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The Vital Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Addressing the Biodiversity and Climate Crises

Indigenous peoples worldwide are deeply connected to the natural world, with many ancestral practices often rooted in environmental stewardship. These communities hold a remarkable track record: As of 2018, Indigenous peoples stewarded or held tenure rights over more than one-quarter of the Earth’s land, representing at least 37 percent of the remaining natural areas—lands with low ecological disturbance—across the globe (Fernández-Llamazares et al., 2024). The extent of this stewardship is particularly striking, considering that Indigenous Peoples make up only just over six percent of the world’s population.
Why are Indigenous communities so successful at protecting and caring for the environment? One of the central tenets behind this success is traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), a deep, place-based, and culturally infused understanding of the natural world, passed down through generations (Robbins, 2018). Despite existing for thousands of years, academics, scientists, and policymakers have often undervalued TEK. This neglect is disheartening and unfortunate, as TEK offers critical insights into addressing many of the daunting issues we face today.

While awareness and interest in TEK have grown among scientists and other stakeholders, numerous barriers still stand in the way of incorporating TEK in mainstream Western science—also referred to as scientific ecological knowledge (SEK). These hurdles include the improper assumption that TEK is less credible or less valid than SEK; the flawed view that many people hold about the incompatibility of SEK and TEK; and the potential challenges that arise due to the interconnectedness of place, culture, and language with this knowledge. Despite these hurdles, many tools and strategies can be leveraged to ensure that TEK is effectively integrated with SEK and other knowledge bases while developing and implementing management plans, sustainability practices, and environmental policy.

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What is Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)?

At its core, TEK is a body of knowledge developed by Indigenous peoples over centuries through direct interaction with the environment. It fosters stewardship and sustainability by promoting a harmonious relationship between humans and nature—relationships maintained from generation to generation (Francis, 2021). TEK emphasizes this reciprocity between humans and nature, is informed by cultural memories, is sensitive to change, and continuously evolves (Oregon State University). It is also preserved through oral tradition and cultural expressions, including arts, crafts, ceremonies, and traditional food collection, preparation, and cultivation (Finn et al., 2017). 

Numerous powerful examples of TEK in action exist, one of which comes from the Adirondack region of the United States. Indigenous peoples have long used controlled burns to manage forest undergrowth in this region. This practice helps prevent more significant, uncontrollable wildfires and encourages the growth of plants vital for food and medicine. It also aids in preserving the health of the forest ecosystem while also enhancing biodiversity and resilience to climate change, which is just one of many examples illustrating how traditional knowledge can support conservation efforts (Bennett, 2024).

Over nine thousand miles away, in Australia’s Kimberley Region, a second important example involves Indigenous fire management practices incorporated into the Kimberley Land Council’s Indigenous fire management program. This program combines Indigenous knowledge and techniques with modern science and technology to effectively manage fires and limit the potential for large uncontrolled wildfires (Kimberley Land Council).

A third instance of the application of TEK within Indigenous communities can be found in the mountainous region of northern Luzon, Philippines, where the Ifugaos utilize rice terraces carved into the mountainsides. There have been efforts in the area to integrate the water management techniques used to maintain the terraces and incorporate Ifugao forestry management practices. The Indigenous practices carried out in watershed and forest areas are collectively called “muyong,” and efforts have been made to integrate these practices in other areas. These practices contribute to soil and water conservation, play a crucial role in ensuring a continuous and stable water supply for these terraces, contribute to the protection of numerous plant and animal species, and provide wood and fuel to the Ifugao people (Camacho et al., 2014; Buminaang-Mendoza, 2014).

These are just a few examples demonstrating the value of TEK; outside of these cases, many other Indigenous communities rely on TEK in ways that illustrate its value and its potential for addressing numerous critical issues.

