Published Paper Details:

Through generations of close engagement with their surroundings, Indigenous and local communities have developed cumulative, adaptive, and place-based knowledge known as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). TEK offers a comprehensive understanding of ecosystems, species behavior, seasonal cycles, and sustainable resource management. It is based on cultural beliefs, practices, and oral traditions. TEK is becoming more widely acknowledged as an essential supplement to scientific approaches in biodiversity and land conservation, especially as society contends with rapid biodiversity loss, land degradation, and climate change (1,2).The importance of TEK in protecting ecological balance and managing natural resources is examined in this review. TEK-based methods demonstrating sustainable land use and biodiversity conservation include community-managed forests, rotational farming, sacred groves, and traditional irrigation systems (3). Through culturally embedded practices, indigenous communities around the world--such as Aboriginal Australians, the Inuit, and in India, the Bishnoi, Apatani, and Khasi-Garo tribes--have successfully conserved ecosystems. Where scientific data is scarce, TEK excels in community-led species identification and habitat restoration initiatives (4,5).Globalization, ecosystem disruption, cultural deterioration, and weak legal protections pose major threats to TEK despite its importance (Aswani et al., 2018). Furthermore, urgent calls for Indigenous data sovereignty and equitable partnerships have emerged in reaction to ethical concerns surrounding TEK exploitation (3). Future conservation efforts must bridge TEK and contemporary science through ethical collaboration, policy support, and participatory models (2,4). This paper advocates for the recognition, preservation, and integration of TEK into national and global conservation strategies. Respecting Indigenous rights and empowering communities will foster biodiversity resilience, cultural continuity, and sustainable development.