What is traditional knowledge, and why does it matter for biodiversity?
Presented by ClearTrust Free for classrooms, newsrooms and the curious.
Traditional knowledge is what a people have learned about their land, plants, animals and seasons over many generations. It matters for biodiversity because indigenous peoples look after a large share of the world's remaining natural areas, and their practices often keep forests, grasslands and waters healthy.
This knowledge is built by observing one place closely over a very long time and passing the lessons on. It includes which plants heal, when fish spawn, how to read weather, and rules that stop over-harvesting, such as closed seasons and protected groves.
Studies have found that lands managed by indigenous peoples often have lower rates of forest loss than nearby lands. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reported in 2019 that nature is generally declining less rapidly on indigenous peoples' lands than elsewhere.
Practical examples include cultural burning by Aboriginal peoples in Australia to prevent severe fires, sacred groves protected by communities across India, and rotational farming that lets forest regrow. In each case a rule or custom handed down over generations keeps a resource from being used up.
International agreements now recognise this. The Convention on Biological Diversity asks countries to respect and maintain traditional knowledge, and to share benefits fairly when it is used. The knowledge belongs to its holders, so using it should involve their consent and proper credit.
Words used here
Sources
- IPBES: Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Servicesipbes.net
- Convention on Biological Diversity: Traditional knowledgecbd.int