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Climate Planning with Multiple Knowledge Systems: The Case of Tribal Adaptation Plans

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2018, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Environmental Studies (Voinovich).
This project examines the variation in tribal climate adaptation plans and vulnerability assessments and the reasons behind it in terms of the processes of their formation. Four types of plans are known to exist in terms of who convened them: (1) inhouse (by the tribe), (2) plans done by university boundary organizations, (3) those convened by nonprofits, and (4) those convened by LLCs. Thirty- our such documents were known to exist as of December of 2017. Each vary widely in terms of content and depth, as well as representation and use of traditional knowledges. The methods for this project were a combination of content analysis of these plans (to assess plan outcome) and interviews of relevant planning participants (to assess process). Key factors found to have affected the content of these plans included the convening party, the presence of external partners, number of contributing sectors, and the pre-existing capacities of the differing tribes as measured by per capita income, population, and tribal government size. Specificity of the problem descriptions and solution sets within the documents were ranked on a 1-3 scale and tested against these and other factors. Key themes that emerged from the interviews were community engagement, the importance of proper identification of expertise, the impact of resource constraints on plan content, and the importance of the usage of traditional knowledge. The findings of this project highlight not only the differences in process that have led to the most robust plans, but also what makes a tribe able and willing to make its own climate plan. This will hence aid the goal of tribal self-determination. Additionally, this highlights the ways in which differing knowledge systems (including traditional knowledge systems) can be used in the context of formal climate planning, which has broad applications to not only tribal but state, local, and federal climate planning efforts.
Derek Kauneckis, PhD (Advisor)
Nancy Manring, PhD (Committee Member)
Geoffrey Dabelko, PhD (Committee Member)
235 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Gordon, M. P. (2018). Climate Planning with Multiple Knowledge Systems: The Case of Tribal Adaptation Plans [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou152475789156055

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Gordon, Miles. Climate Planning with Multiple Knowledge Systems: The Case of Tribal Adaptation Plans. 2018. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou152475789156055.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Gordon, Miles. "Climate Planning with Multiple Knowledge Systems: The Case of Tribal Adaptation Plans." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou152475789156055

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)