The chieftaincy institution and the incorporation of indigenous environmental knowledge into the environmental impact assessment process

Jonathan Ogwuche

Department of Geography Benue State University, Makurdi, Nigeria.

Email: Ogwuche.jonathan@yahoo.com

Accepted 19 January, 2013

Abstract

Emerging challenges of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) indicate the need to bridge the widening gap of the disconnect between ecological and socio-cultural components of the environment through the incorporation of Indigenous Environmental Knowledge (IEK) into the EIA process. IEK is the term for the knowledge, experiences, wisdom and philosophies that indigenous people can bear on their interaction with the environment. It is location-specific and is differentiated in both form and content from other types of knowledge generally, and from science specifically. The principle of subsdiarity vests governance at the local level to the chieftaincy institution, which, in Africa, is the most accomplished database and disseminator of all IEK, passed from generation to generation, and are held in trust for the people. The paper discusses the place of the chieftaincy institution within a functional framework for the incorporation of IEK existing in their domains into the EIA process. This paper recommends the proper recognition of the chieftaincy institution and IEK in the EIA process, and their inclusion in the EIA ACT if we are to achieve sustainable project development and environmental protection and management.

Keywords:  IEK, EIA Process, Public Participation, Principle of Subsidiarity.