IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i10p4472-d1655730.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

From Roots to Resilience: Exploring the Drivers of Indigenous Entrepreneurship for Climate Adaptation

Author

Listed:
  • Indunil P. Dharmasiri

    (Department of Geography, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA)

  • Eranga K. Galappaththi

    (Department of Geography, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA)

  • Timothy D. Baird

    (Department of Geography, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA)

  • Anamaria Bukvic

    (Department of Geography, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA)

  • Santosh Rijal

    (Department of Geography, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA)

Abstract

Our study investigates the drivers that foster the emergence of entrepreneurial responses to climate change among Indigenous communities. Indigenous peoples possess distinct worldviews and approaches to enterprise that prioritize community well-being and environmental stewardship over individual profit. Conventional entrepreneurship theories do not adequately capture Indigenous business approaches, leaving a limited understanding of how Indigenous communities merge traditional ecological knowledge with entrepreneurial activities to adapt to climate challenges. Through a systematic literature review (65 articles) and a case study of six Sri Lankan Vedda communities, we identified 15 key drivers that shape Indigenous climate-adaptive ventures and categorized them under five themes: (1) place-based relationships (resource stewardship, territorial connections, environmental risk factors); (2) intergenerational learning (traditional knowledge transfer, adaptation learning, collective experience); (3) community institutions (social networks, institutional support, overcoming the agency–structure paradox); (4) collective capacity (access to information, access to capital, community-oriented entrepreneurial traits); and (5) culturally aligned venture strategies (Indigenous business models, traditional products, local market relationships). Our study demonstrates how Vedda communities integrate entrepreneurship with cultural values to enhance climate resilience. Our research advances the field of Indigenous entrepreneurship while providing insights for policymakers and practitioners to support culturally appropriate climate adaptation strategies that enhance both community well-being and environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Indunil P. Dharmasiri & Eranga K. Galappaththi & Timothy D. Baird & Anamaria Bukvic & Santosh Rijal, 2025. "From Roots to Resilience: Exploring the Drivers of Indigenous Entrepreneurship for Climate Adaptation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-26, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4472-:d:1655730
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4472/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/10/4472/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Giuseppe Forino & Jason von Meding, 2021. "Climate change adaptation across businesses in Australia: interpretations, implementations, and interactions," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(12), pages 18540-18555, December.
    2. York, Jeffrey G. & Venkataraman, S., 2010. "The entrepreneur-environment nexus: Uncertainty, innovation, and allocation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 25(5), pages 449-463, September.
    3. Eranga K. Galappaththi & James D. Ford & Elena M. Bennett, 2020. "Climate change and adaptation to social-ecological change: the case of indigenous people and culture-based fisheries in Sri Lanka," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(2), pages 279-300, September.
    4. Abdou Matsalabi Ado & Jin Leshan & Patrice Savadogo & Li Bo & Ashfaq Ahmad Shah, 2019. "Farmers’ awareness and perception of climate change impacts: case study of Aguie district in Niger," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(6), pages 2963-2977, December.
    5. Hunt, Richard A. & Song, Yue & Townsend, David M. & Stallkamp, Maximilian, 2021. "Internationalization of entrepreneurial firms: Leveraging real options reasoning through affordable loss logics," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 194-207.
    6. Murphy, Matthew & Danis, Wade M. & Mack, Johnny & Sayers, (Kekinusuqs) Judith, 2020. "From principles to action: Community-based entrepreneurship in the Toquaht Nation," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(6).
    7. Gerard George & Ryan K. Merrill & Simon J. D. Schillebeeckx, 2021. "Digital Sustainability and Entrepreneurship: How Digital Innovations Are Helping Tackle Climate Change and Sustainable Development," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(5), pages 999-1027, September.
    8. Léo-Paul Dana & Robert B. Anderson (ed.), 2007. "International Handbook of Research on Indigenous Entrepreneurship," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 3449, March.
    9. repec:aer:wpaper:8ba6258246c7 is not listed on IDEAS
    10. Antonis Skouloudis & Thomas Tsalis & Ioannis Nikolaou & Konstantinos Evangelinos & Walter Leal Filho, 2020. "Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises, Organizational Resilience Capacity and Flash Floods: Insights from a Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    11. Shilpa Sindhu & Shweta Dahiya & Parveen Siwach & Anupama Panghal, 2021. "Adoption of sustainable business practices by entrepreneurs: modelling the drivers," World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 17(6), pages 704-722.
    12. Rosemary Atieno, 2001. "Formal and informal institutions' lending policies and access to credit by small-scale enterprises in Kenya: An empirical assessment," Working Papers 3f5dfbed-d20c-4204-8a1e-8, African Economic Research Consortium.
    13. Harkes, I.H.T. & Drengstig, A. & Kumara, M.P. & Jayasinghe, J.M.P.K. & Huxham, M., 2015. "Shrimp aquaculture as a vehicle for Climate Compatible Development in Sri Lanka. The case of Puttalam Lagoon," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 273-283.