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The Growing Interest in TEK

There has been growing recognition of TEK’s value in recent years, especially in environmental science and biomedicine. Academic researchers, public institutions, and government agencies increasingly acknowledge that the region-specific knowledge of TEK is crucial for conserving biodiversity, protecting ecological processes, and executing sustainable resource management, particularly on Tribal lands (Finn et al., 2017). As biodiversity continues to decline and climate change accelerates, there is an urgent need to integrate TEK into more areas of scientific research and policy-making (Robbins, 2018). 

TEK offers a more holistic view of ecosystems than Western science, and it delivers detailed long-term observations that are invaluable for understanding ecological processes. Indigenous Peoples comprise just over six percent of the global population, yet they protect over 37 percent of the world’s natural areas—areas that are considered to have experienced minimal ecological disturbance—demonstrating the efficacy of their practices (Fernández-Llamazares, 2024). It is clear that this form of knowledge has been honed over thousands of years of close interaction with the environment, and it often provides insights that Western science may not capture.

Further, in contrast to the more quantitative and shorter-term studies of SEK, TEK tends to be qualitative and focused on long-term, place-based observations of ecological relationships. Since Indigenous communities often have strong ties to a particular location, the data collected is applied at a specific place, offering a broad and detailed perspective that covers a much longer time period than most studies conducted in an institutional setting. The later form of science is often much more narrowly focused and encompasses a shorter time frame. It also relies largely on written data and experiments, which can be limited in scope and context. Both approaches use data, but TEK offers a more nuanced and integrated view of the world (Hatfield, 2017; Kimmerer, 2002; Robbins, 2018). 

The observations made via TEK are often passed down orally, making them flexible and readily adaptable to new information. It is also worth noting that the people who make these observations have strong personal and familial connections to their study locations and many observations concern ecological phenomena directly related to resources. This means that the observers’ survival hinges on the reliability of these observations (Hatfield, 2017; Kimmerer, 2002). 

For instance, in Canada, Inuit traditional knowledge, referred to as Qaujimajatuqangit (Khao-yee-muh-yah-tut-khanggeet), consists of historical and current observations passed down orally through many generations. Stemming from local adaptation and meticulous observations, it offers unique cultural insights of the Inuit into the natural world, humans, and animals. This knowledge provides valuable data on phenomena and species like the Arctic’s animal populations and their movements, migratory patterns, and typical foraging locations–details that may not have been wholly investigated and recorded if not for Inuit communities (Digital Museums Canada, 2015). Read more about TEK in Canada here.

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The Power of TEK in Addressing Climate Change Across the Globe

TEK is particularly valuable when addressing climate change. It can offer insights into the impacts of climate change on ecological processes and phenomena, provide important information related to short- and medium-term weather forecasting, and contribute to our understanding of human-environment interactions (Lemi, 2019; Vinyeta & Lynn, 2013). Recent efforts have been underway to integrate TEK into the efforts of public agencies and NGOPs to develop climate change planning, policies, education, and research (Vinyeta & Lynn, 2013).

While many of the current climate models are beneficial, they often lack qualitative measures of human interaction issues. TEK offers a holistic approach, providing information on how Indigenous peoples adapt cultural practices to changes in climate. As such, TEK can provide insights into these qualitative aspects that existing datasets cannot fully capture. Integrating TEK with Scientific Ecological Knowledge (SEK) creates more comprehensive datasets, offering a system-wide understanding of climate impacts, and revealing information that might otherwise be overlooked (Hatfield, 2017; Vinyeta & Lynn, 2013).

TEK is also particularly important in the context of climate change because Indigenous peoples have centuries of experience adapting to environmental shifts. In the Arctic specifically, where climate change is occurring much faster than the rest of the globe, Indigenous knowledge provides critical insights that can complement SEK data. Since shifts in the environment directly affect the survival of Indigenous communities, Indigenous hunters and fishers who have observed changes in the landscape over generations are often the first to notice them. Their knowledge of local ecosystems helps fill in the gaps left by remote sensing technologies (Robbins, 2018; Vinyeta & Lynn, 2013). 

