Federal agencies urged to integrate Indigenous tribes in Everglades restoration
Efforts to restore the Everglades can be enhanced by incorporating Indigenous tribes’ ecological knowledge, a new report says.
Amy Green reports for Inside Climate News.
In short:
- The National Academies recommend deeper collaboration with Florida's Miccosukee and Seminole tribes in the $21 billion Everglades restoration project, emphasizing their role as environmental stewards.
- The report calls for consideration and application of Indigenous knowledge "even when it does not conform to western scientific norms."
- Indigenous knowledge offers insights into historical ecosystem conditions, providing a critical perspective for restoration planning.
- The report also calls for integrating climate change projections and improving water quality regulations alongside restoration funding.
Key quote:
“I think it can help us from veering into over-engineered solutions that we’ve found ourselves in in the Everglades over the decades. It’s about living in harmony with the Everglades, not trying to over-engineer the Everglades.”
— Eve Samples, executive director of the nonprofit advocacy group Friends of the Everglades.
Why this matters:
The Everglades provide freshwater to 12 million Floridians and sustain unique ecosystems. Incorporating tribal knowledge and addressing climate change impacts can improve restoration outcomes and foster sustainable water management practices.
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