About this Research Topic
Traditional knowledge systems have contributed immensely to nature conservation and environmental sustainability. They have and continue to be resilient in conserving protected areas dubbed as sacred groves and specific biological diversities. There is the need to shed light into the rich biocultural heritage of various rural communities across the globe and how they have stood the test of time even in the face of climate change and other environmental reprisals. The resilient belief systems, cultural practices, rural livelihood strategies, traditional events and ceremonies as well as traditional agronomic practices could play significant roles in managing biodiversity and climate change in modern societies.
Modern strategies for nature conservation and environmental sustainability often relegate the rich biocultural heritage of rural communities. Yet, these biocultural heritage that have stood the test of time and are still resilient in protecting nature spaces and biological resources in their pristine forms. Due to their time-tested record of efficiency in managing biodiversity, there is the need to investigate how they can be translated into modern conservation and sustainability models and frameworks. While the contributions of the purely scientific conservation approaches are commendable, there is the need to also shed light on how rural communities have innovatively utilized their traditional knowledge systems in promoting the buoyancy of their environment and its biological diversities. More so, there is the need to explore the effective ways of synergizing the two streams of knowledges-scientific and traditional-while showing clearly how each can complement the other for a more robust and holistic approach to nature conservation. This would help in uniting the efforts of conservationists and rural communities who often see themselves as enemies thereby distorting the harmonious efforts that could have saved the environment and its biological resources.
This Research Topic focuses on contributions on traditional knowledge systems evident in the rich biocultural heritage of rural communities across the globe and innovative ways of synergizing them with modern scientific conservation practices. The specific themes include:
1. Traditional knowledge systems and nature conservation
2. Traditional events and cultural practices for environmental sustainability
3. Traditional agronomic practices and sustainability of the environment
4. Synergy between traditional and scientific knowledge systems
5. Rural livelihood strategies and climate change
6. Rural community participation strategies in environmental sustainability projects
7. Efficient Ethnobotany practices and environmental sustainability
Modern strategies for nature conservation and environmental sustainability often relegate the rich biocultural heritage of rural communities. Yet, these biocultural heritage that have stood the test of time and are still resilient in protecting nature spaces and biological resources in their pristine forms. Due to their time-tested record of efficiency in managing biodiversity, there is the need to investigate how they can be translated into modern conservation and sustainability models and frameworks. While the contributions of the purely scientific conservation approaches are commendable, there is the need to also shed light on how rural communities have innovatively utilized their traditional knowledge systems in promoting the buoyancy of their environment and its biological diversities. More so, there is the need to explore the effective ways of synergizing the two streams of knowledges-scientific and traditional-while showing clearly how each can complement the other for a more robust and holistic approach to nature conservation. This would help in uniting the efforts of conservationists and rural communities who often see themselves as enemies thereby distorting the harmonious efforts that could have saved the environment and its biological resources.
This Research Topic focuses on contributions on traditional knowledge systems evident in the rich biocultural heritage of rural communities across the globe and innovative ways of synergizing them with modern scientific conservation practices. The specific themes include:
1. Traditional knowledge systems and nature conservation
2. Traditional events and cultural practices for environmental sustainability
3. Traditional agronomic practices and sustainability of the environment
4. Synergy between traditional and scientific knowledge systems
5. Rural livelihood strategies and climate change
6. Rural community participation strategies in environmental sustainability projects
7. Efficient Ethnobotany practices and environmental sustainability
Keywords: Traditional Knowledge, Rural Development, Rural Livelihood, Nature Conservation, Environmental Sustainability
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