In Australia, land managers have adopted Indigenous fire management practices to lessen the risk of climate change-exacerbated wildfires. These practices involve controlled burns to reduce fuel loads, help prevent large fires, and maintain and protect habitats for various species (Robbins, 2018).

To read more about these practices, here are some articles:

• Kimberley Land Council Indigenous Fire Management program: link here
• Indigenous fire management in Northern Australia: link here
• History of fire management in Australia and “Cool Burning” practices: link here
• More about “Cool Burning”: link here

In Kenya, various nonprofit organizations and Indigenous groups have collaborated. For example, the nonprofit organization Natural Justice works with Indigenous communities to ensure their voices are heard and their knowledge is included in climate-related decision-making and regulatory frameworks. Essentially, they help involve Indigenous peoples in policymaking, leveraging TEK to create more effective and equitable solutions for addressing and mitigating climate change. Read more about the organization and its efforts here.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has validated TEK in the United States to support the Long-Term Ecological Research Program (Kimmerer, 2002). This program aims to address specific ecological questions that need to be answered with longer-term observations and experiments. The goals are to locate the research at sites representing major ecosystem types and natural biomes and to emphasize long-term ecological monitoring. This program also hopes to enhance our understanding of the long-term dynamics of populations, communities, and entire ecosystems—a field where current data and understanding are insufficient due to the logistical challenges of studying phenomena over long periods (LTER Network). There are currently 27 sites, and the program is ongoing. New site proposals are being accepted when the need has been identified. To read more about this ongoing program, visit the site here.

During previous administrations, there were efforts from the United States Federal Government to incorporate TEK nationally. On November 15, 2021, President Biden announced the initiative “Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Federal Decision Making,” which aims to honor and integrate TEK into federal action, representing a significant advancement by the administration in deepening the nation-to-nation relationships. While the announcement alone does not correct more considerable invisibility challenges that Indigenous Peoples face, it does represent an acknowledgment that Indigenous people co-exist as sovereigns and, therefore, should have a vested interest in the lands shared, including working in partnership to face mutual difficulties such as the protection and stewardship of lands and the environment (Francis, 2021). Unfortunately, with the start of the Trump presidency in 2025, the pages associated with these efforts have been archived and are no longer active.

This announcement set the foundation for the TEK effort’s initial framework. As Francis (2021) mentions, the independent, nonprofit Indigenous-focused news source ICT (Indian Country Today) needs to engage in forthcoming consultations to ensure that future administrations correctly execute all the details and that the result reflects a free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) model. The FPIC model hinges on the idea that any entities that plan to implement measures that may impact Indigenous Peoples must obtain the consent of these communities before carrying out these actions. In this situation, the Biden administration leveraged experts in this area and formed a tribal advisory body to ensure that the TEK partnership framework is mutually agreeable.

For further reading, visit these sources:

• Update from the White House about the memorandum (archived): link here
• Memorandum for the Heads of Departments and Agencies (archived): link here
• EPA Environmental Justice Webinar Series for Tribes and Indigenous Peoples: Advancing Traditional Knowledge in Federal Decision Making: link here

In sum, TEK is a comprehensive repository of information about phenomena over long periods that offers a unique approach to studying the natural world and addressing environmental challenges, including climate change. Further, since the adverse effects of climate change disproportionately impact Indigenous People because of their connection to and reliance on ecosystem goods and services (Lemi, 2019), these groups and their knowledge should be fully included and considered when creating and implementing climate change initiatives.

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Resistance and Barriers to TEK Adoption

After exploring why TEK is valuable and credible, it is disheartening that it is often overlooked and discounted. Despite its strengths, TEK is often seen as irrelevant in spaces that rely on Western science (Finn et al., 2017; Hatfield et al., 2017). There are multiple reasons why this may be the case.

