The Place of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Water Resources Management in the Central Niger Delta Paper by: Tamuno, PBL and Smith, MD Presented by: Dr Tamuno, P. B.L. 30 th September 2008

Presentation overview The Central Niger Delta; The Central Niger Delta; Water Resources & the Central Niger Delta; Water Resources & the Central Niger Delta; Dredging: An Environmental Issue; Dredging: An Environmental Issue; Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); Challenges of the Application of TEK; Challenges of the Application of TEK; Prospects & Benefits of TEK in WRM; Prospects & Benefits of TEK in WRM; Research Approach & Research Issue; Research Approach & Research Issue; Sample / Target Population; Sample / Target Population; Validity of TEK in the Central Niger Delta; Validity of TEK in the Central Niger Delta; Determinants of the Quality of TEK; and Determinants of the Quality of TEK; and Application of TEK in Water Resources Management. Application of TEK in Water Resources Management.

The Central Niger Delta 70% is Riverine; 70% is Riverine; Have the longest coastline in Nigeria (200 Km); Have the longest coastline in Nigeria (200 Km); Rich in biodiversity, but ecologically fragile; Rich in biodiversity, but ecologically fragile; Rural Livelihood is eco- dependent / CPR; and Rural Livelihood is eco- dependent / CPR; and Network of 23 Creeks & Rivers. Network of 23 Creeks & Rivers.

Water Resources & Central Delta Ecological and social services; Ecological and social services; Declining Quality and Service value; Declining Quality and Service value; Challenges to Sustainable WRM Challenges to Sustainable WRM –Natural complexity and variability; –Multi-stakeholder demand on water resources; –Inadequate, dearth and lack of baseline data; –Appropriate and acceptable valuation for water resources; and –Anthropogenic stressors;

Dredging: An Environmental Issue Benefits Benefits –Improved navigational channel; –Land reclamation; –Socio-economic development; –Flood mitigation; and –Beneficial use of dredged materials; Impacts Impacts –Hydrology and wetland / floodplain loss; –Sediments and turbidity; –Flora and fauna; and –Livelihoods;

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) The concept and features of TEK?; The concept and features of TEK?; Localised and descriptive; Localised and descriptive; Knowledge acquired based on residency and interaction with the environment; Knowledge acquired based on residency and interaction with the environment; Integral part local communities; Integral part local communities; Experiential local Knowledge; and Experiential local Knowledge; and Non-documented and informally transmitted; Non-documented and informally transmitted;

Challenges of the Application of TEK Scientific bias; Scientific bias; Subjectivity and validity; Subjectivity and validity; Location-specific knowledge; Location-specific knowledge; Dynamic livelihoods and values; Dynamic livelihoods and values; “Consensus” among TEK Holders and “Consensus” among TEK Holders and Harmonisation and usage. Harmonisation and usage.

Prospects & Benefits of TEK in WRM Long term Information (CE); Long term Information (CE); Localised livelihood and ecological data; Localised livelihood and ecological data; Complementary to Scientific knowledge; Complementary to Scientific knowledge; Information about seasonal variability and trends; and Information about seasonal variability and trends; and Encourages community participation and environmental partnership Encourages community participation and environmental partnership

Research Approach & Research Issue Otuogidi & Otuoke are sample communities; Otuogidi & Otuoke are sample communities; Participants represents 5% of the target population (211 respondents); Participants represents 5% of the target population (211 respondents); 32% of respondents have resided in the sample communities for 35 years or more; 32% of respondents have resided in the sample communities for 35 years or more; Surface water plays a vital role in the Central Delta; and Surface water plays a vital role in the Central Delta; and Dredging is one of the environmental issues in the Central Delta. Dredging is one of the environmental issues in the Central Delta.

Sample / Target Population Age Range in Years Percentage (population) Percentage(Survey) 20 to 29 years to 39 years to 49 years to 59 years years & above 138.6

Validity of TEK in the Central Delta TEK Year of Dredging Duration of Dredging OtuogidiOtuokeOtuogidiOtuoke Very Good 44.4%73.8%12.1%27.2% Good35.2%6.8%17.9%53.5% Fair10.2%14.5%41.7%7.7% Poor0%0%18.5%2.9% Very poor 0%0%0.9%0% No Knowledge 10.2%1.9%9.3%8.7%

Determinants of the Quality of TEK Residency in catchment; Residency in catchment; Localised relevance of impacted resource; Localised relevance of impacted resource; Localised consequences of the environmental issue; Localised consequences of the environmental issue; Time lapse between environmental event & documentation; and Time lapse between environmental event & documentation; and Interactions between human and local resources. BUT Interactions between human and local resources. BUT Independent of educational qualifications. Independent of educational qualifications.

Application of TEK in Water Resources Management Build-up environmental baseline; Build-up environmental baseline; Reduce the effect of environmental noise (false negative / false positive result); Reduce the effect of environmental noise (false negative / false positive result); Statistical Central tendency; Statistical Central tendency; Enhances environmental justice & favours environmental partnership; and Enhances environmental justice & favours environmental partnership; and Result in holistic water resources management. Result in holistic water resources management.

Summary of Presentation The Central Niger Delta; The Central Niger Delta; Water Resources & the Central Niger Delta; Water Resources & the Central Niger Delta; Dredging: An Environmental Issue; Dredging: An Environmental Issue; Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK); Challenges of the Application of TEK; Challenges of the Application of TEK; Prospects & Benefits of TEK in WRM; Prospects & Benefits of TEK in WRM; Research Approach & Research Issue; Research Approach & Research Issue; Sample / Target Population; Sample / Target Population; Validity of TEK in the Central Niger Delta; Validity of TEK in the Central Niger Delta; Determinants of the Quality of TEK; and Determinants of the Quality of TEK; and Application of TEK in Water Resources Management. Application of TEK in Water Resources Management.

Conclusion TEK should be promoted and used to its merits, scrutinised as other information is scrutinised, and applied in situations in which it makes a difference in the quality of research, and water resources management.

Thank you