Driving Question:
How can we effectively engage with local culture, language, and service to foster learning and inspire change ?
Project Summary:
Luiza B. and Santi D. concluded their research project by highlighting the critical role of local and indigenous knowledge in tackling global environmental challenges. Through their extensive research, Luiza explored the knowledge of Amazonian indigenous groups, emphasizing their stewardship practices that protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity in the region. She underscored the threats these communities face from activities like mining and deforestation, which endanger their lands and ways of life. Luiza advocated for empowering these communities through their own knowledge systems to build resilience against environmental threats.
Meanwhile, Santi D. delved into the Philippines’ community-based disaster management system, showcasing how local communities effectively handle natural disasters. He highlighted the system’s success in involving communities in decision-making and utilizing local knowledge to develop resilient infrastructure and disaster response plans. Santi argued that this approach not only safeguards vulnerable groups but also allows communities to guide external support to meet their specific needs.
Both Luiza and Santi emphasized the need for participatory decision-making that respects and integrates local perspectives. They stressed the importance of empowering local communities to apply their generational knowledge in tackling modern environmental challenges. By listening to and protecting local knowledge, they argued, we can create more effective and sustainable solutions to global environmental issues.
In their presentation, Luiza and Santi challenged the prevailing approach of neocolonial decision-making and advocated for a paradigm shift towards empowering local communities. They concluded that by recognizing and respecting indigenous and traditional knowledge, we can pave the way for more resilient and sustainable futures worldwide. Their research underscores the transformative potential of centering local voices in environmental policy and action, highlighting the importance of collaboration and mutual respect in global efforts to protect the planet.