Enhancing community resilience to climate change through the integration of traditional knowledge and practices into adaptation strategies

In the remote and hilly Naga Self-Administered Zone of northwest Myanmar, the Naga people have long relied on their traditional rules and practices to guide the effective management of their land and natural resources. This deep-rooted knowledge system has sustained communities for generations. However, they are now facing increasing challenges, including crop losses, food shortages, and access issues due to changing weather patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. At the same time, there are growing challenges around the security of their customary rights to land and natural resources. 

This project responds to these interconnected challenges by placing Naga Indigenous knowledge, governance, and community capacity at the centre of climate action. 

The project will (i) study traditional knowledge and practices of the Naga people that can contribute towards building climate resilience and apply this knowledge to design climate adaptation pilot projects; (ii) create an enabling environment for the uptake of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) through strengthening governance structures and laying the foundation for securing land rights of communities; and (iii) build the institutional and technical capacities of partner civil society organizations (CSOs) to sustain and scale the efforts initiated. 

Through these interventions, the project will implement practical adaptation actions to enhance the climate resilience of the wider Naga community. Lessons and approaches developed through the project will be shared widely, supporting replication and scale-up within and beyond Myanmar. 

The project will be implemented in Nanyun Township in the Naga Self-Administered Zone of Sagaing Region, covering 17 villages with a total of 1,190 households. Among these, 750 households will directly benefit from project activities. 

WWF-Myanmar will lead the implementation, providing overall technical direction as well as financial and administrative oversight. The organisation will work closely with local partner CSOs, Healthy Livelihood Associate (HLA) and the Naga Biodiversity Conservation Association (NBCA), which will engage directly with target communities and lead field-level implementation. 

By integrating traditional knowledge with climate adaptation approaches, the project aims to strengthen resilience while supporting the recognition of Indigenous rights and community-led natural resource management.