Why science needs indigenous data collectors

Here’s proof that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) are better at collecting data on the impact of climate change on biodiversity than scientists. Researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain have identified 203 documents, including 291 case studies, detailing observations by IPLCs on climate change impacts on biodiversity. These documents contained 2,452 observations of climate change effects on 1,715 taxa.  

When the team compared this data with natural sciences literature and the Red List data by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they found the community-collected data was more nuanced.  

The reason for this is simple — unlike scientists, who collect data mostly for research, IPLCs gather it for survival. Biodiversity provides them with food and supports their livelihoods.  

For example, in India’s Uttarakhand, communities reported mismatches between plants and pollinators due to shifting rainfall and snowfall patterns, leading to population declines. Similarly, indigenous communities in Zimbabwe’s Gwanda district linked temperature and rainfall changes to plant phenology and insect abundance as early disease outbreak indicators.

Such insights into the connections between atmospheric systems, biodiversity and climate change are difficult to establish through conventional scientific methods, the authors noted in their study, published in the journal Conservation Biology on April 21, 2025.

IPLCs possess deep environmental knowledge, enabling them to detect even minor changes — such as shifts in species abundance, phenological alterations, invasive species, growth patterns or even changes in the taste of wild fruits. This level of detail is beyond the scope of most research organisations.  

Most species reported as climate-affected by IPLCs were not considered threatened by climate change by the IUCN. Of the 515 unique species reported, 210 (41 per cent) had not been evaluated by the IUCN.  

IPLC data also covers geographic regions where scientific data is scarce. The researchers’ findings suggest that integrating indigenous and local knowledge can provide a more comprehensive understanding of climate change impacts on biodiversity, aiding planning for adaptation.  

These findings support the recent efforts to mainstream IPLCs in the work on biodiversity. At the COP16 of the Convention on Biological Diversity held in Colombia in 2024, Parties agreed to establish a subsidiary body on Article 8(j) and other provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity related to IPLCs. Article 8(j) requires Parties to respect, preserve and maintain IPLC knowledge, innovations and practices relevant to biodiversity conservation.