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ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF COAL MINING ON HOPI LAND, WATER AND FARMING PRACTICES THROUGH MERGING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
Impact/Purpose:
This research explores how fossil fuel development affected local food systems and natural resources on the Hopi Indian Reservation. Employing a multidisciplinary approach that examines scientific data in conjunction with Hopi environmental knowledge, this project examines the local effects of coal and ground water mining on Hopi land use, water resources and agricultural biodiversity since 1970.
Description:
This study hypothesizes that coal and ground water mining on the Hopi Indian Reservation adversely affected local food systems through the depletion of ground water, limiting the ability of farmers and gardeners to produce traditional crops dependent on these water resources. The analysis of formal scientific studies in conjunction with local ecological knowledge acquired through interviews will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the environmental, social and cultural implications of mining activities on the Hopi Indian Reservation.
Potential to Further Environmental/Human Health Protection
This research demonstrates the importance of incorporating local ecological knowledge in environmental research. On a local level, the project will produce a usable archive of information on changes in water resources, crop diversity and agricultural practices since 1970 that can be utilized by the Hopi Tribe in the further development of water and food security initiatives. On national and global levels, this research has the potential to protect human and environmental health through the creation of a methodological model that utilizes local ecological knowledge, environmental history and formal scientific research to understand and address the environmental implications of fossil fuel development on local populations, food systems and water resources.