The CIFOR study finds that local communities in Papua, Indonesia, do not perceive climate change to be a primary driver of livelihood and landscape changes, and the research will be used to better understand how to integrate local priorities into land use plans.
11 July 2012: Recognizing the need to better understand local communities’ perceptions of climate change, researchers at the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) have explored the role of local knowledge in analyzing land-use change.
The researchers conducted interviews in six villages to gather information on changes taking place in their territories in Papua, Indonesia. While communities did not perceive much variation in temperatures and rainfall, they did notice the increased frequency of extreme events. Nevertheless, communities did not identify climate change as a key driver of livelihood or landscape change.
The unpublished study is part of a broader research goal to understand how to integrate local priorities into land use plans, and how local people can play a role in decision making. CIFOR is a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CIFOR). [CIFOR Press Release]