Blending Science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Blending Science with Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Frank K. Lake Environmental Science,

Graduate Ph.D program US Forest Service-

Redwood Sciences Lab Raised in NW California

Fisheries and Fire EcologyTraditional Ecological Knowledge

Photo: Willow Fuels Transects

Traditional Ecological KnowledgeTraditional Ecological Knowledge

“A cumulative body of knowledge, practice, and belief, evolving by adaptive processes and handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with one another and with the environment…is both cumulative and dynamic, building on experience and adapting to changes”

(Berkes 1999:8 in Sacred Ecology).

Cultural Environmental Management Practices Cultural Environmental Management Practices

“Practices employed by Indigenous peoples often mimicking natural disturbance processes in the management and utilization of natural resources”

– Lake (2003).

Also called: Indigenous land use practices, Native American land management, traditional resource management, etc.

Cultural Environmental Management PracticesCultural Environmental Management Practices

Mimic natural physical and biological disturbance processes

Fire (seasonality and location may differ)

Animals (extent and duration may differ)

Cultural Environmental Management PracticesCultural Environmental Management Practices

Buffer against extreme ranges of natural variability

Fosters biodiversity and productivity

Can be applied to research, management and restoration efforts today

Humans? Humans?

Lertzman, Spies, and Swanson 1997Lertzman, Spies, and Swanson 1997

Effective Communication: Differences and similarities between SEK and TEK

Effective Communication: Differences and similarities between SEK and TEK

Scientific Ecological Knowledge/Western ScienceScientific Ecological Knowledge/Western Science Traditional Ecological KnowledgeTraditional Ecological Knowledge

Conferences/Presentations Annual ceremonies and seasonal activities

Publications Acquired resources

Major Professors/Supervisors Mentors/Elders

Intellectual property Inherited or entrusted knowledge

Technology transfer Shared knowledge or resources

Policy and management mandates Socio-cultural responsibility

Professional directives/goals Individual vs. Community goals

Scale: Micro to Macro Scale: Individual, Family, Community

Predictive Power: Modeling Predictive Power: Past Trends

Technology Transfer and IntegrationTechnology Transfer and Integration

Choosing an appropriate scale Choosing an appropriate scale (Organism, Habitat, Ecosystem, Global)(Organism, Habitat, Ecosystem, Global)

Place based knowledge vs. Regional studiesPlace based knowledge vs. Regional studies Finding a common language Finding a common language Methodologies of acquiring knowledge about Methodologies of acquiring knowledge about

resourcesresources Responsibilities for the knowledge Responsibilities for the knowledge Method of evaluation: Criteria and IndicatorsMethod of evaluation: Criteria and Indicators Consequences of management practicesConsequences of management practices

Possible Examples of the Integration TEK and SEK

Possible Examples of the Integration TEK and SEK Fire Ecology-Prescribed Burning Projects Wildlife Management, Restoration, and

Monitoring Riparian/Aquatic Ecology, Management,

Restoration, and Monitoring Plant Community Ecology-Physical and

Biological Interactions Hydrology, Water Quantity and Quality

Indigenous/Cultural Fire RegimesIndigenous/Cultural Fire Regimes

Alternate seasons of burning for different kinds of settings.

Frequencies with which fire are set and reset over varying periods of time.

Corresponding intensities with which fuels can be burned

Indigenous/Cultural Fire RegimesIndigenous/Cultural Fire Regimes

Specific selection of sites fired and those that are not.

