idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The Arctic is a central point of focus in terms of climate change: it is warming almost four times faster than the rest of the planet. The rich traditional knowledge of indigenous peoples, passed down through generations over thousands of years, can help us to recognise and understand these changes. At the same time, scientific methods can help to fill important data gaps regarding the increasing consequences of climate change. The 27th Arctic Dialoge on 14 April in Potsdam brings both perspectives together, because only by working together as equals can we find solutions to meet the challenges that climate change poses to us all.
For the indigenous peoples and residents of the Arctic, climate change is an ever-present threat that jeopardises their livelihood and their way of life. Their successful strategies and approaches to coping with these changes can also provide us with valuable insight. But what is happening in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic: the region plays a crucial role in regulating the global climate, and changes in the Arctic atmosphere and ocean – particularly the melting of sea ice – not only impact directly on global processes but also our weather. Conversely, what happens on our doorstep does not stay on our doorstep: lifestyle-related emissions and waste influence the entire processes in the Arctic ecosystem and drive climate change locally. In order to find ways to mitigate the impacts of climate change and support directly affected communities in adapting to irreversible changes, it is important to combine both perspectives; indigenous knowledge and modern science must work closely together to safeguard livelihoods.
“One often gets the impression that the Arctic is newly discovered territory shaped by narrow interests,” reflects Volker Rachold, Head of the German Arctic Office at the Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI). “However, indigenous peoples have inhabited the region for thousands of years. Their cultures have developed over long periods of time and have adapted to the natural conditions of the Arctic. Therefore, all activities in the Arctic must take the interests of the people living there into account and safeguard the rights and interests of indigenous communities.”
Since 2017, the German Arctic Office has organised the Arctic Dialoge every six months to improve the exchange of information between researchers, policy-makers and the Arctic population, and to bring stakeholders together within a safe space. Indeed, the German Federal Government also states in its guidelines on German Arctic policy that consistent consideration of the indigenous population and their knowledge in political decision-making and scientific research is essential to finding sustainable solutions in nature conservation.
The 27th Arctic Dialoge, taking place on 14 April in Potsdam, therefore raises the question as to how research and funding structures can be reconsidered to ensure social justice and respectful relationships. Representatives of indigenous communities, federal ministries and agencies, research institutes and foundations will meet in a confidential forum. “With our decolonial approach, we want to bring about structural change. We must move away from conducting research over the heads of indigenous peoples and instead work with them on an equal footing to develop new approaches and opportunities,” says Volker Rachold.
“Indigenous knowledge can point the way to holistic Arctic research if indigenous expertise and academic research can be combined to create added value for us all,” adds AWI Director Hajo Eicken, who will be taking part in the Arctic Dialoge. “For example, regarding long-term observations, we can combine in-depth insight from indigenous communities with the latest technology to develop valuable nuanced insight.”
A beacon project: SQUEEZE – Joining forces to protect the Arctic tundra
At the AWI, collaboration with indigenous communities in Arctic research is becoming increasingly important. The SQUEEZE joint project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, goes a step further by integrating indigenous knowledge into the research process. The project is dedicated to protecting the disappearing Arctic tundra. “It is the northernmost vegetation zone on Earth, just before the polar desert begins,” explains Lia Schulz, a research associate at the German Arctic Office. “And it is a hub for Arctic biodiversity. Its permafrost soils also store large quantities of organic carbon, which can be released as a greenhouse gas when they thaw.” For indigenous peoples and caribou, the tundra is an essential habitat – yet climate change is increasingly putting the region under pressure (or ‘squeezing’ it): as temperatures rise, an increasing number of plants and shrubs from the south are spreading into the area; plants that are not native to the region. The tree line is shifting slowly and steadily northwards. In the Arctic, sea ice is melting and permafrost is thawing, leaving Indigenous peoples with nowhere to go.
“We want to support Arctic communities in determining which areas of the tundra need to be protected as a priority, so that biodiversity, ecosystem services and permafrost can survive the peak of future warming,” explains Lia Schulz. “To this end, we are working closely with indigenous communities in north-western Canada, as they recognise and experience first-hand the complex changes their habitat is facing.” Last year, the AWI researcher engaged in dialoge with representatives of the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit in Canada’s Northwest Territories and Yukon, discussing their insights into land use and traditional ecosystem-based adaptation strategies. “Indigenous Artic experts and land users have a deeply rooted understanding of how to interact responsibly with nature, which has developed through empirical observations over thousands of years.” Two further field trips to Canada are planned for this year, one in summer and one in winter, to observe the seasonal changes in the tundra and hold discussions with a view to tracking changes in the ecosystem throughout the year. Planning is being carried out in close consultation with local partners, in line with their schedules and availability.
The combination of ‘classical’ modelling, monitoring and the traditional knowledge networks of indigenous peoples highlights where climate impact and cultural land-use practices are particularly at odds, and where there exists an urgent need for action, as these regions require immediate protective measures. The results from SQUEEZE are to be incorporated into the design of the interactive “TundraProtect” tool by the end of 2026: this will enable the systematic planning of a sustainable and viable network of tundra conservation areas in the Arctic. “With SQUEEZE, we aim to provide well-founded decision-making support and develop locally rooted conservation strategies in collaboration with local communities. This is urgently required: at present, around just 16 per cent of the tundra is legally protected – in spite of the fact that it is indispensable for the global climate, Arctic biodiversity and the indigenous communities that live in the tundra and depend on it.”
Dr Volker Rachold
+49 (0)331 5817 45801
Volker.rachold@arctic-office.de
Lia Schulz
+49 (0)331 5817 45802
Lialaureen.schulz@awi.de
https://www.awi.de/en/about-us/service/press/single-view/arktisdialog-in-potsdam... Press release
https://www.arctic-office.de/en/ Website Arctic office
Frost mound, Adventdalen, Svalbard. Permafrost confines groundwater, which is pushed on the surface ...
Source: Jaroslav Obu
Copyright: Alfred Wegener Institute / Jaroslav Obu
Chukchi with reindeer
Source: snowchange.org
Copyright: Alfred Wegener Institute / snowchange.org
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Environment / ecology, Oceanology / climate, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
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Frost mound, Adventdalen, Svalbard. Permafrost confines groundwater, which is pushed on the surface ...
Source: Jaroslav Obu
Copyright: Alfred Wegener Institute / Jaroslav Obu
Chukchi with reindeer
Source: snowchange.org
Copyright: Alfred Wegener Institute / snowchange.org
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