One central barrier is the insufficient understanding and respect for Indigenous knowledge systems (Finn et al., 2017; Hatfield et al., 2017). A major player in this dismissal is the exceptionally problematic and long-standing marginalization of Indigenous peoples, including their cultures and ways of knowing. This deep-seated marginalization is primarily rooted in colonialism, which historically sought to suppress Indigenous cultures and knowledge. Particularly in the United States, Indigenous peoples and TEK have been excluded from decision-making processes and disregarded by the mainstream scientific community for a very long time (Whyte, 2013; Francis, 2021). 

While the United States has an especially problematic history, this marginalization continues to be a significant issue across the globe, with Indigenous People consistently facing exclusion from decision-making, restriction of access services like health care, education, and employment, dispossession of ancestral lands, and discrimination in many forms (Amnesty International). Colonist thought processes are prevalent throughout Western scientific methodologies and science curricula, while other types of knowledge, including TEK, are left out (Hatfield, 2017).

Another reason behind the undervaluation of TEK could be that the definitions of TEK are generally created by individuals not part of Indigenous communities, such as governmental entities or Western scientists. These individuals tend to prioritize their own political agendas regarding environmental and natural resource stewardship and management, which means that incorporating TEK is often regarded as unfavorable or inconvenient. The view of TEK and SEK as being competing disciplines has also created rifts between them (Whyte, 2013). 

While the uniqueness of TEK when compared to SEK is one of the reasons it is so valuable, these differences can also be a barrier to the adequate acknowledgement and integration of TEK. While both Western science and TEK utilize data collection, the latter is preserved primarily through oral tradition and is passed down through generations via methods like storytelling, ceremonies, arts, crafts, and song, which can provide a great deal of context and can quickly evolve to incorporate new observations and understandings. Meanwhile, the former generally uses written publications, often eliminating context and relying on relatively limited variables to conclude (Hatfield, 2017; Finn et al., 2017). 

With TEK, since observations are not conducted using standardized procedures in controlled environments, and data is compiled differently than SEK, it may mistakenly be perceived as less credible. TEK stewards may be seen as less qualified and their methods less rigorous since they work outside academic settings. Further, the unfamiliarity of TEK’s approach can lead to the undervaluation of its results, since it is contextual in nature, lacks empirical categorization, and has different modes of communication–all of which pose challenges to broader acceptance (Nicholas, 2018). While the TEK approach is invaluable, the difference in how this knowledge is collected, communicated, and applied may lead to misunderstanding and potential distrust (Hatfield, 2017; Finn et al., 2017). 

There are not only issues with gaining recognition and credibility but also with the integration of TEK into Western scientific spheres. A key hurdle is its deep connection to the language, culture, and traditions of its place of origin. For this reason, Indigenous peoples must be involved in integrating TEK into scientific research. Without their involvement, there is a risk of exploitation or misrepresentation of their knowledge (Finn et al., 2017; Hatfield, 2017). One of the current safeguards against these barriers was the publishing of the Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges (TKs) in Climate Change Initiatives, which explores the potential risks to Indigenous peoples when they share TEK with federal and non-Indigenous climate change initiatives (Hatfield, 2017).

The alarming loss of Indigenous languages worldwide also poses a large threat to the integration of TEK, since the loss of these languages hinders the ability of TEK to be communicated. With many Indigenous languages currently at risk of extinction, the rich knowledge encoded in those languages could be miscommunicated or lost entirely (Finn et al., 2017; United Nations Human Rights, 2019). 

Additionally, one of the significant benefits of TEK is that it is holistic and takes a broader approach to studying phenomena. In contrast, Western science often approaches a single issue at a time, mainly in isolation. This dichotomy in how TEK and SEK fields approach research can make it challenging to integrate the two forms of knowledge, especially since the means of collecting and passing on knowledge are also different–with TEK involving acquiring knowledge via observations and experience and SEK generally involving a more formal classroom environment. The SEK approach to research involves studying topics more in isolation and using laws and theories, in contrast to the TEK approach of using cumulative, collective experience (Barnhardt & Kawagley, 2005; Hatfield, 2017).

