Mission
Transformative change through a focus on re-visibilization of relations among humans and the rest of nature, rather than reconnection of humans to nature, thus rethinking human-nature relations and ‘human nature’.
Vision
Weaving experiences and knowledges of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners to co-design practical solutions that address the interlinked global crises of biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution, and intensifying social inequality and political turmoil (aka the ‘polycrisis’).
About the FIRI project.
Our driving question: How can transdisciplinary transformative change initiatives (TTCIs) that focus on human-nature relations be adapted to better address the global polycrisis (biodiversity loss, climate change, political instability, widening social inequality, etc.)?
This project engages critical social sciences and centers Indigenous Peoples' holistic perspectives on relationships and responsibilities to highlight interdependencies among humans and the rest of nature. Transdisciplinary transformative change initiatives (TTCIs) often struggle to create the needed paradigm shifts to tackle the polycrisis. Current initiatives often struggle with either being too theoretical or overlooking root causes of the crises. Some TTCIs do focus on reconnecting people to nature but treat nature as something separate from us, and other humans as inconsequential for human-nature relations, missing true and holistic interdependence. Additionally, while some TTCIs include Indigenous Peoples' perspectives, they often do so superficially.
This project coordinated our team of Indigenous stewardship specialists/Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) holders, Swiss nature conservation practitioners/Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) holders and academic researchers in the coproduction of a novel adaptive transformative change approach that combines sustainability science, political ecology theory, and Indigenous and practitioner knowledge on equal standing.
Those that tackle fundamental questions about power dynamics in societies (e.g. how do they emerge, replicate, and reinforce themselves? How do they create barriers for change? See our related project here.)
Collaborations among academic and non-academic experts (such as local and Indigenous communities, practitioners, artists, policy-makers, etc.) with the intent to transform society or certain aspects of it.
The FIRI project design is groundbreaking in at least 3 ways:
01.
It weaves the experiences and knowledges of Indigenous and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners from the outset to co-design practical solutions that address the polycrisis
02.
It invites the intervention of Indigenous Peoples in Western lands and practices, rather than the other way around (‘flip it’)
03.
It aims to center holistic understandings of the world in dichotomous contexts (e.g. nature/culture) in order to reverse both the colonial flow of power/knowledge and the (imagined) disconnection among humans and the rest of nature (‘reverse it’)
FIRI consists of 3 phases
A
Problem framing and team building
Through a series of meetings and workshops, we used critical social science-informed team-building exercises* to understand the root cause(s) of the polycrisis from multiple perspectives. Our meetings and workshops included cross-cultural and decolonial training, exploration of the role of decolonization in the Swiss context, problem identification, development of a common understanding of each other’s unique perspectives and languages, and identification and assignment of responsibilities. (*see our related project here)
B
Coproduction of generalized protocols, practices, and methods
We coproduced generalized protocols, practices, and methods (PPMs) for (re)visibilizing socioecological connections, and are in the process of co-developing a contextually adaptable ‘prototype’ and assessment methods based on these PPMs. As a team, we chose two case studies in Switzerland to experiment with our PPMs: rethinking education with respect to the concept of ‘wilderness’ and human-wolf interactions. Based on these case studies, we co-developed research questions and plan to co-develop, implement, and assess initiatives in a follow-up stage (currently on hold until funding is secured).
C
Analysis and (re)integration and application of created knowledge
We used interview guides and questionnaires for regular reflection and assessment of our process and progress, and findings were consistently discussed and incorporated back into the process. On the final day of our second workshop, we invited external experts to share and discuss the lessons we gained through the process. We also share our findings at conferences when time and funding allow (e.g. the 2024 International Transdisciplinary Conference [ITD 24]).
Through the coalescence of these phases, this project has advanced theoretical and practical knowledge to assist in the effectiveness of transformative change. The project outcomes offer both a pathway forward toward practical solutions to the polycrisis, as well as a means to adapt and multiply this pathway in various contexts.
protocols, practices, and methods for re-visibilizing human-human/-nature Relations in transdisciplinary transformative change initiatives
