Innovative Projects on Indigenous Peoples’ Adaptation to
Climate Change

Partnerships between indigenous communities and governments, UN agencies, scholars, artists and advocates to develop better linkages and understanding of the regional dimensions of land, natural resources, and climate change are a key objective for RIPP. With support from The Christensen Fund, RIPP supports projects that are innovative and inspirational, and linked to bio-culturalism and community empowerment.

The innovative projects will identify practical examples of adaptation to climate change to serve as evidence-based tools to enrich and inform the global debate. They provide an opportunity for indigenous communities in Asia to explore and create strategies that protect bio-cultural diversity – in full partnership with UNDP.

In partnership with indigenous peoples, UNDP RIPP is implementing eight projects in Bangladesh, China, Lao PDR, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Philippines and Thailand, selected from alarge number of proposals, through a competitive process. The following innovative projects will showcase best practices from Asia of how indigenous communities manage natural resources to maintain their bio-cultural diversity and adapt to climate change without losing their culture and identity:

1. Taungya, Bangladesh believes socio-economic activities must be initiated and carried out by the communities themselves, with their prior and informed consent, to bring progress and benefits. The project aims to identify a concrete coping strategy to combat the global climate change that is cost effective, ecofriendly,
reliable, and adaptable. It is linked to viable livelihoods that use and manage available natural resources in a sustainable manner.

2. The Center for Biodiversity and Indigenous Knowledge (CBIK), China project seeks to generate innovative ways of nurturing intercultural dialogue among people of varying cultures, languages, and knowledge systems in Southwest China. It aims to enhance understanding of multi-stakeholders on biodiversity resources, traditional livelihoods and indigenous knowledge systems and increase the livelihood diversity and security of local ethnic nationalities in the context of climate change.

3. The Naga Women’s Union, Manipur (NWUM), India believes that technological and economical growth has to be people-centred, and participation in the processes of development is the key to a more sustainable model. The project will raise awareness on environmental issues among the Naga community, and reinvigorate indigenous peoples’ survival systems by harnessing both modern and traditional methods in dealing with environmental issues.

4. Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), Indonesia believes in increasing the economic value of bamboo through innovative practices. A Torajan tradition that forbade the use of discarded ceremonial bamboos is being reviewed through a consultation process (Kombongan) to see how it can be a source of income for the indigenous communities, especially the women. The project aims to rehabilitate and conserve the bamboo forest in Toraya’s indigenous territory through communitybased management; establish bamboo briquette and souvenir
production as an alternative livelihood for the indigenous peoples, and strengthen women’s economic empowerment.

5. The Community Knowledge Support Association (CKSA), Lao PDR prioritizes access to secure and sustainable livelihood and cultural heritage as necessary tools for ecological and sustainable development. The goal of the project is to support the conservation of the ethnic and cultural diversity of upland communities in Borikhamxay province. The pilot will document traditional seed and plant reservation in the country’s poorest community and their response to climate change; identify good practices of ecological and sustainable development, and strengthen traditional knowledge systems of seed preservation.

6. The Association of Nepal Kirat Kulung Language and Cultural Development (ANKKLCD), Nepal works on socioeconomic development and linguistic and cultural development of the Kulung community, a forest dependent community. The pilot focuses on Allo, the Himalayan Giant Nettle (Girardinia Diversifoli) as a source of income, especially for the Kulung women; however it is being depleted through forest degradation. The main goal of the project is to contribute towards the survival of indigenous peoples by increasing the capacity of the indigenous people in Allo cultivation and production, and supporting marketing networks for economic empowerment.

7. The Montañosa Research and Development Center, Inc (MRDC), Philippines has 30 years of experience in development work with the marginalized indigenous communities in the Cordillera. The project aims to strengthen indigenous natural
resource management systems; increase household income through the development of sustainable resource-based enterprises such as honey production under the indigenous Lapat system; and provide a space for skills development in cooperative enterprises.

8. The International Alliance of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests Foundation (IAITPTF), Thailand believes that indigenous peoples’ livelihoods depend on the sustainable use of natural resources. The project aims to demonstrate the linkage between indigenous women, income generation projects and climate change adaptation and mitigation. It will support indigenous women traditional knowledge and skills preservation by building capacity in the innovative production, design and marketing of their products as well as preserving relevant
trees and plants required in the production process. The project will also strengthen networking and strategic partnerships of indigenous women.