Research Review on Indigenous
Traditional Knowledge for
Environmental Management
Benxiang Zeng a, c, Christine Schlesinger b, Rolf Gerritsen a
Canberra, 26 March 2014
Introduction
 TK/TEK
The Director General of UNESCO (Mayor, 1994) defined traditional knowledge:
The indigenous people of the world possess an immense knowledge of their
environments, based on centuries of living close to nature. Living in and from the richness
and variety of complex ecosystems, they have an understanding of the properties of plants
and animals, the functioning of ecosystems and the techniques for using and managing
them that is particular and often detailed. In rural communities in developing countries,
locally occurring species are relied on for many - sometimes all - foods, medicines, fuel,
building materials and other products. Equally, people’s knowledge and perceptions of the
environment, and their relationships with it, are often important elements of cultural
identity.
 Purpose of this review
Set up a scope for a proposed comparative study
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Numbers of publication by year
25
 3 databases
Web of Knowledge
20
EBSCOhost
INFORMIT
15
 Totally 180
 Journal papers: 15010
22
18
18
15
14
11
8
5
20
19
12
10
6
5
2
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Keywords Frequency
What are studies
about?
Indigenous knowledge
Traditional (ecological/environmental) knowledge
Natural resource management
Environmental management
 Research/Methodology
 Knowledge
management/integration
 Cross-culture
values/awareness
 Forest/Forestry
 Indigenous
people/Indigenous
 Social factors/sociology
 Land management
Research/Methodology
Knowledge management/integration…
Cultural/Cross-cultural values/awareness
Forest/Forestry
Indigenous people/Indigenous
Social factors et. al/Sociology
Fequency
Land management
Water
Ecological assessment/monitoring…
Community-based conservation/NRM
Aboriginal/Aborigines
Local and traditional knowledge
Co-management
Sustainability/Sustainable development
Soil
Science/Scientific knowledge
Ethnobiology/Ethnoscience
Degradation
Conservation
Biodiversity
Resource management
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Main keywords
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Coverage of current research
 At least 32 countries
Australia
India
Canada
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Main research topics
 Some key features of TEK
Socio-political dynamics of TEK (e.g. Rotarangi & Russell, 2009; Pangging et al., 2011)
Differences of TEK in regions and gender groups (e.g. Singh et. al 2013; Wirf, et. al 2008)
TEK types (e.g. Xue, 2010)
Limitations of TEK (e.g. Nooteboom & de Jong, 2010; Parraguez, Vergara & Barton, 2013).
Loss of TEK (e.g. Chiappetta Jabbour & Puppim-de-Oliveira, 2012; Yuan, Wu, & Liu, 2012).
 Role of TEK
Positive (potential) contribution to NRM recognised, lot of literature
Land management, flora and fauna use, tourism development, vital role in
community engagement/participation…
 TEK protection
PA in developed countries (e.g. GÓMez-Baggethun et al., 2010).
Adaptive knowledge management (e.g. Reed et al., 2013).
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Main research topics
 Differences/diversity (cases, regions) of TEK and TEK research
“Desert knowledge” in Australia (e.g.Smallacombe, Davis, & Quiggin, 2006), “Medicinal
knowledge” in China (e.g. Xue, 2010).
Research focuses: Integration approach (Australia) (e.g. Cullen-Unsworth, Hill, Butler, & Wallace,
2012), protection and benefit sharing (China) (e.g. Xue, 2010; Liang & Bai, 2009), conflict (Taiwan)
(e.g. Chi, 2004; Lin, 2010, 2011).
 Differences between TEK and modern western knowledge
Different world views (e.g. Walsh, Dobson & Douglas, 2013; E. J. Ens et al., 2012)
Based on different mental models (e.g. Walsh, Dobson & Douglas, 2013)
 Integration into knowledge system
Participatory co-research (e.g. Cullen-Unsworth, Hill, Butler, & Wallace, 2012)
Different types of engagement (e.g. Hill et al., 2012)
Indicators of successful integration of TEK (e.g. Fernandez-Gimenez, Huntington, & Frost, 2006)
TEK could serve as entry points in NRM (e.g. Rai, 2007).
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Main research topics
 Benefit-sharing
Indigenous people must get benefit arising from TEK utilisation (e.g. Myburgh, 2011; Xue,
2010).
Role of government in benefit-sharing
(e.g. