Indigenous Knowledge, Agritage, and Adaptation to Climate Change among Ethnic Minority People in Vietnam

This Element examines how indigenous knowledge systems contribute to climate change adaptation and ecological resilience in the mountainous regions of Vietnam. Based on field research conducted in ethnic minority communities in northern Vietnam, this study explores how traditional ecological knowledge and locally-led adaptation strategies interact with environmental change. This Element introduces the concept of Agritage to describe the interconnected cultural, ecological, and livelihood practices that sustain traditional agricultural ecosystems. Through case studies in the mountainous regions, this study analyzes indigenous practices in relation to emerging theoretical frameworks such as nature-based solutions and locally-led adaptation. The findings suggest that indigenous farming systems not only preserve biodiversity and ecological knowledge but also provide practical pathways for climate change adaptation. By integrating indigenous perspectives with climate adaptation frameworks, this section contributes to debates on environmental governance, climate adaptation, and sustainable science, highlighting the importance of culturally intrinsic knowledge systems in addressing climate risks.