EJN Supports 30 Environmental and Climate Stories Produced by Indigenous and Ethnic Minority Journalists in the Asia Pacific
The Asia Pacific is home to 70% of the world’s Indigenous peoples and a vast diversity of tribal and ethnic minority groups, with many communities the custodians of some of the most biologically diverse territories in the world.
However, both Indigenous and ethnic minority peoples in the region face disproportionate impacts from climate change and environmental degradation. Their regions, rights and territories are under extreme—and often militarized—threat from extractive industries, exclusionary development projects, conservation initiatives, and more.
Despite the urgency of these issues, Indigenous and ethnic minority representation in the media remains lacking. For example, the UN states that the region’s “media—both traditional forms as well as new digital media channels—have so far failed to fully support the inclusive participation of Indigenous peoples, both in terms of diversity in their staffs and in the content they produce.”
To address this gap, EJN’s Asia-Pacific project supported 16 journalists to report on climate justice, biodiversity and other issues related to the rights and well-being of Indigenous and ethnic minority communities. From August 2023 to March of this year, the grantees produced 30 stories, a selection of which you can find here:
Anastasia Ika reported on how the Baar tribe, which has a historic relationship with the Komodo dragon in Flores, Indonesia, is coordinating with NGOs and government bodies to protect the endangered species.
Georgina Kekea described the looming threat of a volcanic eruption on the Solomon Islands and the team of geologists advocating for new monitoring stations and better disaster preparation.
Junaidi Hanafiah delved into court proceedings and local battles between Beutong Ateuh residents and mining companies looking to extract gold from a pristine area in Indonesia.
Karlston Lapniten explored the unexpected links between forest management and marine health in the Philippines, where forest ecosystem services, if they fail, lead to changes in salinity, nutrient runoff, river currents, erosion and other consequences that impact coastal marine life.
Khang A Tủa and Alex Nguyen examined how indigenous corn varieties central to Hmong culture and spirituality in Vietnam are threatened by cross-pollination and increased reliance on hybrid corn varieties.
Kiristiana Uluwai produced five stories exploring the impacts of the climate crisis on Fiji, examining the deadly landslide that forced residents of Tukuraki village to move away from their ancestral lands, and how Waitabu village, a tourism hotspot, and Vidawa Village prepare to relocate as sea levels rise. The historic town of Levuka on Ovalau Island also plans to protect its heritage sites from being washed away, while the Fijian government and Indigenous communities weigh the importance of safety and relocation with maintaining identity and culture.
Liani MK examined how heirloom rice varieties grown by Lun Bawang communities in Sarawak could carry lessons in climate resilience and addressing rice shortages in Malaysia.
Manesh Kumar reported on how coal mining operations are preventing Thari communities in Pakistan from returning home for agriculture and livestock rearing.
Nitu Ghale explored how climate change, pollution, deforestation, and other environmental factors are devastating lichen populations harvested by Kiranti people for traditional dishes in Nepal.
Rus Akbar Saleleubaja and Febrianti collaborated on two stories from the Mentawai Islands in Indonesia, for which they spoke with women retrieving water amid droughts and water shortages, and traditional medicine experts navigating the impacts of logging on herbal plants required for treatment.
Ramaiah Maheswary examined the waste management issues affecting Tamil communities working on tea estates in Sri Lanka and raised questions about who may be held accountable.
Teguh Suprayitno and Idra Salemand produced stories on the coal industry and energy in Jambi, Indonesia, covering the potential costs and benefits of the controversial Jambi coal power plant, the deadly impacts of mining activities and pollution on Indigenous communities, and a village harnessing the power of a nearby river to produce electricity while advocating for energy sovereignty.
Finally, Wahid Bhat and Rajeev Tyagi explored how increased extreme weather events, including an uptick in lightning strikes, are affecting shepherds and their livelihoods in Jammu and Kashmir, India.
“This series of stories produced by Indigenous or ethnic minority journalists open our eyes to a wide range of impacts resulting from climate change and environmental degradation, especially non-economic ones like the loss of cultural identity or threats to flora and fauna closely associated with local traditions,” said Amy Sim, Internews’ Asia-Pacific regional program manager for environment.
“We’re proud to have supported reports that center Indigenous knowledge that can help communities navigate a world plagued by environmental crises and demonstrate their resilience to climate change,” she added.
You can find the latest stories, resources and updates on EJN’s Asia-Pacific project here.
Banner image: Candlenuts are a plantation product sold by residents of Beutong Ateuh in Indonesia / Credit: Junaidi Hanafiah for Mongabay Indonesia.