A Methodology for Understanding and Identifying Indigenous Peoples’ and Local Communities’ Everyday Environmental Heritage

Authors:
  • NSNavaporn Sunanlikanon
    Navaporn Sunanlikanon
  • TXThipphaphone Xayavong
    Thipphaphone Xayavong
  • PLPrasit Leepreecha
    Prasit Leepreecha
  • MSMukdawan Sakboon
    Mukdawan Sakboon
  • TCTa-Wei Chu
    Ta-Wei Chu
  • TATania Angeloff
    Tania Angeloff
  • AHAnne Hertzog
    Anne Hertzog
  • EAElizabeth Auclair
    Elizabeth Auclair
  • AMAlessandra Manzini
    Alessandra Manzini
  • PCParichart Chawiwong
    Parichart Chawiwong
  • POPattarawadee Op-Ai
    Pattarawadee Op-Ai
Preprint
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Amidst interconnected environmental and human wellbeing challenges, multilateral agreements and global movements have begun acknowledging the longstanding roles of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) in conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems and natural resources. One potential tool and emerging frontier for supporting this role more actively and inclusively lies in everyday environmental heritage (EEH). Here, we develop guidance for operationalising this concept through systematic, culturally appropriate assessments that identify and prioritise EEH manifestations on the community level. We conceptualise EEH as social assemblage and formulate a six-step participatory assessment methodology that involves the systematic contextualisation and identification, specification, and selection of EEH manifestations. We illustrate our approach through a case study in northern Thailand, where many IPLCs have experienced prolonged tensions with modernist rural development agendas and top-down state conservation policies for tropical forest protection. Building upon participatory ethnographic research involving 75 Indigenous participants in four Hmong and Pgaz K’Nyau communities in Chiang Mai Province (implemented between 03/2022 and 05/2024), we illustrate the uses of community-drawn maps, social structure maps, annual calendars, heritage record forms, and EEH evaluation forms for prioritising heritage practices that have the potential to support conservation. We contend that the EEH Assessment Methodology can actively support EEH with a view towards local policy challenges while remaining grounded in and respectful towards the lived realities and internal heterogeneities of communities. Our work underlines the potential of EEH as a tool for promoting inclusive and sustainable locally-led conservation and development.