North Carolina Tribes Share Concerns about Climate Change

The Southeast Regional Climate Hub (SERCH) and the Southeast Climate Science Center (SE CSC) gave a joint presentation on Tribes and Climate Adaptation at the NC Indian Unity Conference in Raleigh North Carolina on March 20,2015. This was the 40th annual conference held by the United Tribes of North Carolina, a not-for-profit that seeks to unite state tribes over shared issues. Our presentation was part of an Environmental Justice session convened by Ronny Bell of Wake Forest University, Sarah Rothenberg of the University of South Carolina, and Ryan Emanuel of North Carolina State University, and was given by Lisa Fouladbash (SERCH) and Aranzazu Lascurain (SE CSC).
We asked tribes what their needs and concerns were related to climate change, as well as related impacts on tribal natural and cultural resources. What followed was an engaging discussion, where SE CSC and SERCH learned a lot about what local tribes care about. From pests, to storm severity, to variable rainfall and impacts on water management, tribes were concerned about many dimensions of climate change. One respondent replied, “due to weather, the medicinal plants aren’t growing as much, which affects that aspect of our culture.” Medicinal plants and ethnobotanicals are key to the culture and traditions of tribes worldwide and are directly threatened by the changing temperatures, rainfall, and increases in pests and diseases that are expected from changes in climate.
Water was mentioned multiple times as a resource of concern, and rightfully so — as the southeastern United States is expected to get more variable rainfall, leading to increased flooding and droughts, in the next 50 years. In particular, one Lumbee tribal member mentioned the drastically changing water level in lakes at their tribal community. She also posed the question of how changing water levels could impact pollution levels in tribal lakes, many of which are proximal to coal ash ponds and other sources of pollution. Climate change and land use change has also likely impacted Cherokee rivers, where warming water temperatures have reduced trout populations, a key resource to the tribe.
Tribal members also noticed increasing insect and pest populations (including mosquitoes), more severe storms, and longer growing seasons as recent issues of concern. Though the range of issues tribal members mentioned was diverse, it clearly reflected the multitude of effects that climate change will have, and is already having, on resources across our state. It was clear that tribes were aware of changes on their lands and ready to take action – to learn more and increase the resilience of their lands to changing climate. Participants asked excitedly for resources, education, and tools to deal with these issues.  One tribal member requested that scientists and other stakeholders tell tribes “what to look for, so they can document and give feedback.”

Tribes are also experts — they have a wealth of Tribal Ecological Knowledge, based on a longstanding relationship to their lands and natural resources that stretches back generations.
The SE Climate Science Center is interested in supporting tribes on these issues, and we want to hear from you.  The Southeast Climate Science Center in partnership with the Southeast Regional Climate Hub and researchers at North Carolina State University, are interested in hearing more about tribal needs and concerns. We are also interested in partnering with tribal organizations and research institutes to help better support tribes.
If you are a member of tribe or tribal organization, please contact Aranzazu Lascurain or call 919-515-7687 for more information.
This post was contributed by Lisa Fouladbash (SERCH).