Traditional Phenological Knowledge

Phenology is describes as a process that revolves around the development of an organism ( plants or animals) in relation to the change of the seasons.[1] Moreover, temperature is a factor of these processes that create changes in the cycles. For instance, vegetation or biological beings can change due to temperature increase or decrease and that surpass a threshold which creates change in behaviour or change in seasonality.[1]

Human observations and knowledge throughout generations is tied to TPK. The human response tied with seasonal change can create a symbiotic relationship with their proximity to the environment, hence Indigenous Peoples have been and still are practicing traditional practices that match timings of the seasonal change and seasonal indicators.[2]

Fire management can be timed with phenological events in North-American Indigenous Nations.[1] Burning shrubs in vast areas would help deer find food in the next season.[1] Burning causes more water to be retained in the soil which promotes seedling sprouts in the spring and summer.[1] For Indigenous communities in California, there can be more grass growth which is used for cultural "deer grass" weaving.[1] Spring burning also promote species diversity and different cultivation such as Tobacco. Fire can kill fast growing vegetation and pests, and aid full-light vegetation to grow in these areas i.e. Oak and Huckleberries.[1] Hence, Traditional Knowledge and TPK can help with food security, food for wildlife.[1]

TPK and TEK are seen as sustainable practices to help fight against climate change and are starting to be recognised as a tool to help mitigate food insecurity and issues regarding biodiversity loss.[6][3][1] A term to describe the combination of Indigenous Knowledge and Western Knowledge is known as Two-eyed seeing.[8] For instance, TPK is a tool for fire management that Western communities have adopted to decrease the severity of fires.[1]

In most parts of the world, especially in higher elevations and northern latitudes such as Alaska, Alaskan communities have observed changes in phenological cycles.[6][4] Locations such as Alaska are severely impacted due to their northern locations and closeness to shore which intensifies the changes in climate.

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Indigenous communities have observed changes in berry ressources.[4] These communities have noticed a decrease in snowpack in recent winters.[4] Hotter summers and thawing of permafrost also create an unsteady landscape which affects negatively the vegetation in this region, for instance, wild berries.[4] Berries are essential for human consumption and food for wildlife. For Alaskan communities, berry picking provides nutrition, but also indicators of seasonality change.[4] These communities have seen changes in the last ten years; variability in berry abundance from year to year and earlier ripening.[4] This is seen in cloud berries, blueberries and crowberries.[4]

Indigenous communities in the North-East of India such as Tripura can use TPK to predict weather patterns which aid with activities of agroforestry, farming and agriculture. Additionally it is used for prevention of natural disasters. Through folklore and myths, Traditional Knowledge is shared in these means. These lores and myths about weather can be found in ancient scriptures such as Vedang Jyotish of Maharshi Laugakshi, Seval Samhita and Gura Samhita among others.

TPK can be found under two categories; theories of prediction and observations. The use of astronomy and observation of planetary positions such as conjunctions are important for Tripura Indigenous communities. Atmospheric observations play a big part of weather conditions such as looking at clouds. Behavioural patterns of plants and animals are also indicators of predicting weather.

The night-flowering jasmine (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L.) helps predict abundant rainfall. The night-flowering jasmine flowers year round, therefore, depending on the time of the year it flowers, different amount of rain is predicted. June and July are the months containing the highest amount of rainfall and accurately predicted by traditional farmers in the region which is confirmed by the Meteorological Department of Narsinghgarh Bimangarh India.[10]>[11] The Indian Laburnum (Cassia fistula L.) also known as Golden Shower predicts rain. When the Indian Laburnum flows it predicts the beginning of the Monsoon.

In the Teso Sub-region in Eastern Uganda, the Iteso people of Teso practice TPK in terms of agriculture and pasture. This region has a hot and humid climate. There is a strong agricultural practice in the region of Teso. The main crops cultivated are cereal such as millet, corn, cassava and cotton.[12] The main animals for livestock are pigs, cattle, chickens amongst other animals.[12] Due to the region's geographical location, there are several lakes which permit the community to practise fishing.[12] TPK helps for drought and flood predictions, infestations, water conservation and timings for fishing and plays a role in the prediction of rainfall.[12]

The use of TPK has changed in the recent decades because of climate unpredictability, however, the Iteso people have adapted TPK to recent climatic events.[12] Previously, traditional communities of this region used to sow millet seeds according to leaf fall and growth because it would predict the time frame to seed grain to be on time for future rainfall.[12] Now, however, this predictability now varies.[12] Astronomical observations such as the location of the moon and its color are used to determine when is the next onset of rainfall and rain intensity.[12] TPK is in the hands of elders whose phenological observations are monitored, but there is concern for the younger generations to lose Traditional Knowledge of phenological events.[12] Elders notice longer of droughts, increase winds and species disappearance, and a halt of fish migrations to previously plentiful rivers due to climate change which is affecting phenological cycles at a quicker and greater rate. [12]

Traditional herders of the land-locked country of Mongolia use TPK and TEK for herding animals, determining height of grasses in the next seasons and their understanding of the ever-changing land.[13][14] Observations of seasons are present in story telling and observations made through their nomadic way of life.[13][14]

Herders have a distinct way of understanding plants of the landscape. Mongolia has a mix of extreme climates which temperatures could reach 40 degrees Celsius in warmer months, to below 30 degrees in colder months.[13] Mongolia is also desertic, mountainous, contains grasslands.[13] It is a considerably dry climate.[13][14] Traditional herders use TPK to determine rainfall, time of movement and timing of vegetation growth and blooms of medicinal plants.[13][14] Herder's traditional movement is in accordance with seasonality where observations are made on the relationship and behaviour of vegetation and animals.[13] These observations and knowledge can vary from herder to herder.[14] For instance, in more desertic parts of Mongolia, prediction of grass growth can be described as the same height as the snow in the winter and grass grows to the extent of the amount of rain the area receives.[14] Additionally, numbers are associated with certain areas based on characteristics of viability, zones of ecology, soil health and topology.[14] Furthermore, knowing when a plant will bloom comes from repeated observations and counting the joints of vegetation and relative humidity in the atmosphere i.e. Bagluur or Anabasis Brevifolia.[14]

Some herders intertwine human existence with phenology. The seasons change and also humans change regarding the seasons. Humans are also an important part in phenology. In the light of climate change,  the earth gets older and changes, so do humans.[14]