    14. J. Michael Haynie & Dean A. Shepherd & Jeffery S. McMullen, 2009. "An Opportunity for Me? The Role of Resources in Opportunity Evaluation Decisions," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(3), pages 337-361, May.
    15. Lokman I. Meho, 2006. "E‐mail interviewing in qualitative research: A methodological discussion," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 57(10), pages 1284-1295, August.
    16. repec:aer:wpaper:111 is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Howard H. Frederick, 2018. "The emergence of biosphere entrepreneurship: are social and business entrepreneurship obsolete?," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 34(3), pages 381-419.
    18. Antonio Padilla-Meléndez & Juan Jose Plaza-Angulo & Ana Rosa Del-Aguila-Obra & Antonio Manuel Ciruela-Lorenzo, 2022. "Indigenous Entrepreneurship. Current issues and future lines," Entrepreneurship & Regional Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1-2), pages 6-31, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Faridah Shariyah binti Sharuddin & Rohayu binti Roddin, 2025. "Frugal Innovation as a Strategy for MSME Resilience in Community-Based Tourism: A Conceptual Review," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 9(7), pages 3697-3706, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Patrick Gregori & Patrick Holzmann, 2022. "Entrepreneurial practices and the constitution of environmental value for sustainability," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 3302-3317, November.
    2. Emilia Herman, 2022. "The Interplay between Digital Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Development in the Context of the EU Digital Economy: A Multivariate Analysis," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-28, May.
    3. Leonardo Mazzoni & Silvia Rita Sedita, 2025. "Unpacking the drivers of the socio-environmental sustainability of new ventures: insights from innovative digital start-ups in Italy," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 1-35, December.
    4. Jan Wiers & Didier Chabaud, 2022. "Bibliometric analysis of immigrant entrepreneurship research 2009–2019," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 12(1), pages 441-464, December.
    5. Jinshan Zhang & Man Liu, 2024. "How to Leverage Digital Sustainability Orientation to Promote Environmentally Sustainable Practices of Manufacturing Enterprises in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Febi Jensen & Hans Lööf & Andreas Stephan, 2020. "New ventures in Cleantech: Opportunities, capabilities and innovation outcomes," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 902-917, March.
    7. Muhammad Farooq Islam & Ozge Can, 2024. "Integrating digital and sustainable entrepreneurship through business models: a bibliometric analysis," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 14(1), pages 1-18, December.
    8. Samuel Mayanja & Joseph M. Ntayi & John C. Munene & Waswa Balunywa & James R. K. Kagaari, 2021. "Informational differences and entrepreneurial networking among small and medium enterprises in Uganda," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 11(1), pages 563-577, December.
    9. Muñoz, Pablo & Cohen, Boyd, 2017. "Towards a social-ecological understanding of sustainable venturing," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 7(C), pages 1-8.
    10. Ferreira, Joao J. & Fernandes, Cristina I. & Veiga, Pedro Mota & Caputo, Andrea, 2022. "The interactions of entrepreneurial attitudes, abilities and aspirations in the (twin) environmental and digital transitions? A dynamic panel data approach," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    11. Wadhah Alzahmi & Karam Al-Assaf & Ryan Alshaikh & Israa Al Khaffaf & Malick Ndiaye, 2025. "Strategic Business Model Development for Sustainable Fashion Startups: Insights from the BANU Case in Senegal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-23, June.
    12. Lois M. Shelton & Maria Minniti, 2018. "Enhancing product market access: Minority entrepreneurship, status leveraging, and preferential procurement programs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 50(3), pages 481-498, March.
    13. Wim Naudé, 2007. "Peace, Prosperity, and Pro-Growth Entrepreneurship," WIDER Working Paper Series DP2007-02, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    14. Jaskiewicz, Peter & Combs, James G. & Rau, Sabine B., 2015. "Entrepreneurial legacy: Toward a theory of how some family firms nurture transgenerational entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 29-49.
    15. Alterskye, Alex & Fuller, Ted & Caputo, Andrea, 2023. "Field dynamics as context – A multi-perspective combined analysis of the effects of context on entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    16. Yi Liang & Jung-Mo Koo & Min-Jae Lee, 2024. "The Interplay of Environmental Dynamism, Digitalization Capability, Green Entrepreneurial Orientation, and Sustainable Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-17, September.
    17. Shirvani Dastgerdi, Ahmadreza & Sargolini, Massimo & Broussard Allred, Shorna & Chatrchyan, Allison Morrill & Drescher, Michael & DeGeer, Christopher, 2022. "Climate change risk reduction in cultural landscapes: Insights from Cinque Terre and Waterloo," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    18. Marek Krok & Paweł Majewski & Wojciech P. Hunek & Tomasz Feliks, 2022. "Energy Optimization of the Continuous-Time Perfect Control Algorithm," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-13, February.
    19. Jones, Raymond J. & Barnir, Anat, 2019. "Properties of opportunity creation and discovery: Comparing variation in contexts of innovativeness," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-10.
    20. Tina C. Ambos & Katherine Tatarinov, 2023. "Fit for solving the grand challenges? From organization design choices to ecosystem solutions," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 12(4), pages 255-262, December.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:10:p:4472-:d:1655730. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.