Local and indigenous knowledge
in selected coastal and small island
communities
Despite its small size, Timor-Leste is quite diverse,
and can be divided into six agro-climatic zones and
three zones by rainfall and temperature patterns.
Timor-Leste is also rich in ethnic and cultural
diversity, with over 16 spoken languages. Although
the majority of the population is Catholic, there is
a wide variation in indigenous knowledge systems,
customs and governance structures. It is thus not
surprising that various forms of local and indigenous
knowledge (LINK) were identified in the three coastal
communities selected by the project. Observations
of the sun, moon, clouds, sea, animals, plants, and
insects allow these communities to predict storms,
heavy rainfall, floods, droughts, and landslides,
and have enabled them to better prepare for such