forest resources and tribal adaptive responses to climate change.
Change Journal on the impacts of climate change to
U.S. indigenous communities (Maldonado and others 2013),
these issues include the loss of traditional knowledge; impacts
to forests, ecosystems, traditional foods, and water; thawing
of Arctic sea ice and permafrost; and relocation of communities.
This collaboration, by more than 50 authors from tribal
communities, academia, government agencies, and NGOs,
demonstrates the increasing awareness, interest, and need to
understand the unique ways in which climate change will affect
tribal cultures, lands, and traditional ways of life. Climate
change is expected to affect animal and plant species that indigenous people depend on for their livelihoods, health and
cultural practices. The impacts of climate change on forests
and other ecosystems that are home to many of these species
require tribal engagement in climate change research, assessments, and adaptation efforts. This paper synthesizes key issues and case studies related to climate change impacts on tribally valued forest resources and tribal adaptive responses to climate change.