In summary, incorporating TEK into more mainstream science presents many challenges, including cultural ties, risks of exploitation, language barriers, Indigenous language loss, and differences in the collection and application of data compared to Western scientific knowledge.

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Overcoming Obstacles to TEK Integration

How can these barriers be overcome? Integrating traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with other scientific spheres is crucial, including listening to Indigenous peoples throughout the process. As mentioned previously, there has been a long history of marginalization of Indigenous peoples. Many Indigenous peoples fear that TEK may be misused or stolen by non-Natives, particularly when it comes to sensitive environmental information. This fear is not unfounded, as traditional knowledge has been appropriated without their consent for many years. Scientists must exercise extra caution when incorporating TEK into other scientific spheres, ensuring that Indigenous peoples are directly involved and that their concerns and voices are heard and considered throughout the process (Finn et al., 2017). That is where the previously mentioned Guidelines for Considering Traditional Knowledges (TKs) in Climate Change Initiatives may provide guidance.

Just as it is crucial to include Indigenous peoples when integrating TEK into other scientific realms, we must also correctly respect and acknowledge the knowledge, its origins, and its original creators. Because this knowledge is deeply intertwined with culture and language, we must carefully consider these aspects when discussing these topics and when attributing this knowledge when used outside its original context (Hoagland, 2017). 

Overall, the successful integration of TEK involves ample communication and collaboration between all parties involved. One striking example of the blending of TEK and Western science is the SnowChange Cooperative, a network of local and Indigenous communities around the world to form a scientific organization that collaborates with organizations and agencies, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Crisis Advisory Group, the US National Science Foundation, and several universities to influence policy and research. Read more about the cooperative, its history, and its many accomplishments here.

Another example of the integration of TEK and SEK comes from the Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledge and Science (CBIKS), based at the University of Massachusetts  (UMass) Amherst, with a 30 million dollar five-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF). This project explores how climate change threatens food security and the preservation of cultural heritages through eight research hubs in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, with each hub serving as an example of how to integrate TEK and Western scientific knowledge. Essentially, the center at UMass Amherst wants to conduct science differently by relying on both SEK and TEK in what they call “two-eyed seeing.” They also want to incorporate TEK into research and policymaking while recognizing that TEK belongs to Indigenous peoples (Mervis, 2023). Read more about the project here.

There have also been science-based courses taught at universities that focus specifically on how TEK contributes to the fields of environmental biology and natural resource management, including a course at Oregon State University called “Ecosystem Science of Pacific Northwest Indians,” which represents a partnership between tribal members and academics designed to compare SEK and TEK perspectives on ecosystem management. Further, the course “Land and Culture,” taught by Kimmerer at the State University of New York, designed for environmental biology majors, compares TEK and SEK perspectives on topical science and policy issues (Kimmerer, 2002). 

Overall, the integration of TEK and SEK should actively involve Indigenous groups, ensure open communication and collaboration, and respect all of the cultural elements of TEK. This will require embracing different perspectives and worldviews, particularly ones that differ from Western science. Successful integration depends on cross-cultural collaboration, embracing the differences that TEK and SEK offer to address challenges that neither could solve alone.

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TEK in Resource Management and Conservation

TEK plays a crucial role in resource management and conservation efforts, offering sustainable practices that have supported Indigenous communities for millennia. This knowledge has guided the interactions of Indigenous people with natural resources, providing a basis for managing and conserving those resources and local models for living sustainably. Studies have shown that TEK provides accurate and reliable information about species, thus providing crucial information for managing species in increasing cases, including fisheries, caribou age structure, census of bowhead whales, forest fungi, wolves, and food plains (Kimmerer, 2002).  

