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Trends and prospects for local knowledge in ecological and conservation research and monitoring

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Abstract

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) of those who earn their livelihoods from natural environments has long been recognized as providing far-reaching insights into ecological processes. It is being increasingly used by ecologists to address diverse questions that often focus on applied conservation issues and may incorporate local knowledge with biological data from more conventional research and monitoring. We characterize how LEK has been used in the ecological and conservation literature over the last 25 years by broadly examining 360 journals and by evaluating 12 prominent ecological and conservation journals in greater detail. Over this period, the use of LEK has increased considerably, although only 0.01% of papers in the broad and 0.42% of those in the more detailed evaluation incorporated LEK. Despite this increase, LEK-based publications remain nearly absent from the more established theoretical literature and are largely restricted to more recent and arguably less prestigious applied and interdisciplinary journals. Most LEK studies used interviews, but generally failed to actively include community members in the research process. Changes to the research and publishing process that include local people and address these shortcomings and the broader issues of power and influence in the sciences are critical to the successful utilization of LEK. These changes are necessary for the appropriate depiction of these knowledge systems and to ensure that local knowledge holders will continue participating in ecological research aimed at conservation.

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Abbreviations

LEK:

Local Ecological Knowledge

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Acknowledgements

Special thanks to M. Potts and D. Potts from the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation for their deep insights into the role of research with Aboriginal communities. We also wish to thank the residents of the Churchill region and Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, especially J. Whitaker, K. Kingdon, R. Armbruster, and C. Pawluk, I. Mauro, H. Lemelin, M. Gillespie, R. Riewe, J. Oakes, M. M’Lot, G. Lundie, N. Kenkel, P. Paquet, and the Environmental Conservation Lab for thoughtful discussions about the role of local knowledge in research. Special thanks to M. Cattet, I. Mauro, H. Lemelin, M. Gillespie, and two anonymous reviewers for input on earlier drafts. Funding for this on-going research was provided by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC); Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada; Manitoba Conservation Sustainable Development Innovations Fund; Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, and Parks Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Conservation Lab, Clayton H. Riddell Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2N2

    Ryan K. Brook & Stéphane M. McLachlan

  2. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1

    Ryan K. Brook

  3. Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, T2N 4N1

    Ryan K. Brook

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  1. Ryan K. Brook
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  2. Stéphane M. McLachlan
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Correspondence to Ryan K. Brook.

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Brook, R.K., McLachlan, S.M. Trends and prospects for local knowledge in ecological and conservation research and monitoring. Biodivers Conserv 17, 3501–3512 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9445-x

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