Ecological Calendars Finding Hope in the Face of Climate Change
Around the world, climate change is threatening food security and the livelihoods of people. In response, scientists are collaborating with communities to find ways to adapt and thrive. The result: A revitalization of ecological calendars as a solution to anticipate change.
The Ecological Calendars Project took place in Central Asia and the United States. Scientists from the United States, China, Germany, and Italy worked with communities in the Pamir Mountains of Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Xinjiang (China). In these rural areas, most people make their living by growing crops and raising livestock in high-altitude environments. Scientists also worked with communities in the United States—the Lakota and Dakota of Standing Rock Nation in the Northern Great Plains, and residents living near Oneida Lake in upstate New York. Insert caption here
1
Savnob, Tajikistan
2
Roshorv, Tajikistan
3
Sary Mogol, Kyrgyzstan
4
Standing Rock Nation, Northern Great Plains, USA
5
Lake Oneida Watershed, New York, USA
Despite contributing the least to human-caused climate change, these communities are facing its earliest and harshest consequences. All of these communities have long relied on environmental cues to inform decision making—when to start ploughing, planting, hunting, gathering, harvesting, and so forth. In recent years, it has been more difficult to successfully grow and raise food, in part due to changing weather patterns.
Building on Existing Knowledge From Indigenous knowledge to scientific data, ecological calendars depend on input from many peoples’ experiences to anticipate and respond to changing weather patterns.
Ecological calendars were co-created with community members who engage in a diversity of ecological professions, such as farming, fishing, hunting, and so on. First, a seasonal round was developed during a community meeting.
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From the first flower blossom to the last frost, ecological calendars take into account a broad range of seasonal events. Observing these seasonal events enables people to plan their activities despite year-to-year variation. The Seasonal Calendar of Life: Sary-Mogol, Alai valley, Kyrgyzstan 21 - Tokol Aiarasy
24 - Tokol Аiarasy
Take
Bash
e)
(Jun
Ona
(July)
Saratan (Jai)
1 - Tokol Aiarasy
19 - Tokol Aiarasy
)
ay
ak
iy na O
(M
A
ja ul
Ba ar
(Ja z)
)
t us
ug
(A
K
Kyz
n tum
Au 17 - Tokol Aiarasy
Bug
tem
(Sep
u (A
n Aiy
pril)
uzdu
Tog
3 - Tokol Aiarasy
?
ber)
ch)
(Octob
(Mar
in Aiy
Kuran
Jetin
Chyn
er)
5 - Tokol Aiarasy
15 - Tokol Aiarasy
an
lg
Ja
B
es
ht
in
A
y)
iy
ar
ru
(N
eb
ov
(F
em
an
be
r)
ur
K
7 - Tokol Aiarasy 13 - Tokol Aiarasy
Harsh mid-w inter Middl e win ter Winte r
Birdi
n Aiy
9 - Tokol Aiarasy
(Jan
uary
)
n Aiy
Ychty
r)
embe
(Dec
11 - Tokol Aiarasy
Ecological calendars visually represent the inseparable relationship between people and their habitat.
Reviving Traditional Knowledge Ecological calendars, in various forms, have been used to measure and make sense of the passage of time. For example, using the “Calendar of the Human Body,” villagers of the Pamir Mountains have traditionally tracked the timing of natural events by associating them with parts of their body to cue the start of specific tasks. In doing so, they perceive time through the process of living within and engaging their habitat.
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Local Focus, Global Impact Ecological Calendars can sustain communities facing increasing uncertainty due to global climate change.
In October 2021, those who participated in the Ecological Calendars Project are gathering in this building to discuss how individuals and communities can generate their own ecological calendars, to adapt to increasing uncertainty associated with changes such as the rise of extreme weather events.
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The project team has worked with policy makers to achieve meaningful transformation. These organizations can implement policies and provide resources to further secure food and livelihoods for threatened communities.
Ecological calendars are based on our relationships with our habitat. By using ecological calendars, you can connect with the plants, animals, streams, lakes, and other aspects of the environment through the observation of seasonal events where you live. Give it a try at the station behind you.