Exploring Indigenous Environmental Intelligence in Vietnam

Anthropology Fieldwork supported by a VinUni Fast-Track Grant to Prof. David Harrison.

Vietnam (population 100 million) is both a “Biodiversity Hotspot” and a “Language Hotspot”, with over 110 distinct ethno-linguistic groups. Vietnam is also on the frontlines of climate change. Our project, based at VinUniversity, partners with Indigenous ethnic minorities—such as the Bahnar people of Kon Tum Province—to explore their Environmental Intelligence and how they are adapting to climate change. Indigenous people around the world, and in Vietnam, have been applying their intimate knowledge of their local environment to respond to climate change with strategies for both adaptation and mitigation. They have much to teach us, if we are willing to partner, respect their knowledge, and learn from them.

Explore the findings of Anthropology fieldwork on culture and environmental intelligence in Kon Tum, Vietnam.

This work was supported by Discovery Channel and by a VinUni Fast-Track grant and Seed grant.

Bahnar Culture (One minute intro)

Exploring Bahnar Culture and Environmental Intelligence (short ver.)

Exploring Bahnar Culture and Environmental Intelligence (long ver.)

Photo Gallery on Bahnar Culture (slide show)
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