Aligning Tradition, Innovation And Legal Frameworks: The Konda Reddi Tribe And The Indian Laurel In Sustainable Water Management
- IJLLR Journal
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Dr. Manan Dardi, Assistant Professor (Senior Scale) at VSLLS, Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies-Technical Campus(Affiliated to GGSIP University, New Delhi, India)
ABSTRACT
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEKs) has been applied by various indigenous tribes around the world over the last century to govern the environment in an ecologically friendly manner. The Konda Reddi Tribe of Andhra Pradesh, India, is one such tribe that utilises TEK to preserve and sustain biodiversity. As a result of living near their natural surroundings, the Konda Reddi Tribe have developed over time and has passed on to future generations methods for conserving and maintaining forest, water, etc., biodiversity. A method of preserving and maintaining biodiversity, as identified by the Konda Reddi Tribe, includes reverence for the Indian Laurel Tree (Terminalia tomentosa), which can conserve a significant amount of water and thus serve as an important resource for use during periods of drought and/or limited availability of clean drinking water.
The Indian Laurel Tree serves as a case study to demonstrate the applicability of indigenous knowledge systems to create increased ecological resilience and to assist with current conservation initiatives. Additionally, the article will discuss India’s legal framework concerning the formalisation and recognition of traditional knowledge systems and determine if the current laws provide sufficient protection for indigenous peoples. These laws include the Forest Rights Act, the Biological Diversity Act, the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and the jurisprudence regarding environmental rights under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Finally, the article will examine India’s international obligations as outlined in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing, and the norms as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Ultimately, the authors of this article advocate the creation of a comprehensive environmental law that includes all aspects of traditional knowledge systems and promotes both legal equity and cultural preservation, while promoting the long-term health of the planet.
Keywords: Traditional Knowledge, Konda Reddi Tribe, Indian Laurel Tree, Water Conservation, Sustainable Resource Management, Environmental Governance.
