Recommendations for incorporating traditional ecological knowledge into creative community conservation practices

Background/Question/Methods

Recent discussions about harmful and colonial histories of the fields of ecology and conservation has led many scientists and practitioners to seek ways to avoid “parachute science” and extractive relationships with communities living in the places they study. Practices like participatory research methods, collaboration with local scientists, hiring and training local students, and joint communication of research findings can allow scientists to include the communities from which their research benefits. In this talk, we present a collaborative creative project between community members from the Outer Islands of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia and graduate students at the University of California, Santa Cruz. We designed and implemented a participatory education and outreach project to produce a coloring book that communicates traditional ecological knowledge, biology and biodiversity, and themes of cultural significance to community members. We used informal information gathering meetings with elders and community leaders of the Outer Islands of Yap to collect data on topics of ecological and cultural importance and taboos around of many of the species that live in the coral reefs of the Outer Islands.

Results/Conclusions

This coloring book supports growing re-interest in young people for traditional ecological knowledge, connections to elders and the knowledge they hold, and the utility and wisdom in traditional management practices. To inform similar efforts, we will share lessons learned and ten recommendations for scientists looking to incorporate community expertise and traditional ecological knowledge in conservation education and outreach.