Bigotry against indigenous people means we're missing a trick on climate change

Traditional farming strategies could protect humanity against global warming and prevent deadly wildfires. Yet scientists seem determined to ignore them Prejudice against indigenous people is visible and ingrained in cultures everywhere, from US football team names (the Washington Redskins for example) to Hindu folk tales where the forest peoples arerakshasas, or demons. But it ’s arguable that these prejudices also influence our science and policy. Take, for example, the specialised method of rotational farming used by many indigenous farmers all over the world but particularly in the global south. Farmers use seasonal fires to clear and farm parcels of natural landscap es and rotate their crops while the previously farmed parcel is allowed to regain fertility and natural vegetation – a method known asswidden agriculture. This technique helps preserve the soil quality and creates variation that helps counter the dominance of a few species andpromotes biodiversity. Italso helps prevent larger wildfires of the type that ravaged California recently, leaving41 people dead and causing financiallosses worth $30bn ( £22.7bn). After decades of neglect, the US Forest Serviceis now embracing the Native American methods of fire management.Continue reading...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - Category: Science Authors: Tags: Working in development Indigenous peoples Natural resources and development Climate change Environment Global development World news Biodiversity Conservation Wildlife Agriculture Science Source Type: news