ID: 1595
Presenting Author: Chris Obioma Nwoko
Session: 532 - Simple, Evidence Based Communication Approaches for Successful Biodiversity Conservation and Management
Status: pending
The indigenous knowledge promotes community-driven biodiversity conservation for climate resilience. Biodiversity management rooted in ecological wisdom provides a multidimensional solution, cultural
Climate change poses threats to ecosystems and human livelihoods, particularly in regions where environmental degradation and biodiversity loss vulnerability intersect. This research explores the role of indigenous ecological knowledge in promoting community-driven biodiversity conservation for impact assessment and climate resilience. The study draws from participatory fieldwork, ethnographic observation and ecological assessment in selected indigenous communities from ten states in Southern Nigeria, to analyze how biodiversity is understood, utilized and conserved through traditional practices. Findings showed that indigenous ecological knowledge represents a dynamic, effective system of environmental governance capable of reinforcing ecological resilience. Communities that integrate biodiversity conservation into their livelihood systems display capacity to adapt to climatic shocks and mitigate environmental risks. It also reveals the role of social cohesion, collective decision-making and local governance institutions in sustaining these adaptive practices. However, the erosion of cultural identity and policy exclusion undermine indigenous knowledge systems, reducing their effectiveness in climate adaptation. The study recommends hybrid management model that bridges traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary conservation science and policy framework for effective impact assessment. The research underscores that biodiversity management rooted in indigenous ecological wisdom provides a multidimensional solution, cultural and socio-economic—to the climate crisis.
Chris Obioma Nwoko from Department of Sustainable Environmental Studies, Centre of Excellence in Procurement, Environmental and Social studies, Federal University of Technology, Owerri Nigeria. A prof
Coauthor 1: Martin C Iwuji