A range of natural and artificial controls that humans employ in limiting the spread of fire: time of day, winds, fuels, slope, relative humidity, and natural/human fire breaks

– Lewis 1982

Documented Reasons For Indian Documented Reasons For Indian Fire UseFire Use

[Williams (2000) modified from Lewis][Williams (2000) modified from Lewis]

Documented Reasons For Indian Documented Reasons For Indian Fire UseFire Use

[Williams (2000) modified from Lewis][Williams (2000) modified from Lewis]

HuntingHunting Crop ManagementCrop Management Insect CollectionInsect Collection Pest ManagementPest Management Range ManagementRange Management FireproofingFireproofing

Clearing Areas For Clearing Areas For TravelTravel

Tree Felling/Fuel Tree Felling/Fuel Wood Wood

Clearing Riparian Clearing Riparian AreasAreas

Basket Materials Basket Materials

National Fire Plan: Defensible Space, Fuels Reduction and Cultural Goods

National Fire Plan: Defensible Space, Fuels Reduction and Cultural Goods

TEK and Resource ManagementTEK and Resource Management

Wildlife Management, Restoration, and Wildlife Management, Restoration, and MonitoringMonitoring

Historical Distribution and Abundance of Wildlife Historical Distribution and Abundance of Wildlife SpeciesSpeciesUnderstanding Ecological Requirements of Understanding Ecological Requirements of Threatened and Endangered Species or Threatened and Endangered Species or Degraded EcosystemsDegraded EcosystemsImproved Monitoring EffectivenessImproved Monitoring EffectivenessSpecies Reintroduction ProgramsSpecies Reintroduction Programs

Restoration practices that account for multiple values Restoration practices that account for multiple values

FisheriesFisheries

TEK and Western Science

Fisheries: SalmonFisheries: Salmon

Traditional Fishing Practices

Scientific Monitoring Collaborative

Learning

TEK and TEK and Resource Resource ManagementManagement

TEK and TEK and Resource Resource ManagementManagement

Hydrology, Water Quantity and Quality

Landscape level use of fire influenced vegetation communities affecting interception, infiltration, evapo-transpiration, and soil moisture retention levels in watersheds. Prescribed fires influenced water yield affecting the timing and amount of surface runoff and spring fed flows to the channel networks.

Photo: Biswell 1989

TEK and Resource TEK and Resource ManagementManagementTEK and Resource TEK and Resource ManagementManagement

Plant Community Ecology-Physical and Biological Plant Community Ecology-Physical and Biological InteractionsInteractions

Historical or Reference Ecosystem Processes and Historical or Reference Ecosystem Processes and FunctionFunctionClimatic or Natural Variability Climatic or Natural Variability Management Needs to Restore or Maintain Threatened or Management Needs to Restore or Maintain Threatened or Endangered Plant Species or CommunitiesEndangered Plant Species or CommunitiesPlant, Soil, Wildlife/Insect InteractionsPlant, Soil, Wildlife/Insect InteractionsRestoration or Conservation of SpeciesRestoration or Conservation of SpeciesInvasive speciesInvasive species

What is missing and how do we return it What is missing and how do we return it back to being a functional part of the back to being a functional part of the

bigger systems again?bigger systems again?

What is missing and how do we return it What is missing and how do we return it back to being a functional part of the back to being a functional part of the

bigger systems again?bigger systems again?

Are there remnants of a once healthier more diverse and Are there remnants of a once healthier more diverse and productive ecosystem?productive ecosystem?

What is our reference? What is our reference?

What do we compare our present condition What do we compare our present condition to? to?

Is how it was… what we want now? Is how it was… what we want now? Do we value what it was like and the services it Do we value what it was like and the services it provided? provided?

Are there things that we want now that were not Are there things that we want now that were not desired in the past? desired in the past?

Dearhorn Mountain-Lower Trinity River 1954 and 1990 Photo CIBA

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

Agreement among senior scientist and tribal Agreement among senior scientist and tribal elderselders

Scale of ecological change affecting natural Scale of ecological change affecting natural resourcesresources

Scale of Indicators: biogeochemical to ecosystemScale of Indicators: biogeochemical to ecosystem Phenology: Temporal and spatial changes in Phenology: Temporal and spatial changes in

plants and animalsplants and animals

Questions? Questions?

How might TEK and/or an How might TEK and/or an Indigenous perspectives of Indigenous perspectives of land management or land management or restoration practices be of restoration practices be of value in your program or value in your program or projects?projects?What do you think are the What do you think are the advantages of incorporating advantages of incorporating TEK in to research or TEK in to research or management?management?