Last Name 1
Traditional Ecological Knowledge
Subject: Environment, Institution: University of California
Traditional Ecological knowledge refers to knowledge gained by local people about their
surroundings and their relationship with environment over thousands and thousands of years.
This accumulated knowledge came from experiences and practices of their ancestors. The
experiences and practices of local tribes should not be dismissed because they came from
practically living with environment unlike our modern life in concrete jungles. It has been found
by many researchers that most local tribes used to live in complete harmony with the nature.
Perhaps local tribes had foresight about sustainable living which we have given
importance now after severe ecological imbalance due to climate change. Many of local
communities and tribes which still survive in rural areas have lived close to nature for thousands
of years. They had realized the importance of nature and their practices including nature worship
looked rudimentary superstitious to us. Studying the current lives of ancient tribes in India many
researchers were amazed by their knowledge of their ecology and found their seemingly
backward living style to be in complete harmony with the nature.
Studying tribes in Amazon forests, Sub-Saharan deserts of Africa or in India, researchers
found a common theme of their admiration of trees and greenery. They do not have any
knowledge about percentage increase in world average temperature, but they seem to have
learned that their lives depend on forests. They seem to have practiced a culture of gratitude and
their understanding of holy and profane is not just superstition, but they do show gratitude to
nature which sustain us and them.
