Local Ecological Knowledge in Community-Based Management as Smart Management Options for Coastal Fisheries: A Review of the Sri Lanka Context

A high rate of vegetation clearing around the upper stream of Kali Bekasi watershed currently causes various environmental problems, such as floods. The impacts occur predominantly in downstream area, mostly affecting cities, due to a disruption of the ecosystem in the upper stream. The main function of the upper stream to humans is acting as a buffer to protect downstream areas from flooding, run-off, as well as biodiversity protection. To achieve this, many varieties of plant are grown including bamboo plantations, which serve as a buffer plants on critical land especially with steep contours. In this study we aim to provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of different bamboo stands buffering to improve information for making management recommendation. We examine different points along the stream by mapping bamboo distribution, analyzing bamboo and non-bamboo (tree) stands diversity and biomass, and provide recommendations for bamboo management based on combining our findings with local ecological knowledge. We implemented image classification analysis for classifying bamboo and non-bamboo land use cover. We also measured bamboo and non-bamboo diversity by using Shannon’s-Wienner diversity index. Our results showed that bamboo occupies approximately 5,360.89 ha or 11.39% of total area with six bamboo species. The highest bamboo diversity index was in the upper part of the Kali Bekasi watershed (0.62). In contrary, the highest bamboo biomass index was found in the lower part of the upper stream of Kali Bekasi watershed (98.96 ton ha-1). We also discovered about 29 species of tree (230 trees) and 27 above-ground plant species in the surveyed area. As a result of our findings, we propose a shift towards bamboo agroforestry management in a mixed garden of talun form, where the community implement their local knowledge on bamboo cultivation and management to maintain the bamboo. This option could improve cooperation among farmers and the local community in order to conserve bamboo and tree species diversity in harmony to local wisdom.

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Trends and key elements in community-based monitoring: a systematic review of the literature with an emphasis on Arctic and Subarctic regions

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/er-2015-0041 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 151-163 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Diana Kouril ◽

Chris Furgal ◽

Tom Whillans

Keyword(s):

First Nations ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Grey Literature ◽

The Arctic ◽

Future Research ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Community Based ◽

Indigenous Groups ◽

Northern Regions

Community-based monitoring (CBM) is receiving much attention from the research community, particularly in Arctic and Subarctic regions of Canada and other circumpolar regions. Currently, there is a lack of understanding of the trends and patterns in its use within the literature and a documented need to improve environmental CBM efforts in the Arctic and Subarctic regions. A systematic literature review was conducted of CBM publications in peer-reviewed and grey literature to provide a synthesis of trends on the topic and to clarify key elements that are needed to operate an environmental CBM program in Arctic and Subarctic regions. Both sets of literature show a significant growth in the publication of CBM studies over time, with a high proportion of research taking place in North America and in the field of environmental sciences. More CBM studies are reported in connection to First Nations and Inuit groups, as compared to other Indigenous groups. Thirteen key elements of environmental CBM programs, commonly reported in the literature focused on Arctic and Subarctic regions, were identified in the analysis. Specifically, traditional and local ecological knowledge (TLEK) was a unique component highlighted in Arctic and Subarctic sources and a specific feature observed in studies focusing on Indigenous groups. The identification of such key CBM elements serves as a resource to guide current and future environmental CBM initiatives in northern regions and elsewhere. Future research on this topic should contrast and compare literature findings with existing environmental CBM programs and provide more case studies to show the process and utility of environmental CBM initiatives in the Arctic and Subarctic, particularly with use of TLEK and the ways to facilitate it within a CBM program.

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Using local ecological knowledge to identify shark river habitats in Fiji (South Pacific)

Environmental Conservation ◽

10.1017/s0376892910000317 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 37 (1) ◽

pp. 90-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

ERONI RASALATO ◽

VICTOR MAGINNITY ◽

JUERG M. BRUNNSCHWEILER

Keyword(s):

Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Local People ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Coastal Resource Management ◽

Community Based ◽

Unknown Species ◽

Coastal Resource ◽

River Mouths ◽

Shed Light

SUMMARYLocal ecological knowledge (LEK) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) have the potential to improve community-based coastal resource management (CBCRM) by providing information about the presence, behaviour and ecology of species. This paper explores the potential of LEK and TEK to identify shark river habitats in Fiji, learn how locals regard and use sharks, and capture ancestral legends and myths that shed light on relationships between these animals and local people. Interviews with representatives from 22 villages, communities and fishing settlements associated with seven riverine areas on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu confirmed the presence of sharks in estuaries and rivers on Fiji. Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) and larger sharks were reported being close to the river mouths, whereas an unknown species of small size with a rounded snout was reported up to >30 km upriver. Local people consume shark meat as a source of protein, but sharks also have a rich background in ancestral stories and play an important part in Fijian myths and legends, resulting in the support of conservation measures by local villagers.

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Integration of Local Ecological Knowledge and Conventional Science: a Study of Seven Community-Based Forestry Organizations in the USA

Ecology and Society ◽

10.5751/es-02594-130237 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Heidi L. Ballard ◽

Maria E. Fernandez-Gimenez ◽

Victoria E. Sturtevant

Keyword(s):

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Community Based ◽

The Usa

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Modal Sosial Kognitif dalam Pengelolaan Parak dan Rimbo di Sumatera Barat

Jurnal Psikologi Islam dan Budaya ◽

10.15575/jpib.v3i2.8642 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 101-122

Author(s):

Ferdinal Asmin

Keyword(s):

Social Capital ◽

Local Ecological Knowledge ◽

Well Being ◽

Ecological Knowledge ◽

Case Study Method ◽

Community Based ◽

Cognitive Social Capital ◽

Document Review ◽

Beliefs And Attitudes

The cognitive elements of social capital need to be elaborated to understand the community-based forest management, such as the practice of parak and rimbo in the Koto Malintang and Simancuang communities. This study aims to identify and describe these cognitive elements. The research method used was case study method with constructivism paradigm. The data was collected using interview, observation, and document review techniques. Cognitive social capital can be developed through local ecological knowledge that has become part of Minangkabau customs and culture. The results showed that cognitive elements in the form of norms, values, beliefs and attitudes can describe how the community plans, utilizes, and controls the forest resource management. The identification of these cognitive elements shows that people pay attention to the principles of sustainability, justice, ability, security, profit, opportunity, and well-being.

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