Dependency and subsistence are key conceptions between indigenous groups. They are representations of the physical, emotional, spiritual and cultural elements that shape their environmental, social and economic factors. Understanding these traditional conceptions implies the recognition that wealth and prosperity is perceived differently among indigenous. One of the principles concerning indigenous welfare including subsistence livelihoods is the sustainability of their resources. Their notion of sustainability is usually achieved from regulations on land use thorough conservation and restoration practices. I other words, there is a tendency to maintain the balance of ecosystems in order to keep the natural dynamic of biological systems which are the main sources of crop production and food security. Therefore, the management of natural resources is commonly oriented to guarantee the stability of their livelihoods which involve human, economic and environmental factors for the present and future generations.
Historically, the sustainability model followed by indigenous has given them distinct abilities and capacities to cope with climate and environmental changes. Traditional knowledge has the origin in the direct and deep relationship of indigenous with nature and the geographical sphere where they dwell. Understanding nature and the scale of transformations of physical and biological systems provide critical elements that can be applied for future solutions in a climate change context. Concerning this matter, working in synergy with indigenous groups may signify the identification of indicators and patterns observed over time. This can be encountered within productive systems including agriculture, food systems and forest management, which are dependent on the level of rainfalls, land use and other biophysical processes. However, over the past years, industrial developments have exposed the natural and balanced cycle of resources. By dependent and subsistence societies such as indigenous, these transitions represent hazardous elements that can make them more vulnerable and less able to manage risks and their capacity to cope with environmental and climate variability. These conditions can be perceived within the calendar systems that have ancestrally guided indigenous groups as monitoring instruments to adequately respond to shocks and guarantee the stability of food security and livelihoods. Thus, the level of dependency and subsistence on natural resources among indigenous is recognized as a pathway to adaption principles, but
it also may be seen as a barrier when industrial developments and other external factors shape the sustainability of the biological and physical systems.
One of the alternatives that indigenous knowledge can deliver has its origin in the diversity of landscapes and ecosystems where they inhabit. These values are commonly protected and dynamically restored through the application of conservation practices and natural resource management which include the following aspects: diversification of crops, observations of biophysical changes in the natural environment, relocation strategies to land restoration and regeneration, seasonal ploughing, land selective fishing, among others. Thus, the impacts of climate change on people and ecosystems would be majorly noted where these management approaches are poorly developed but also among those whose capacities to cope with climatic and environmental transformations have been shaped by uncontrolled deforestation and land degradation. Other pressures encompass historical vulnerabilities such as food insecurity, water scarcity, monoculture and hazardous events in coastal areas. Under these conditions, the application of mitigation strategies in form of hard infrastructure, emergency responses or short term initiatives might be insufficient. In other words, it is required the identification of the main attributes of local communities and their livelihoods in order to explore resilience opportunities to develop adaptive capacities that bring opportunities for innovations, sustainable preparatory arrangements and more technical improvements.
In sum, the identification of indigenous values and the analysis of the traditional knowledge that have supported historical livelihood stability in times of rapid climatic and environmental transitions, might represent a milestone tool in a climate change context. As dependency and subsistence are common characteristics across these groups, solutions can be built if new forms of knowledge are constructed and incorporated in the scientific field. The co-production of knowledge and integrative collaborative models may facilitate the identification of sustainable mechanisms for the enhancement of biophysical and socio economic assets. On the other hand, the application of innovative and technological procedures into assets at risk, may support the stability of livelihoods at the local level, reducing climatic vulnerabilities and promoting the sustainability of natural resources.