Post on 13-Feb-2017
Tibetan Alpine Ethnobotany Tibetan Alpine Ethnobotany
and Climate Changeand Climate Change
Jan SalickJan Salick, PhD , PhD Senior Curator of EthnobotanySenior Curator of Ethnobotany
Alice H Brown Chair of the Wm L Brown CenterAlice H Brown Chair of the Wm L Brown Center
Missouri Botanical GardenMissouri Botanical Garden
“Medicine Mountains”
Meili or Menri
↓↓↓↓
Research Site: Eastern HimalayasResearch Site: Eastern Himalayas
Tibetan CultureTibetan Culture
Tibetan People
Khawa KarpoKhawa Karpo
Climate Change near Khawa Karpo: Climate Change near Khawa Karpo:
five lines of evidencefive lines of evidence
1.1. IPCC IPCC ---- impactsimpacts
2.2. Repeat photographs Repeat photographs ---- impactsimpacts
3.3. Gradient analyses Gradient analyses ---- impactsimpacts
4.4. GLORIA plots GLORIA plots ---- impactsimpacts
5.5. Tibetan perspectives Tibetan perspectives ---- vulnerabilityvulnerability
1.1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Sacred glacierSacred glacier
of Khawa Karpoof Khawa Karpo
Projected Patterns of Temperature Changes↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
and stippled!and stippled!
5-6oC temperature increase
20-30% precipitation increase
Glacial retreat
2. Repeat Photographs2. Repeat PhotographsJoseph Rock 1923 Robert Moseley 2003Joseph Rock 1923 Robert Moseley 2003
Shrub-Line
Glaciersof Mt.
Khawa
Karpo
Tree-
Line
Shrub-
Line
Glaciers
of Mt.Khawa
Karpo
Tree-Line
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
3.3.
EE
LL
EE
VV
AA
TT
II
OO
NN
AA
LL
GG
RR
AA
DD
II
EE
NN
TT
20002000--
7000m7000m
1. scree2. alpine meadow
3. rhododendron
4. conifer5. mixed
6. oak7. scrub
Elevational gradientElevational gradient
66
22
6655
44
33
11
77
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
2341 24 55 26 14 2 820 2 947 3042 3242 3446 3632 384 0 4045 4245 44 22
Elevation (m)
Her
b-S
hru
b D
ivers
ity/
3m
2
0
1
2
3
4
5
Sc r u b Sc r u b Sc r u b Sc r u b Scr ub Oa k Oa k Pi n e
Oa k /
Pi n e O ak Oa k/ Fi r Me ad ow Me ad ow
Vegetation Type
Tre
e D
ivers
ity/1
00m
2
Herb-Shrub Diversity Usef ul Herb -Shrub Diversit y Tree Diversity
0
0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
199 7 2195 24 10 2700 2 850 3062 3 250 3455 3671 388 0 4077 4255 44 60
Elevation (m )
Herb
-Sh
rub D
ivers
ity/3
m2
0
1
2
3
4
5
Sc r u b
Mi xe d
Sc r u b
Mi xe d
Sc r u b Oak Oa k Mi x ed Mi x ed M ix ed
Rho d o/
Ba mb oo Sp r u ce Rh od o Me ad ow Me ad ow
Vegetation Type
Tre
e D
iver
sit
y/100
m2
Herb-Shrub Diversity Usef ul Herb -Shrub Diversit y Tree Diversity
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2341 2455 2614 282 0 2947 30 42 32 42 34 46 36 32 38 40 4 045 4 245 4422
Elevation (m)
Herb
-Sh
rub R
ichn
ess/
3m2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Scr ub Scr ub Scr ub Sc r u b Sc r u b O ak O ak Pi ne
Oak /
P in e O ak Oak / Fi r Mea do w Mea do w
Vegetation Type
Tre
e R
ich
ness/
100
m2
Herb-Shrub R ichness Useful Herb-Shrub Richness Tree Richness
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1997 2195 2 410 2700 2850 306 2 3250 34 55 36 71 3880 4077 4255 4460
Elevation (m)
Herb
-Sh
rub R
ichn
ess/
3m2
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
Sc r u b
Mi x ed
Scr ub
M ix ed
Scr ub Oa k Oa k Mi xe d Mi xe d Mi xe d
R ho do /
B ambo o Spr uc e R ho do Mea do w Me ad ow
Vegetation Type
Tre
e R
ich
ness/
100
m2
Herb-Shrub Richness Useful Herb-Shrub Richness Tree Richness
Figure . Richness and Diversity (H’) of Herb-Shrubs and Trees. Top: Southern aspect diversity (left) and richness (right). Bottom: Northern aspect
diversity (left) and richness (right). Elevation and vegetation type at each site are given on the horizontal axes. Note that herb-shrub statistics are per
3m2 while tree statistics are per 100m2. Whiskers denote standard error (SE).
