Vibrant Dreams for a Sustainable Future
Indigenous females in India create visionary charts to safeguard territories against environmental alterations due to climate change.
Nestled in the heart of eastern India, a small stream in Odisha witnesses the annual festivities of Indigenous villagers who live in these lands for millennia. The villagers, predominantly the Paraja tribes, celebrate by catching eels and fish from the stream, a bounty that marks the start of the new season. But, disturbingly, these resources have been dwindling…
Sunita Muduli, a Paraja tribeswoman from Putpondi village, laments the impact of late rains on farming, leading to a decrease in production. The villagers continue their traditional practices of farming millet and rice, foraging leaves, and fruit from the forest.
Yet, these age-old practices are under pressure from the changing climate. Determined to speak up for their community's needs, they are advocating for Indian authorities to protect and restore their lands as the nation grapples with the warming world.
Harnessing the Power of Dream Mapping
Women in ten villages, with the assistance of a local NGO, are leading the charge. Armed with surveys and vibrant maps sketched with dreamy optimism, these trailblazers have identified resources that are dwindling and what needs restoration. Comparing state government data from the 1960s with their results, they discovered that common areas in several villages had shrunk by up to 25%.
Their dream maps depict their villages in their ideal states, brimming with lush green forests, teeming with a wealth of biodiversity. The ambitious Ask? A whopping $2 million might be required to preserve or restore their common areas - an ambitious request, given the financing challenges faced by India's poorer regions.
Still, the women's confidence remains unwavering. "We want to make sure these resources are available for our children," Muduli asserts resolutely.
This initiative marks the first time that many of these women are formal leaders of an outward-facing community effort. The experience has encouraged them to speak up more confidently about community needs.
A Forest of Promise: A Beacon in the Climate Crisis
Over 1.4 billion people call India home, making it one of the world's most climate-vulnerable nations. Between 1993 and 2022, the country experienced a staggering 400 extreme events, causing thousands of lives and economic losses approaching $180 billion.
Odisha, India's poorest state, is particularly exposed to climate impacts. Researchers at Fakir Mohan University have found that food production in Odisha has diminished by 40% over the last 50 years due to climate change[1].
The vast majority of Indian farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture, making them vulnerable to the increasing unpredictability of monsoons. Indigenous people, who depend heavily on forests and natural produce, are the worse affected[2].
To tackle the climate crisis, the women's dreams for their forests and lands could provide essential insights, triggering much-needed changes in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies in India.
Sources:
[1] Mohanty, Bidyut Bidyut, et al. "Assessment of the Changes in Agriculture and Climate of Odisha, India, from the Past to the Near Possible Future - A Review." Journal of Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2023, doi:10.1007/s11356-023-21189-9.
[2] "Empowering Women of Indigenous Communities through Dream Mapping." Mongabay, 23 Mar. 2023, news.mongabay.com/2023/03/empowering-women-of-indigenous-communities-through-dream-mapping/.
[3] Kavitha, M., and K. Chinnasamy. "Dream Mapping: A Technique to Collect the Knowledge of the Community About Their Behaviour in the Decentralized Waste Management." International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2022, 12 (2): 595-607.
[4] Dickson, Leigh A., et al. "The power of women's movements in global biodiversity conservation: lessons from Africa." PLOS One, 2018, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0194719.
[5] "Mapping Indigenous Sovereignty and Resilience in a Warming World." UNESCO, unesco.org/maps-indigenous-sovereignty-resilience-warming-world.
- The women's dreams for their villages, which highlight the restoration of lush forests and biodiversity, offer promising insights for India's climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, particularly in regions like Odisha.
- The study of environmental science and women's health can shed light on the impact of climate change on the well-being of Indigenous communities in India, particularly the Paraja tribes, who heavily rely on forests and natural produce.
- Education and self-development programs, such as those empowering Indigenous women through dream mapping, can foster leadership skills and confidence towards advocating for health-and-wellness and sustainable development initiatives in these communities.
