Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.17234/SocEkol.35.1.1
Fourth World Botany: Guardians of Ecological and Cultural Wisdom in Bridging Traditional Knowledge and Environmental Conservation
Taranisen Panda
; Chandbali College
*
Nirlipta Mishra
; Department of Zoology, Chandbali College
Shaik Rahimuddin
; Department of Zoology, Chandbali College
Bikram K. Pradhan
; Department of Botany, Chandbali College
Raj B. Mohanty
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
This review aims to examine the role of Indigenous botanical knowledge in supporting environmental conservation and cultural sustainability. Fourth World Botany serves as a crucial bridge between traditional knowledge and modern environmental management, reflecting the deep ecological and cultural wisdom of Indigenous communities that has sustained their ecosystems for generations. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across peer-reviewed journals, scientific databases, and relevant sources, screening over 593 references and ultimately including 123 studies that addressed Indigenous knowledge in guiding sustainable land use, agriculture, healthcare, responsible use of natural resources, and environmental management. The study reveals that Indigenous agricultural practices significantly enhance climate resilience, contributing to sustainable food systems. Traditional medicinal knowledge continues to shape modern healthcare, influencing treatments globally. Beyond agriculture and medicine, Indigenous knowledge supports food security, biofencing, handicrafts, and socio-religious rituals, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of these communities. Legal frameworks, such as India’s Traditional Knowledge Digital Library, emphasise the importance of protecting these knowledge systems from exploitation, ensuring that Indigenous knowledge contributions to environmental management and cultural practices are safeguarded for future generations. Key findings highlight the integration of Fourth World Botany into contemporary environmental management as vital for safeguarding Indigenous rights, enhancing biodiversity conservation, and promoting resource sustainability. However, despite its crucial role in addressing global environmental challenges, Indigenous knowledge faces serious threats from globalization, land dispossession, and cultural erosion. This review contributes to understanding how collaborative efforts between Indigenous communities and modern science can foster resilient ecosystems and sustainable practices to address global environmental challenges.
Ključne riječi
ecological and cultural heritage; Indigenous knowledge systems; natural resources; sustainable development; traditional knowledge digital library
Hrčak ID:
346967
URI
Datum izdavanja:
6.5.2026.
Posjeta: 0 *