Presented by Malaika Yanou (COLANDS PhD candidate (University of Amsterdam)) at CIFOR-ICRAF Science Week 2023, 8 May 2023

1. The evolution, resilience, and loss of local knowledge
and natural resource management practices in Kalomo
district, Zambia
Authors: Yanou M.P, Ros-Tonen M., Reed J., Nakwenda S., Sunderland T.
(University of Amsterdam & CIFOR-ICRAF)
8th May 2023
Science Week 2023

2. Background context: Integrated landscape approaches
“ (…) a governance strategy that
engages multiple stakeholders to
reconcile societal and environmental
objectives at the landscape scale to
identify trade-offs and potential
synergies for more sustainable and
equitable land management (…)”
(Reed et al. 2020)
Source: van Vianen et al. 2015,
based on Sayer et al. 2013
Whose
knowledge is
used?
Whose
knowledge is
marginalised?

3. The COLANDS initiative
 Ghana (University of Development
Studies and the Forestry
Commission);
 Zambia (Zambia CBNRM Forum,
Forestry Department, and Ministry
of Land and Natural Resources);
 Indonesia (the indigenous NGO
Riak Bumi and CIFOR researchers,
and the Executive Office of the
President of the Republic of
Indonesia)

4. Study area
© Malaika Yanou

5. Research design
How Tonga local knowledge and
practices contribute to natural
resource management?
- Combined photovoice and walking
interviews
- Focus Group Discussion
Research question Methods

6. Photovoice activity

7. Walking
interviews
Local knowledge dimension Local practice Stage of erosion Copying
mechanism
Conservation methods and
livelihood traditions
Tree planting Existing Knowledge
integration
Trees and plants used as
medicine
Not at risk Adaptation
Grass management Data deficient on the
practice
Adaptation
Cattle manure Existing Knowledge
integration
Water wells Existing Knowledge
integration
Seed species
conservation
Endangered/Extinct Knowledge
integration
Sacred landscape & Spiritual
values
Shrine’s cult (malende) Endangered Replaced by
Christianity rites
Beliefs and taboos Religious figures and
rites
Extinct Replaced by
Christianity rites
Climate indicators Local weather
observation
Data deficient on the
practice
N/A

8. Focus group
discussion
Share and discuss photos
taken by participants during
the walking photovoice
activities
&
Share and discuss past,
present and future
landscape and knowledge
© Malaika Yanou

9. Results
Combined photovoice and
walking interviews
Communities still use local knowledge to manage
natural resources
External knowledges’ shared for helping communities
are local practices that have been already existed for
decades, e.g., manure practice
Participants see external actors as having knowledge that can help
them facing current challenges because the "they know better."
At village and household level, NRM decision
are mainly taken by headman and males
Focus group
discussion
Communities recall local
knowledge was the main
knowledge to manage the
landscape in the past
Communities foresee less available
land and the disappearance of local
knowledge in the future

10. Discussion
Local communities are hybridizing knowledge systems, while challenging and
negotiating new environmental and social realities
The loss of local knowledge may be overlooked during the integration
and collaboration process
The importance of considering how local knowledge is integrated into landscape
management fits into the broader debate on decolonising knowledge

11. Conclusion
Better understand the role of locally-embedded knowledge and which local
practices contribute to sustainable natural resource management
More effective collaboration partnerships should be developed amongst
community, government, and NGOs in the area
Development of evidence-based policy that incorporates local knowledge and ensures
local voices are properly integrated within decision-making processes
ILA can only provide a fertile ground for developing more equitable, ethical, and
collaborative processes, if addressing issues of ethics and power imbalances.

12. Thanks for your attention!
E-mail: m.p.yanou@uva.nl
COLANDS website: https://www.cifor-icraf.org/colands/