User:Shreya.C123/Traditional ecological knowledge

GPP Peer Review Draft:

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Lead
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) describes indigenous and other traditional knowledge of local resources. As a field of study in North American anthropology, TEK refers to "a cumulative body of knowledge, belief, and practice, evolving by accumulation of TEK and handed down through generations through traditional songs, stories and beliefs. It is concerned with the relationship of living beings (including human) with their traditional groups and with their environment." Indigenous knowledge is not a universal concept among various societies, but is referred to a system of knowledge traditions or practices that are heavily dependent on "place".

'''TEK encompasses a diverse range of knowledge across ecologies and communities around the world. It is rooted in generations of practice and care in tending to the land and the environment . TEK has the power to both complement and correct present-day climate solutions, providing a critical ancestral perspective that can help restore balance. However, simultaneously, the implementation of TEK must be enacted with consideration and immediate involvement of indigenous communities, as otherwise, the burden to find a solution will fall upon them . TEK, like many other forms of indigenous knowledge and sciences, can often be sacred, so it is critical to engage closely with the community to not disrespect their ancestral wisdom. Inherently, TEK exists in the liminal space between science and spirituality, intricately merging these two realms which seem at odds in the current Western world .'''

Agroforestry in northeast India
Indigenous wisdom in India in relation to agroforestry has been passed down for generations '''. A revival of traditional farming methods is needed to rectify the impacts of centuries of colonial-era land devastation and the more recent neoliberal land corporatization .'''

One example of this would be jhum ''', also known as shifting cultivation or "slash and burn". This is a common practice in northeastern India, where sections of land are regularly burned and returned to after the soil's fertility is restored. The practice of jhum is known to heighten carbon storage and biodiversity . Jhum is paired with plant-based pesticides to create an agroforestry structure that is not dependent on Western fertilizers and pesticides. However, it is important to note that practicing jhum incorrectly or after an inconsistent gap has been associated with soil erosion and depletion of top soil .'''