Feature article
Climate Research
Is there a role for indigenous knowledge in improving scientific understanding of future change in climate?
Penehuro F Lefale, NIWA
Damage from Tropical Cyclone Val, Samoa in 1991
Long before the advent of complex numerical climate models, indigenous communities have used changes in their environments to predict changes in the climate and weather. Social and communal activities like feasting and fishing were planned in response to these changes (below table).