GUEM MISSION 8 INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE : "The Community Should be trusted"Idigenous Knowledge

The objective was to read about case studies on environmental issues and how local communities are needed in ensuring that resources are protected. I went to Community Based Resource Management site and very carefully looked at their case studies. I was pretty specific at what I wanted to study. I know case studies are from 70 different countries,but I was particularly interested in Africa.

My knowledge of Africa is the various issues of conservation and de-forestation. A lot of natural resources being disrupted by civil war, and government, and international pressures. More commonly, the issue of poaching has been drawn to my attention as the demand for ivory is pretty big. I have learned this from various animal welfare organizations that work hard to derail this practice of poaching. More importantly, these organizations are working hard with indigenous people to help stop poachers. One organization, whose sole mission to stop poaching it The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust :http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/. This organization is known for their orphan project where they take in baby elephants or baby rhinos ,who have been left to fend for themselves, because their mothers have been poached for their tusks. They rehabilitate these babies and put them back into the wild. They work hard with these animals they also work with locals and have hired a anti-poaching force that goes around reserve to stop poaching. They remove traps and snares. The David Sheldrick Wildlife trust also employs locals from the area to work for them by watching these babies twenty-four hours a day. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is a small example of working with locals in helping to protect a valuable resource in Africa.

The need to use locals/indigenous people to maintain Africa's resource is very important. The case studied entitled ( based in Kenya) : "VIABLE INSTITUTIONAL INNOVATIONS WITH RESPECT TO COMMUNITY BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN DEVELOPING AND TRANSITIONAL ECONOMIES" : http://srdis.ciesin.org/cases/kenya-005.html, demonstrates strongly the need for indigenous/locals to manager local resources. Aside from the fact that locals/indigenous people depend on their resources for their daily lives and it could be be complimentary in terms of economic growth and stability. Sadly, this has been overlooked by the government and international companies. It was found by this case study that the biodiversity that is grown and used by these locals is very nutritious and can very well be grown and used. However, the danger in allowing this information to come to the forefront is the possibility of government and international company intrusion. The locals are left powerless in managing their lively hood.

The biodiversity managed by locals can benefit the economy of this country or countries as well as the locals as they are able to partake in their everyday tasks and rituals as well as grow and sell them. This would be effective if governments would not get directly involved. The government is needed to be a supportive foundation in making sure that only locals need to manage the biodiversity. Perhaps, incorporating laws and regulations that would give locals the power. The management of resources by locals brings a wealth of knowledge of how to replant and reproduce this biodiversity. Allowing them to manage their resources in their own conventional way will not only ensure economic growth and provide for a better living, but also create a sustainable economy.

While this solution is fairly simple in writing, it's not easy to act upon. The case study mentioned a change of attitude towards biodiversity,and more importantly, knowledge the locals have. After it was found this biodiversity was nutritious, there was a hope that people would realize the potential. The trust in that the indigenous/locals have the vital know how to plant and to know which plant is good for you is invaluable. Their knowledge is invaluable in every aspect of resource management. This was the most important fact about the case study. We need to get the government and people to understand they need of indigenous/local people.


I have recently done some research to find out if other community managing organizations exist and what they are doing nowadays to continue this objective. I have an organization called the The East African Wildlife Society. According to them: they have been working, and mapping certain areas in eastern Africa to encourage locals to get involved in managing resources: http://eawildlife.org/the-news/eawlsnews/180-mapping-community-cons.... They have started to map out communities where they are managing their own resources. This is very good news, and i hope this continues.