Traditional knowledge at IA and climate change times

Since COP 27, three UN agencies (FAO, UNESCO, and WMO) have established a partnership to place users at the center of the co-production of weather and climate services in agriculture. This initiative not only aligns with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture recognizing solutions that are context-specific, but it also contributes to the Early Warning for All initiative, which recommends the integration of scientific and technological advancement with local, traditional, indigenous, and generational knowledge. On this regard, AEMET and SMC have developed solid databases and observations methodology for phenology observations based on EU action COST 725.

Indigenous and Local knowledge  (ILK) is a diachronic database of know-how, skills and practices that are developed, sustained, and passed on from generation to generation within a community, often forming part of its cultural or spiritual identity. Thus, ILK is grounded on nature observation based on empirical evidence of stars, skies, birds, insects, and plants and transformed into decision making  at community level. ILK inclusion in societal science and climate change adaptation plans is a challenge for the UN, international and national agencies because the inclusion of citizen science into national policies and plans is often neglected. Weather and climate information and derived services lack contextual specificity and are not tailored to user’s needs, are not delivered on a timely manner, and/or communicated in a user-friendly way or are too technical.

Phenology is the study of cyclic and seasonal natural phenomena, especially in relation to climate and plant and animal life. National Meteorological Services (NMS) in Europe have long term practices recording data on crops and tree phases, birds and insect behavior and mapping changes across the territory and along the years. These observations are related both to climate variability and climate change at local level. Phenology databases, observation manuals and guides on operational practices are easy tools to blend with traditional knowledge. This enables the incorporation of local culture, languages and religious aspects into comprehensive documents, reports and plans in developing countries, preserving those traditions for future generations.  Data recorded is of great support for the co-creation of national adaptation plans and the development of climate services at local level.

Based on this experience, a respectful approach with ILK on climate change oriented projects for developing projects will include an update of phenology observations adapted to country ILK and enlarged databases to record climate change aspects based on plants, birds and insect behavior impacts that are highly significant for biodiversity, climate and societal studies.