20 Does the Use of Local Knowledge in Complex Systems …
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better system understanding (Berkes et al. 2000; Vedwan 2006; Byg and Salick
2009; Vignola et al. 2009; Raymond et al. 2010; Alexander et al. 2011), tailoring
measures, and interventions to the needs of the communities involved (Agrawal 2010;
Lebel 2013), increasing ownership of implementation (Adger 2003, Chapagain et al.
2009) and strengthening sustainability, e.g., through reinforcement of local institutions (Agrawal 2010). The improvement of system understanding through integration
of local knowledge might be particularly important in Africa, where data is limited
and vulnerability is great, notably in natural resource-based societies (Thomas et al.
2005; Armitage 2005; Lebel 2013) where the stake of local communities is high.
This chapter describes how this premise has been tested in the Niger Basin to determine if the inclusion of local knowledge in adaptive water management promotes
community empowerment and reduced vulnerability. Included is an overview of the
latest research and thinking in adaptive management of vulnerable complex systems,
emphasizing adaptation to climate change. The study seeks to determine how water
management and governance in the Niger Basin (1) uses local knowledge and local
participation; (2) uses local knowledge in a nexus approach to reduce vulnerability,
and, if so, for whom, and (3) how institutional (and other) challenges are identified and addressed in inclusive nexus governance. Based on analysis of Niger Basin
governance at different scales, the link between vulnerability and local knowledge
integration in adaptive water management will be examined, and findings will provide
elements to improve water management as a climate adaptation tool where there is
great vulnerability to climate change.
2 Complex Adaptive Systems and Climate Change
A system, at its most basic, is “any group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent [elements] that form a complex and unified whole that has a specific purpose”
(Kim 1999:4). All elements of a system must be present in order for its purpose to
be optimized. Indeed, if elements can be removed without it affecting system performance, it can be concluded that the elements did not comprise a “system,” but were
rather a collection of different parts (Kim 1999; Meadows 2008).
Similarly, the arrangement and ordering of different elements within a system also
affect system performance; if the elements can be combined or ordered randomly with
no effect on performance, then it also cannot be considered a “system” (Kim 1999).
A key feature of system behavior is the tendency to maintain stability through feedback mechanisms, which creates a virtuous cycle of information within the system
that improves performance for its systemic purpose, and enables action to correct
suboptimal performance.
While systems can be delineated by boundaries, they are permeable and intersecting or overlapping with the boundaries of other systems, increasingly so in the
contemporary globalized world (Midgley 2004, 2008; Brincat 2017).
461
better system understanding (Berkes et al. 2000; Vedwan 2006; Byg and Salick
2009; Vignola et al. 2009; Raymond et al. 2010; Alexander et al. 2011), tailoring
measures, and interventions to the needs of the communities involved (Agrawal 2010;
Lebel 2013), increasing ownership of implementation (Adger 2003, Chapagain et al.
2009) and strengthening sustainability, e.g., through reinforcement of local institutions (Agrawal 2010). The improvement of system understanding through integration
of local knowledge might be particularly important in Africa, where data is limited
and vulnerability is great, notably in natural resource-based societies (Thomas et al.
2005; Armitage 2005; Lebel 2013) where the stake of local communities is high.
This chapter describes how this premise has been tested in the Niger Basin to determine if the inclusion of local knowledge in adaptive water management promotes
community empowerment and reduced vulnerability. Included is an overview of the
latest research and thinking in adaptive management of vulnerable complex systems,
emphasizing adaptation to climate change. The study seeks to determine how water
management and governance in the Niger Basin (1) uses local knowledge and local
participation; (2) uses local knowledge in a nexus approach to reduce vulnerability,
and, if so, for whom, and (3) how institutional (and other) challenges are identified and addressed in inclusive nexus governance. Based on analysis of Niger Basin
governance at different scales, the link between vulnerability and local knowledge
integration in adaptive water management will be examined, and findings will provide
elements to improve water management as a climate adaptation tool where there is
great vulnerability to climate change.
2 Complex Adaptive Systems and Climate Change
A system, at its most basic, is “any group of interacting, interrelated or interdependent [elements] that form a complex and unified whole that has a specific purpose”
(Kim 1999:4). All elements of a system must be present in order for its purpose to
be optimized. Indeed, if elements can be removed without it affecting system performance, it can be concluded that the elements did not comprise a “system,” but were
rather a collection of different parts (Kim 1999; Meadows 2008).
Similarly, the arrangement and ordering of different elements within a system also
affect system performance; if the elements can be combined or ordered randomly with
no effect on performance, then it also cannot be considered a “system” (Kim 1999).
A key feature of system behavior is the tendency to maintain stability through feedback mechanisms, which creates a virtuous cycle of information within the system
that improves performance for its systemic purpose, and enables action to correct
suboptimal performance.
While systems can be delineated by boundaries, they are permeable and intersecting or overlapping with the boundaries of other systems, increasingly so in the
contemporary globalized world (Midgley 2004, 2008; Brincat 2017).