Desert Knowledge: Integrating Knowledge and Development in Arid and Semi-Arid Drylands

Geojournal Desert Knowledge, Vol 74, No. 5, pp. 363-375, October 2009

ANU College of Law Research Paper No. 10-14

14 Pages Posted: 16 Feb 2010 Last revised: 27 Apr 2010

See all articles by Sarah Holcombe

Sarah Holcombe

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jocelyn Davies

Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - Sustainable Ecosystems

Date Written: October 1, 2009

Abstract

Globalisation presents particular challenges for deserts given that their sparse populations, which are amongst the world’s poorest in an absolute economic sense, tend to be remote from major markets and have only a distant, marginal voice in political and policy decision making. Here we are defining deserts as the arid and semi-arid drylands that encompass 70% of Australia and 25% of the world’s land surfaces. The value of the knowledge that local traditions and science have generated about living sustainably in deserts is being promoted and extended through the ‘desert knowledge’ movement in Australia. The Australian research reported here, together with a contribution from Niger that offers a contrast and some lessons for Australia, is largely underpinned by a neopopulist paradigm of development stressing respect for local knowledge, participatory practice and empowerment. Research in partnership with desert Aboriginal groups is contributing to their engagement with new livelihood opportunities. The local knowledge of livestock graziers is also being engaged to support sustainable management of desert water sources and landscapes for multiple values. The research reported here also addresses opportunities and challenges for local norms, identities, knowledge systems, governance and livelihoods from broader scale processes and institutions. In doing so it contributes to a ‘neo-ideographic approach’ wherein desert people might better harness their locality, knowledge and diversity in adaptations that shape their encounters with globalisation. It also points to considerable scope to mature such an approach.

Keywords: Desert, Rangeland, Neo-populism, Traditional knowledge, Local knowledge, Globalisation, Neo-ideographic, Poverty reduction, Multi-functionality, Australia, Niger, Aboriginal, Indigenous

Suggested Citation

Holcombe, Sarah and Davies, Jocelyn, Desert Knowledge: Integrating Knowledge and Development in Arid and Semi-Arid Drylands (October 1, 2009). Geojournal Desert Knowledge, Vol 74, No. 5, pp. 363-375, October 2009, ANU College of Law Research Paper No. 10-14, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1549412

Sarah Holcombe (Contact Author)

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Jocelyn Davies

Government of the Commonwealth of Australia - Sustainable Ecosystems ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

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