Erosion of traditional ecological knowledge under conditions of hydrosocial rupture: Insights from the Mekong floodplains communities

Abstract

What role does traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) play in resource-based livelihoods under conditions of hydrosocial rupture? Does such knowledge come into its own, or is it sidelined, even eroded and jeopardised? This paper addresses these core questions in the fragile floodscapes of the Vietnamese Mekong floodplains. It examines how TEK is intertwined with transboundary hydrological effects of climate and water infrastructural development, and in situ agriculture-driven development policies. Drawing on qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with relevant stakeholders alongside policy and social media documentations, the paper argues that while TEK is an inherent component of the floodplains communities’ adaptation, its erosion is caused by hydrosocial rupture characterised by compounding climate-development effects and associated floodwater disruptions, agrarian transitions, and rural–urban migration. The paper suggests that TEK should be integrated into adaptive agri-environmental governance policies, allowing floodplains communities to better navigate regional climate-development challenges.