Indigenous Ecological Knowledge: Concepts, Contributions And Challenges For Contemporary Environmental Governance
- IJLLR Journal
- 19 hours ago
- 1 min read
Priyamvada Shukla, Research Scholar, Faculty of Law, University of Lucknow
ABSTRACT
Indigenous ecological knowledge, often called Traditional Ecological Knowledge or Indigenous and Local Knowledge constitutes long-standing, place-based bodies of knowledge, practices and worldviews that govern human relationships with ecosystems. This paper examines the conceptual foundations of IEK, reviews empirical evidence of its contributions to biodiversity conservation, resource management, and resilience in the face of global change and analyses legal and policy frameworks for its recognition and protection. The paper critically highlights the tensions between scientific–technocratic models of environmental regulation and community- based knowledge systems, highlighting how dominant legal frameworks often marginalize Indigenous knowledge without ensuring knowledge sovereignty, meaningful participation, or equitable benefit-sharing.
Using the Indian context as a primary reference, the paper reviews constitutional provisions, statutory instruments such as the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and key judicial decisions to assess the extent to which IEK is recognized and protected within existing legal structures. It argues that while there is a growing normative acknowledgment of community stewardship and traditional knowledge, implementation gaps and institutional barriers continue to limit the transformative potential of IEK in environmental governance.
The paper further contends that integrating IEK into formal decision-making processes is not merely a technical exercise but a question of epistemic justice and democratic inclusion. By advocating for a pluralistic approach to environmental governance that respects Indigenous worldviews and rights, the study seeks to contribute to ongoing debates on sustainable development, environmental justice, and the decolonization of knowledge systems.
