Leveraging Indigenous Knowledge for Effective Nature-Based Solutions in the Arctic – The Arctic Institute
August 27, 2024
The Arctic stands at the forefront of our global climate crisis. Experiencing warming at more than twice the rate of the rest of the planet, the Arctic faces dramatic transformations as ancient ice melts, permafrost thaws, and ecosystems undergo upheaval. These changes lead to a cascade of challenges, from coastal erosion to shifting wildlife habitats, threatening both natural landscapes and the communities that depend on them. In response to these pressing challenges, integrating Indigenous knowledge into nature-based solutions (NbS) presents a promising approach to enhancing climate resilience.
NbS is a recently emerging term for actions to leverage the power of ecosystems to protect people, optimize infrastructure, and ensure a stable and biodiverse future. These natural (climate) solutions include conservation efforts, habitat restoration, water resource management, and green infrastructure initiatives.1) By harnessing natural ecosystems, NbS can provide up to 37 percent of the mitigation needed by 2030 to achieve the targets of the Paris Agreement and give several benefits for climate adaptation and biodiversity enhancement.2) Informed and well-structured NbS can reduce climate change impacts on local communities and counter biodiversity loss. However, effective NbS are complex and difficult to design, especially in fragile ecosystems. Therefore, Indigenous communities and their knowledges are crucial for finding effective solutions to preserve and protect the Arctic.
