Knowledge and Practices of Indigenous Peoples in the Context of Resource Management in Relation to Climate Change in Southeast Asia

Gerard A. Persoon and Tessa Minter
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Gerard A. Persoon: Institute Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands
Tessa Minter: Institute Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology, Faculty of Social Science, Leiden University, Wassenaarseweg 52, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 19, 1-23

Abstract: In this article, we document how four indigenous peoples in insular Southeast Asia (Indonesia and the Philippines) have reacted to external interventions and discuss to what extent climate change has been a factor in the adjustment of their way of life. All groups share a similar environment, that is tropical low land rainforest. However, their traditional modes of exploitation of this environment vary, which can be ascribed to specific geographical and cultural characteristics. In recent years, these indigenous peoples have faced encroachment of their lands through logging and mining activities and the arrival of migrants looking for arable lands. They have developed various ways to cope with the changing conditions, ranging from efforts to retreat into the remaining rainforest to increased resource extraction and losing a long-term interest in the sustainability of their home territory. The younger generation seems to take a different stand towards their future in relation to their natural environment and the way of life of their ancestors. Though there can be no doubt about climate change in the context of insular Southeast Asia, this change is difficult to differentiate from the cumulative environmental impacts brought about by other forms of anthropogenic change, notably forest degradation. Examples that will be discussed in this article are the Agta of Northeastern Luzon in the Philippines, and the Orang Rimba, the Mentawaians, and the Ngaju Dayak in Indonesia.

Keywords: indigenous peoples; Southeast Asia; aggravation of climate change impact; climatic change discourse; local and indigenous knowledge systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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