Paper Title :Climate Change Adaptation and Indigenous Knowledge in Practice: Case Study of Selected Communities in Kwara Central Senatorial District, Nigeria

Author :Ajadi Bolakale Saheed, Tunde Monisola Afolabi

Article Citation :Ajadi Bolakale Saheed ,Tunde Monisola Afolabi , (2019 ) " Climate Change Adaptation and Indigenous Knowledge in Practice: Case Study of Selected Communities in Kwara Central Senatorial District, Nigeria " , International Journal of Management and Applied Science (IJMAS) , pp. 1-8, Volume-5,Issue-11

Abstract : This paper examinesthe contributions of indigenous knowledge on climate change adaptation inNigeria with specific focus on communities in Central Senatorial District which also include Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State. Specifically, it identifiesand documents indigenous knowledge based practices used by the local communities in response to climate change,and makes clear the centrality of integrating indigenous knowledge and scientific climate change adaptation strategies foreffective adaptation of dilapidating climate change impacts. The fundamental contention of this paper is that, climate change impacts are not new phenomena to communities living communities in Ilorin, Nigeria. Through a focus group discussion (FGD) andparticipant observations technique, we confirmed changes in climate patterns noticeable frominconsistency onset of rainy season, changes on planting calendar, recurring long drought spells, andincreasing events of strong winds. Hence, based on these changes, local communities have generated acomplex body of knowledge regarding different changes to their natural environment which wereobtained via experience and passed on from one generation to the other. Despite the rich heritageof experiences, indigenous knowledge is often not sufficiently acknowledged, valued and integrated into formal adaptationstrategies. Under the pressure to apply blueprint approaches, indigenous knowledge is even under threat ofdisappearance due to the influence of modern religious influence as well as increasing vanishing of elderly population who are crucial custodians of thisknowledge. The paper, thereforerecommends the integration of scientific and modern knowledge system and existing government coping strategies with the indigenous adaptation approach for sustainable environmental management. Keywords - Indigenous Knowledge, Climate Change, Adaptation, Practices, Nigeria.

Type : Research paper

Published : Volume-5,Issue-11

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