Traditional knowledge can be a valuable resource in tackling the climate crisis.
Researcher Dr Jane Awi (PhD) is leading a study that sheds light on the wisdom held by women regarding climate change adaptation in Papua New Guinea’s rural communities.
Dr Awi is one of six current recipients of Climate Research Grants, which are provided through a partnership between the PNG Climate Change Development Authority (CCDA) and the Australian Government.
Funded by a K130,000 Climate Research Grant from Australia, the University of Goroka (UOG) Academic and Executive Director of the Somare Research Institute is documenting the climate insights and strategies used by women subsistence farmers in the Simbu and Madang provinces.
Dr Awi’s findings show women in rural PNG develop a deep understanding of environmental patterns through daily tasks like farming and water collection. Because of this close connection, women are often the first to observe changes in climate and quickly adapt their agricultural and survival strategies.
One example is the way women from Simbu’s Kerowagi district harness traditional drainage systems to combat floods.
Heavy rains not only destroy crops but also wash away nutrient-rich topsoil, reducing productivity and threatening food security.
To prevent this, Dr Awi said that women dig drainage channels up to a metre deep. These effectively direct excess rainwater away from food crops, helping to prevent waterlogging and soil erosion.
Passed down through generations, this practice has become an important strategy to manage the impacts of changing rainfall patterns from climate change.
“Recognising and valuing women’s traditional knowledge can lead to significant positive impacts on both the environment and society,” Dr. Awi said.
Australia’s funding for her research has enabled the team to visit remote communities and gain a deeper understanding into the impacts of climate change on food security and livelihoods. They collected women’s testimonies that highlighted how extreme weather events, such as rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns, have reduced staple crop yields like sweet potato and coffee.
Another way women in Kerowagi apply traditional knowledge is by using the Albizia amara (known locally as Marmar) tree as a natural agricultural calendar.
“Women rely on the flowering cycle of the Albizia amara tree to determine the best time for planting certain crops. When this tree blooms, they know it signals the optimal period for sowing food crops that will yield a successful harvest,” said Dr Awi.
Dr Awi said her research highlighted how aspects of traditional knowledge could be an important complement to Western scientific knowledge in mitigating the effects of climate change.
 (far left) speaking with women in Kerowagi district, Simbu province.jpg)
Dr Jane Awi (PhD) (far left) speaking with women in Kerowagi district, Simbu province.
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