| The environment is defined as the sum total of all surroundings, including natural forces and living things that provide conditions for growth, development, and potential harm. Early humans lived closely with nature, developing measures to safeguard their environment. The climate change, biodiversity loss, and their impact on socio-ecological positions has created a critical scenario all over the world. Indigenous knowledge (IK) has been integral to human societies and represents complex ways of understanding and co-existing with natural ecosystems, developed and adapted over long periods. Indigenous groups always live sustainably through their customs and should always be a part of the conservation programs. IK system has passed down from one generation to other to make sustainable use of the resources available, keeping in mind the future generations. The concept of sacred groove, sacred sites, sacred forests or trees not only shows the religious faith and practices of indigenous people but also promotes sustainable development by way of conserving the ‘sacred’ resources. Indigenous knowledge is also visible in agricultural activities, food security, land use, water management, forest products, crop cultivation, waste management, food preservation, etc. Application of Indigenous Knowledge in Indian Context can be observed in areas like agriculture, fishing, wild life conservation, forest conservation etc. Increasing population pressures, immigrants, food demand, etc adversely affect he land area and soil quality. Non-traditional approaches lead to unsustainable practices. The biodiversity is declining rapidly and the environment is under crisis throughout the world. However, these changes are generally lower in the indigenous lands. Traditional ecological knowledge and practices have been successful in promoting sustainable land management and sustainable development. This knowledge can help formatting the climate adaption strategies.
Keywords: environment, indigenous knowledge, indigenous tribes, biodiversity, forests
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