In addition to providing insight into management practices, TEK can also impart practical scientific and environmental applications such as new biological insights, conservation education, development planning, reserve design and management, environmental assessment, and commodity development (Kimmerer, 2002). For instance, researchers in pharmaceutical laboratories and agricultural experiment stations worldwide are starting to recognize TEK’s value in scientific research. New directions in applied biology that can benefit from traditional knowledge include ecosystem management, medicine, pharmacology, agroecology, environmental health sciences, biomedical research, wildlife, fisheries, and animal behavior. 

There have been multiple examples of the successful application of the ideas of TEK in research in these areas (Kimmerer, 2002; Finn et al., 2017). Since Indigenous Peoples are disproportionately negatively impacted by ecological destruction and other related issues, many successful projects have been developed by these communities out of necessity and were successful largely due to the adaptability of Indigenous thinking (LaDuke, 1994).

One of the major considerations that needs to be made when resource management and conservation plans are enacted is how these plans will impact Indigenous peoples and how their culture and livelihoods will be protected. For instance, the Batwa people’s ancestral lands are Mgahinga National Park, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, and Echuya Forest Reserve. When these conservation areas were established for biodiversity protection, particularly of the endangered mountain gorilla, and tourism in the early 1990s, the Batwa were evicted from these lands. This eviction resulted in the significant suffering of their culture and livelihoods. In 2009, a group of Batwa representatives from Uganda traveled to meet with an Indigenous community in Kenya, Ogiek, to learn about their situation and the different advocacy strategies used by the Ogiek communities. One of the strategies they used was Participatory Three-Dimensional Modelling (P3DM). This modeling helped Ogiek communities discuss their rights to the Mau Forest, which is their ancestral territory, with Kenyan agencies. In June 2011, the Batwa people, with help from the ARCUS Foundation—a private grantmaking institution dedicated to conserving and garnering respect for great apes and gibbons and for championing LGBTQ human rights—implemented their own version of this modeling of their ancestral territory in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with over one-hundred representatives from the Batwa communities surrounding this National Park in attendance. These efforts provided these communities an opportunity to document and store their cultural heritage, information that has the potential to open up employment opportunities for Batwa within Bwindi. This information can also be used in discussions with protected area managers about increasing their access to Bwindi, especially to specific locations and resources that have strong cultural significance to the Batwa. The hope is that the information stored will provide a reference for other communities in their own participation in the management of ancestral lands (Ayoreka, 2021; de Hass, 2011). 

In many cases, TEK can clarify, enhance, and even increase knowledge on previously assumed to be exhaustively studied topics, offering a unique and valuable approach that can help solve problems that Western science alone may not be able to effectively address. TEK provides an integrated system of studying the environment that adds a distinctive approach, putting faces and names together with places and events. It also provides long-term trends over many years that may provide the key to solving complex conservation issues (Hatfield, 2017). Overall, TEK provides a new angle of looking at many of the challenging issues we face no matter where we live, which may allow the creation of more effective and unique solutions to these problems.

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A Sustainable Path Forward

For the integration of TEK into Western science to be successful, Indigenous communities must be involved. We must not treat their knowledge as simply data to be extracted; it is a living, evolving system that deserves respect and protection. Effective integration requires that the consent of Indigenous peoples is obtained before using their knowledge and that any research or policy efforts are directly guided by their expertise. It also means embracing the unfamiliar and keeping an open mind about what it means to conduct scientific research and address environmental issues. Indigenous voices must be amplified and respected when integrating TEK into Western-based spaces, and effective communication and collaboration must occur at every project level. 

By embracing TEK, we can take a more inclusive and sustainable approach to environmental management that values scientific innovation and traditional wisdom. As our planet faces unprecedented challenges, we need all the tools at our disposal, and TEK is one of our most powerful tools.

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by Kate Danziger | Original publication date: April, 15^th 2025 | Banner photo © Claire O’Neill 2023

 

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