Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change in Latin America and the Caribbean

by Kronik, Jakob; Verner, Dorte

• ISBN13: 9780821382370
• ISBN10: 0821382373
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-06-25
• Publisher: World Bank Publications

Summary

This book addresses the social implications of climate change and climatic variability on indigenous peoples and communities living in the highlands, lowlands, and coastal areas of Latin America and the Caribbean. Across the region, indigenous people already perceive and experience negative effects of climate change and variability. Many indigenous communities find it difficult to adapt in a culturally sustainable manner. In fact, indigenous peoples often blame themselves for the changes they observe in nature, despite their limited emission of green house gasses. Not only is the viability of their livelihoods threatened, resulting in food insecurity and poor health, but also their cultural integrity is being challenged, eroding the confidence in solutions provided by traditional institutions and authorities.The book is based on field research among indigenous communities in three major eco-geographical regions: the Amazon; the Andes and Sub-Andes; and the Caribbean and Mesoamerica. It finds major inter-regional differences in the impacts observed between areas prone to rapid- and slow-onset natural hazards. In Mesoamerican and the Caribbean, increasingly severe storms and hurricanes damage infrastructure and property, and even cause loss of land, reducing access to livelihood resources. In the Columbian Amazon, changes in precipitation and seasonality have direct immediate effects on livelihoods and health, as crops often fail and the reproduction of fish stock is threatened by changes in the river ebb and flow. In the Andean region, water scarcity for crops and livestock, erosion of ecosystems and changes in biodiversity threatens food security, both within indigenous villages and among populations who depend on indigenous agriculture, causing widespread migration to already crowded urban areas.The study aims to increase understanding on the complexity of how indigenous communities are impacted by climate change and the options for improving their resilience and adaptability to these phenomena. The goal is to improve indigenous peoples' rights and opportunities in climate change adaptation, and guide efforts to design effective and sustainable adaptation initiatives.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xiii
Abbreviations	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Indigenous Peoples of LAC	p. 2
Climate Change and Climatic Variability in LAC	p. 4
Determinants of Vulnerability	p. 8
Approach and Outline of Study	p. 11
Notes	p. 12
References	p. 13
Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon	p. 15
Threats and Perceptions of Climate Change	p. 17
Effects of Climate Change on Indigenous Peoples' Livelihoods	p. 25
Transforming Structures and Processes	p. 32
Institutional Framework	p. 35
Adaptation and Survival Strategies	p. 37
Summary	p. 39
Notes	p. 40
References	p. 41
Indigenous Peoples of the Andes	p. 45
Threats from Climate Change	p. 46
Andean Region-Bolivia's Northern Altiplano	p. 50
Sub-Andean Region-Bolivia's Northern Yungas	p. 58
Summary	p. 65
Notes	p. 66
References	p. 68
Indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean and Central America	p. 71
Abrupt Effects of Extreme Events	p. 72
Effects of Slow-Onset Climate Change Processes	p. 85
Indirect Social Impacts from Climate Change	p. 92
Summary	p. 92
Notes	p. 93
References	p. 94
Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change Across the Region	p. 97
Threats	p. 100
Impacts	p. 102
Potential Effects	p. 106
Adaptation	p. 107
Indigenous Peoples, Mitigation of Climate Change, and Protection of Biodiversity	p. 110
Notes	p. 116
References	p. 117
Conclusions and Recommendations	p. 123
Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean	p. 124
Culture, Livelihood, Institutions, and Knowledge	p. 125
Impact of Climate Change on Indigenous Peoples	p. 127
Climate-Change Adaptation in an Indigenous Context	p. 129
Climate-Change Mitigation in an Indigenous Context	p. 130
Operational Recommendations	p. 131
Needs for Further Research	p. 133
Notes	p. 134
References	p. 135
Climate Change and Climatic Variability in Latin America and the Caribbean	p. 137
Images of Present Change	p. 138
Images of the Future	p. 144
Aspects of Observed Climate	p. 146
Global Climate Change Issues	p. 150
Projections of Regional Climate Change	p. 153
Further Research	p. 164
Notes	p. 165
References	p. 166
Field Work Methodology	p. 171
Notes	p. 173
Reference	p. 173
Index	p. 175
Boxes
Projected Climate Change and Climatic Variability in LAC	p. 6
The Annual Ecological Calendar (as It Should Be)	p. 20
The Effects of Seasonal Change on the Giant Turtle, an Endangered Species	p. 26
Glacial Retreat Gravely Affects Highland Herders	p. 48
Quechua-S peaking Populations and Water Resources in the Cordillera	p. 53
Competition and Conflict over Water Resources	p. 58
Some Testimonies	p. 63
Indigenous Peoples in Mexico and Nicaragua	p. 73
Edited Testimony of April 2008 by Oswaldo Morales, Garifuna, Member of the National Commission for Territorial Demarcation of Indigenous Land, Laguna de Perlas, Nicaragua	p. 81
Indigenous Peoples and Migration Related to Climate Change	p. 127
Climate Definitions	p. 140
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