Southern AspectSouthern Aspect
Northern AspectNorthern Aspect
Diversity Richness
Useful plantsUseful plantsUseful plantsUseful plantsUseful plantsUseful plantsUseful plantsUseful plants, plant diversity and richness are all , plant diversity and richness are all , plant diversity and richness are all , plant diversity and richness are all greatest in Alpinegreatest in Alpinegreatest in Alpinegreatest in AlpineANOVAs p=0.0001 (Salick et al. 2004)ANOVAs p=0.0001 (Salick et al. 2004)ANOVAs p=0.0001 (Salick et al. 2004)ANOVAs p=0.0001 (Salick et al. 2004)
collect medicinal plants in mountainscollect medicinal plants in mountains
Tibetan DoctorsTibetan Doctors
•• More biodiversityMore biodiversity
•• Greater endemismGreater endemism
•• OldOld--growth treesgrowth trees
•• Useful plantsUseful plants
Tibetan Tibetan
Sacred Sacred
SpaceSpace
4. GLORIA4. GLORIA methodologymethodology
Global Global Observation Observation Research Research Initiative in Initiative in Alpine Alpine EnvironmentsEnvironments
www.GLORIA.ac.at
GLORIA Team, NW YunnanGLORIA Team, NW Yunnan
Alpine Vegetation Alpine Vegetation
in Eastern Himalayasin Eastern Himalayas
Vegetation trendsVegetation trends
�� Biogeography defines vegetation, Biogeography defines vegetation,
�� as does precipitation & elevation.as does precipitation & elevation.
�� Highest elevations have similar Highest elevations have similar vegetation types (“Arcticvegetation types (“Arctic--Alpine”).Alpine”).
�� Alpine vegetation has the most Alpine vegetation has the most diversity and most useful plants diversity and most useful plants (Tibetan medicines) and is(Tibetan medicines) and is mostmostthreatened by climate change!threatened by climate change!
Climate Change near Khawa Karpo: Climate Change near Khawa Karpo:
five lines of evidencefive lines of evidence
1.1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ChangeIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change�� Great increases in temperature and precipitationGreat increases in temperature and precipitation
2.2. Repeat photographsRepeat photographs�� Glacial retreat, shrub & treeline advanceGlacial retreat, shrub & treeline advance
3.3. Gradient analysesGradient analyses�� Alpine is most diverse and useful (Tibetan medicines)Alpine is most diverse and useful (Tibetan medicines)
4.4. GLORIA plotsGLORIA plots�� Alpine isAlpine is threatened by climate change!threatened by climate change!
5.5. Tibetan perspectivesTibetan perspectives
5. Tibetan perspectives on 5. Tibetan perspectives on
Climate ChangeClimate Change
Questions, discussions & repeat photosQuestions, discussions & repeat photos
(There had been no information on climate change from government or in media)
What climate changes do Tibetans experience?What climate changes do Tibetans experience?
�� Glacial retreat, higher Glacial retreat, higher temperatures & temperatures & treelinetreelineadvanceadvance
�� Valleys (negatives)Valleys (negatives)–– RainfallRainfall
–– Agricultural problemsAgricultural problems
–– Health problemsHealth problems
�� Mountains (positives)Mountains (positives)–– less firewood is needed less firewood is needed
–– spend more time outsidespend more time outside
–– bath more often, bath more often, increasing hygieneincreasing hygiene
�� Cosmology Cosmology
Agricultural vulnerability to climateAgricultural vulnerability to climate�� Floods, erosion Floods, erosion & drought & drought ––
change in variability (change)change in variability (change)
�� Seasons & variability Seasons & variability
�� Animals, crops & varietiesAnimals, crops & varieties
�� Rats, insects & diseasesRats, insects & diseases
�� OM break downOM break down
�� Food spoilageFood spoilage
�� Threatened NTFPThreatened NTFP
What causes climate change?What causes climate change?
