scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Topic

Traditional knowledge

About: Traditional knowledge is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 10825 publications have been published within this topic receiving 202790 citations. The topic is also known as: indigenous knowledge & indigenous knowledge system.


Papers
More filters
Journal Article
TL;DR: It is asserted that under certain circumstances, informal institutions may offer advantages relative to formal measures of conservation and these benefits include non-costly, voluntary compliance features.
Abstract: This synthesis addresses local institutions and associated management practices related to natural resources and ecosystem dynamics, with an emphasis on traditional ecological knowledge systems. Traditional practices for ecosystem management include multiple species management, resource rotation, ecological monitoring, succession management, landscape patchiness management and practices of responding to and managing pulses and ecological surprises. There exist practices that seem to reduce social-ecological crises in the events of large-scale natural disturbance such as creating small-scale ecosystem renewal cycles, spreading risks and nurturing sources of ecosystem reorganization and renewal. Ecological knowledge and monitoring among local groups appears to be a key element in the development of many of the practices. The practices are linked to social mechanisms such as flexible user rights and land tenure; adaptations for the generation, accumulation and transmission of ecological knowledge; dynamics of institutions; mechanisms for cultural internalization of traditional practices; and associated worldviews and cultural values. We dive deeper into the role of informal social institutions in resource management, such as many taboo systems. We find that taboos may contribute to the conservation of habitats, local subsistence resources and 'threatened', 'endemic' and 'keystone' species, although some may run contrary to conservation and notions of sustainability. It is asserted that under certain circumstances, informal institutions may offer advantages relative to formal measures of conservation. These benefits include non-costly, voluntary compliance features. Since management of ecosystems is associated with uncertainty about their spatial and temporal dynamics and due to incomplete knowledge about such dynamics, local management practices and associated institutions may provide useful 'rules of thumb' for resource management with an ability to confer resilience and tighten environmental feedbacks of resource exploitation to local levels.

66 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue for a careful historical investigation of the manner in which scientific managerial knowledge emerges in the field of forestry, focusing on the specific period in the history of Bengal (1893-1937) when scientific forestry was formalized and institutionalized.
Abstract: Informed by debates on development discourse local knowledge and the history of colonial conservation this article argues for a careful historical investigation of the manner in which scientific managerial knowledge emerges in the field of forestry It makes its case by focusing on the specific period in the history of Bengal (1893-1937) when scientific forestry was formalized and institutionalized The processes and conflicts through which local knowledge gets encoded as scientific canon have to be understood to generate effective managerial devolution in participatory projects This requires an engagement with public understandings of science as practice that arises from a dynamic critique of static and undifferentiated notions of development discourse or local knowledge (authors)

66 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: This study found the traditional knowledge of healing and use of medicinal plants is disseminated through generations by family members, however, the acquisition of academic qualifications is now a priority, and formal training is taking place in the workplace and a university.
Abstract: This exploratory ethnobotanical study took place in Kumasi, the capital city of the Asante, one of the Akan tribes. Data was collected using the multi-method approach of descriptive review, semi-structured interviews with traditional medical practitioners, and brief scientific review. Traditional Akan medicine is holistic and does not separate the physical world from the supernatural world. It is deeply rooted in traditional religion, with illness seen as a departure from the natural equilibrium. Traditional healers are either spiritually based or non-spiritually based. This study found the traditional knowledge of healing and use of medicinal plants is disseminated through generations by family members. However, the acquisition of academic qualifications is now a priority, and formal training is taking place in the workplace and a university. Techniques used in diagnosis and treatment consist of a fusion of traditional and biomedical methods. Treatment of hypertension was used as an example, with all practitioners recognizing hypertension’s clinical signs and symptoms. Medicinal plants are predominantly wildcrafted and dispensed mainly by decoction, although prepared formulas are given. To prevent self-medication, patients are seen frequently. Scientific evidence validates the pharmacological actions of the medicinal plants. Public health care in Ghana is accessed by a “cash and carry” system that is only available to those who can afford it. Approximately 75 percent of the population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care. A national health insurance scheme was introduced in 2004, and it has been proposed that traditional medicine will be integrated into this new system. (Altern Med Rev 2005;10(2):112-122)

66 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explored the biological and cultural benefits of a collaborative cross-cultural biodiversity project of Indigenous rangers and university ecologists in remote northern Australia, and demonstrated that top-down policy directives can be implemented to deliver on-ground mutual benefits for science and Indigenous communities.
Abstract: In the midst of global species loss, Indigenous languages and culture are experiencing similar declines. Current international policies and programs advocate the involvement of local and Indigenous people in sustaining biodiversity and culture, but the anticipated benefits are not always realized or assessed. This paper draws on three objectives of current international and Australian policy to explore the biological and cultural benefits of a collaborative cross-cultural biodiversity project of Indigenous rangers and university ecologists in remote northern Australia. Policies promoting blends of biological and cultural conservation from International to national scale share the following objectives: (1) involve Indigenous Peoples in biodiversity conservation; (2) maintain and develop Indigenous knowledge and culture; and (3) recognize and promote Indigenous natural and cultural resource management and traditional knowledge. This paper reflects on the project benefits in the context of these objectives, with the aim of informing future policy and program development. Biodiversity benefits of the cross-cultural project included new public records for a relatively poorly known but species rich area that are being used to inform local Indigenous land management, as well as specimens and tissue samples with which to explore the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the region. Cultural benefits included compiling a local field guide that contains ten different languages and engaging young people to facilitate intergenerational transfer of threatened traditional knowledge. Promotion of the work at local to national fora addressed the third objective and enhanced Indigenous involvement. We demonstrate that top-down policy directives can be implemented to deliver on-ground mutual benefits for science and Indigenous communities.

66 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that traditional medicine the indigenous knowledge that encompasses traditional healing and folklore remedies is a viable alternative system to treat HIV in South Africa.

66 citations


Network Information
Related Topics (5)
Sustainability
129.3K papers, 2.5M citations
76% related
Agriculture
80.8K papers, 1.3M citations
75% related
Food security
44.4K papers, 918.6K citations
75% related
Biodiversity
44.8K papers, 1.9M citations
75% related
Land use
57K papers, 1.1M citations
74% related
Performance
Metrics
No. of papers in the topic in previous years
YearPapers
2023468
2022966
2021533
2020645
2019629
2018616