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When discussing the indigenous communities
in the Balkan region, a more appropriate term is
“autochthonous”, which bears the similar meaning of
pure and native (Stojkov, 2002). These autochthonous
communities still exist in the mountain ranges of East
Serbia, North-westernMontenegro, Northern Albania
and North-western FYR Macedonia, where people
exhibit traditional social behaviour and rituals (ibid).
Similar communities also inhabit areas of Eastern
Bosnia (high mountains) and Herzegovina. These
The role of indigenous communities
communities usually rely on local natural resources.
According to Stojkov (2002), these communities
are still marginalized. Their livelihoods are mostly
maintained through seasonal small-scale farming
and agriculture, their only source of income (Quave
and Pieroni, 2015). However, studies show that these
traditional communities inhabiting isolated rural
areas tend to develop resilience, which is founded on
their complex knowledge of the surrounding natural
environment (ibid). This is very important for the
Balkans, especially due to their deep ethnobotanical
knowledge that has proven to be crucial for local food
security and health strategies (ibid).
The autochthonous communities in the Balkans
have been decreasing in recent decades. While
some members of these communities reside
on high mountain plains during the summer
months (Aljazeera Balkans, 2012), there are
increasingly fewer year-round settlers, as much of
the population has moved to more urban areas in
recent decades in search of better living conditions
(ibid). It has been argued that the “[traditional
communities] are among the first to face the direct
consequences of climate change, owing to their
dependence upon, and close relationship with the
environment and its resources” (UNEP, 2004).
22
In
the analysis of policy documents for the Western
Balkan countries, the direct participation of these
communities in the adaptation regime was not
considered in detail.
Apart from representing reservoirs of traditional
knowledge relating to the changing environments –
such as the use of plants that may resist the changes
in climate – these communities are the cultural and
traditional heritage of the Balkan countries, hence
they should be preserved and cherished. They
represent a very distinct stakeholder group that
requires a tailored approach. To preserve them, their
voices need to be heard in decision-making processes
and in the design of adaptation measures, where their
way of life should be afforded special attention.
Prokletije mountains in the Dinaric Alps, Albania