�� Khawa Karpo is Khawa Karpo is
withdrawingwithdrawing
�� Tibetans have not Tibetans have not prayed enoughprayed enough
�� Irreverent tourists Irreverent tourists
defile the mountain defile the mountain (especially Japanese (especially Japanese
climbers and Chinese climbers and Chinese
bathing feet)bathing feet)
Tibetan perceptionsTibetan perceptionsClimate change is a moral & religious issue that
reveals people’s feeling of powerlessness:•The mountains are not as beautiful any more, and they do not protect people as they used to (man, 29 years)•I am worried that the earth will be destroyed if the snow disappears completely(woman, 85 years)•If the snow disappears, people will disappear from the earth (man, 57 years)
Tibetan perceptionsTibetan perceptionsCosmology of climate change:
•Climate Change is basic to Tibetan cosmology: 1. massive
earthquakes 2. a great flood 3. fire will consume Mt. Shumi 4. a
colossal wind storm will
extinguish the universe.
•Offerings and prayers are
ceremonially presented to Lu in order to control weather and
disease.
•The Tibetan Calendar predicts
weather and agricultural cycles based on Tibetan astrology and
pragmatic consultations with
experienced farmers subscribing to traditional knowledge.
TibetansTibetans
�� Are Are
affected by affected by
climate climate
change change
�� PerceivePerceive
�� AdaptAdapt
�� MitigateMitigate
Tibetan perspectives on Climate ChangeTibetan perspectives on Climate Change
Tibetans Tibetans adaptadapt
to to
Climate ChangeClimate Change
2nd2nd
Tibetans Tibetans
mitigatemitigate
Climate ChangeClimate Change
Carbon negative livelihoodsCarbon negative livelihoods!!Increase soil carbon (OM)Increase soil carbon (OM)
AforestationAforestation
Traditional conservationTraditional conservation
TibetansTibetans
�� Are Are
effected by effected by
climate climate
change change
�� PerceivePerceive
�� AdaptAdapt
�� MitigateMitigate
Tibetan perspectives on Climate ChangeTibetan perspectives on Climate Change
TibetansTibetans
�� Are Are
effected by effected by
climate climate
change change
�� PerceivePerceive
�� AdaptAdapt
�� Mitigate Mitigate
Tibetan perspectives on Climate ChangeTibetan perspectives on Climate Change
Indigenous peoples have a right to participate and a Indigenous peoples have a right to participate and a
role to play in climate change discussions and policyrole to play in climate change discussions and policy
Indigenous Peoples and Climate ChangeIndigenous Peoples and Climate Change
↓↓↓↓
Future initiativesFuture initiatives
↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓ ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
Collaborating InstitutionsCollaborating Institutions�� Missouri Botanical GardenMissouri Botanical Garden
�� Kunming Institute of BotanyKunming Institute of Botany
�� ShangriShangri--la Alpine Botanical Gardenla Alpine Botanical Garden
�� GLORIA, ViennaGLORIA, Vienna
�� Environmental Change Institute, University of OxfordEnvironmental Change Institute, University of Oxford
Funding AgenciesFunding Agencies�� Ford FoundationFord Foundation
�� National Geographic SocietyNational Geographic Society
�� The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy
�� Danish Research CouncilDanish Research Council
�� Christensen FoundationChristensen Foundation
�� Oxford Fellowship for EthnoecologyOxford Fellowship for Ethnoecology
Research AssistanceResearch AssistanceYang Yang YongpingYongping, Fang Zhendong, Anja Byg, Heidi Schmidt, Jessica , Fang Zhendong, Anja Byg, Heidi Schmidt, Jessica
Woo, Wayne Law, Woo, Wayne Law, DanicaDanica Anderson, Anthony Amend, Bee Gunn, Anderson, Anthony Amend, Bee Gunn, George George YatkievychYatkievych, Kurt , Kurt HoffmeisterHoffmeister, plus, plus