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.

Ethnozoological study of animals based medicine used by traditional healers and indigenous inhabitants in the adjoining areas of Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India.

Abstract: India has an immense faunal, floral, as well as cultural diversity with many ethnic communities who are primarily dependent on the traditional medicinal system for their primary health care. Documentation and evaluation of this indigenous remedial knowledge may be helpful to establish new drugs for human health. The present study is intended to look into different zootherapeutic medicinal uses in the traditional health care system among the native inhabitants adjacent to the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India. Field survey was carried out from March 2015 to August 2015 by personal interviews through semi-structured questionnaires. In some cases where participants were uncomfortable with the questionnaires, informal interviews and open group discussions were conducted with a total of 62 indigenous respondents (43 male and 19 female) who provided the information regarding various medicinal uses of animals and their products (local name of animal, mode of preparation, application etc). The study recorded a total of 44 different species, 44 genera and 36 families of animals which are used for the treatment of 40 different ailments. Insects occupied the highest uses (30.9%), followed by mammals (23.8%), fishes (16.7%), reptiles (11.9%), amphibians (7.1%), annelids (4.8%) and gastropods (4.8%). Further, some zootherapeutic animals i.e. cockroach (Periplaneta americana), praying mantis (Mantis religiosa) and earthworms (Metaphire houletti, Pheretima posthum) are used for the treatment of asthma, otorrhoea and cancer respectively. The findings suggest that the traditional zootherapeutic remedial measures followed by the native people adjacent to Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary plays an important role in their primary health care. The documentation of this indigenous knowledge on animal based medicines should be very helpful in the formulation of strategies for sustainable management and conservation of bio-resources as well as providing potential for the novel drugs discovery.

Indigenous natural-resource management systems for sustainable agricultural development—a global perspective†

Abstract: Increasing pressure for food production due to the rapidly growing population has led to the gradual disappearance of numerous indigenous knowledge systems (IKSs) related to natural resource management. This process exposes the earths natural resources to constant ecological instability (such as loss of genetic diversity) and severe environmental vulnerability (such as soil degradation and soil erosion). Recent research on indigenous natural resource management systems indicates that they are highly sophisticated and complex reflecting generations of careful observations of the natural and physical environment. Keeping these in view a literature review has been conducted to identify major consequences of the disappearance of IKSs related to natural resource management. An attempt has been made to categorize indigenous natural resource management systems. IKSs documented from all over the globe and received at the Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development (CIKARD) were used to illustrate specific instances of locally adapted and economically viable indigenous natural resource management systems. Such examples were found in indigenous agronomic practices agroforestry indigenous genetic resources and pastoral management. An integrated natural resource management model has been developed with an overall goal of increasing food production by small-scale farmers with a least amount of deterioration to natures resource base. The salient features of the proposed model include promoting small-scale farmer participation recording indigenous knowledge systems related to natural resource management conducting diagnostic interviews evaluating modern technologies and conducting on-farm farmer-oriented research (OFFOR) trials for integrating indigenous and modern technologies. Careful implementation of such a model could contribute to ameliorating the growing natural resource problems of the developing world such as soil erosion environmental degradation and ecological destruction. (authors)

Integrating local knowledge for climate change adaptation in Yucatán, Mexico

Abstract: The importance of local knowledge and traditional practices is now recognized by disaster risk reduction specialists, particularly in the aftermath of the tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004. However, these frequently used practices by local populations are not yet recognized by all actors involved in disaster prevention. This research seeks to identify local traditional practices which are connected to hydro-meteorological phenomena and climate change in the coastal areas of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Rio Lagartos Biosphere Reserve. The identification process requires observation, documentation, validation and categorization of local traditional knowledge. The traditional practices (mainly by fishermen as well as some farmers) examined specifically among the coastal populations relate to their habitat, natural resources, and fishing practices. Recognizing and valuing traditional knowledge will help improve resilience to the impact of disasters and the effects of climate change among coastal populations.