Considering diverse knowledge systems in forest landscape restoration

Abstract

Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) is a planned process that aims to regain socio-cultural and ecological integrity to enhance human well-being and ecological processes in deforested or degraded landscapes. FLR demonstrates the value of an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to assist the recovery of landscapes and inclusive of socio-ecological systems. The consideration of diverse knowledge systems in FLR embraces many aspects of knowing the landscape, including Traditional or Indigenous Knowledge and Western or International Knowledge systems. Knowledge systems represent much more than repositories of timeless information useful to today’s researchers, managers, and restorationists. These knowledge systems reflect relationships with ecological processes and landscapes that are intricately coupled human and natural systems, and, for indigenous peoples, that have evolved through intergenerational and community-based stewardship of natural resources. Effective and equitable strategies for integrating multiple knowledge systems in the context of FLR necessarily involve: (i) respectful engagement of the holders of complementary but sometimes conflicting knowledge systems; (ii) identification of legacy drivers of degradation so as to be able to mitigate threats while decolonizing current approaches to FLR that can hinder effective communication and can prevent cross-sectoral policy coordination and governance; (iii) integrating the broadly collaborative processes that often define landscape management approaches within other knowledge or management systems; and so (iv) creating processes that facilitate opening up of western, agency-driven models of governance to allow more collaborative and community-based approaches for real engagement on landscapes.

Citation

Lake, Frank K.; Giardina, Christian; Parrotta, John; Davidson-Hunt, Iain. 2019. Considering diverse knowledge systems in forest landscape restoration. In: Mountain Views Chronicles of the Consortium for Integrated Climate Research in Western Mountains (CIRMOUNT). 13(1): 25-27.