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Published May 19, 2022

Indigenous Science with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Dr. Jessica Hernandez

Explore the integration of Indigenous knowledge in addressing climate change as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Dr. Jessica Hernandez delve into Indigenous land stewardship and science, revealing how traditional practices offer sustainable solutions and contrast Western approaches. They highlight the critical role of ancestral wisdom and the Land Back Movement in shaping holistic environmental policies.
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  • Mitigation

    Indigenous communities offer invaluable insights into climate change mitigation, emphasizing the importance of local knowledge. highlights how Indigenous wisdom can guide environmental policies, as seen in recent international reports acknowledging their role in addressing climate impacts 1. She stresses the need for Indigenous voices in climate discussions, noting that their exclusion often leads to preventable environmental catastrophes 2.

    Indigenous communities are mitigating those impacts by going against extractive energy resources, by going against agricultural corporations that are kind of introducing monoculture.

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    This approach contrasts with Western science's focus on adaptation, underscoring the need for a multi-pronged solution that includes Indigenous perspectives.

       

    Sustainability

    Sustainable practices rooted in Indigenous knowledge offer innovative solutions for global environmental challenges. describes how her Zapotec community sustainably harvests timber by cutting only mature tree parts, allowing forests to regenerate naturally 3. This method contrasts with Western approaches that often prioritize immediate profit over long-term sustainability 4.

    Western science still needs to, in a way, catch up to the indigenous knowledge that we have.

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    Additionally, Indigenous fire management techniques, like prescribed burning, are gaining recognition for their effectiveness in preventing wildfires, demonstrating the potential of these practices to be adopted more widely 5.

       

    Biodiversity

    Indigenous territories play a crucial role in preserving global biodiversity, housing a significant portion of the world's species. notes that Latin America alone contains 50% of the world's biodiversity, highlighting the importance of these lands in maintaining ecological balance 6. The conflict between Indigenous peoples and Western interests often threatens these biodiverse regions, as colonial and capitalist forces seek to exploit natural resources.

    The Amazon basin is most of that, isn't that right?

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    Recognizing and supporting Indigenous stewardship is vital for the continued protection of these critical ecosystems.

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