Indigenous Traditions Fight Climate Change, Offer Ways to End Hunger

A third of global forests, crucial for curbing gas emissions, are primarily managed by indigenous peoples, families, smallholders and local communities, according to the United Nations. Moreover, indigenous foods are also particularly nutritious, climate-resilient and well-adapted to their environment, making them a good source of nutrients in climate challenged areas, reports the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

On August 9, the United Nations commemorated the International Day of the World's Indigenous People, in conjunction with the 10th Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous communities play a key role in the fight against global climate change and the need to create alternative means to grow.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), indigenous peoples bring certain gifts to environmental protection and food production: 1) Their Traditional Agricultural Practices Are Resilient to Climate Change  2) They Conserve and Restore Forests and Natural Resources 3)  Indigenous Foods Expand and Diversify Diets 4) Indigenous Foods are Resilient to Climate Change 5) Indigenous Territories hold 80 Per Cent of the World’s Biodiversity 6) Indigenous Peoples’ Lifestyles Are Locally Adapted and Respectful of Natural Resources

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