User:SJLupine/Water scarcity

local v indigenous knowledge

''important things to make sure to include... concern actually addressed, involvement through all step of the process''

wording -- rhymes...

grammar

= Water scarcity =

Options for improvements
Water is one of the most crucial elements in developmental planning; efforts to develop, conserve, utilize and manage water resources have to be guided by national perspectives. In particular, these perspectives should include communities who are most affected, Indigenous and local communities. A review in 2006 stated that "It is surprisingly difficult to determine whether water is truly scarce in the physical sense at a global scale (a supply problem) or whether it is available but should be used better (a demand problem)".

Implementation of Indigenous Knowledge
Further improvements can be made through legislative action and more active involvement of communities, especially those who are affected by water scarcity. Indigenous communities have navigated the avenues of water availability long before modern capitalist methods of water use and extraction. It would be valuable to learn from Indigenous and local knowledge when creating regulations, adaptations, as well as greater access to water. It is important to recognize that the commodification of resources such as water, is rooted in settler-colonial perspectives, and much of western science works to uphold these problematic perspectives. A space where both modern western science can coexist with traditional practices of water and land management could open doors to more sustainable water practices. Using Two-Eyed Seeing, an inclusive implementation of both indigenous knowledge and practices along side western science, can help change the way we approach and assess water scarcity. IPCC, Chapter 4, suggests working alongside Indigenous and local communities to address regional issues surrounding water scarcity and hydrological changes can show effective mitigation. Focusing on large-scale implementation rather than community-based, regional-scale implementation can lead to complications as well as unneeded intervention and conflict.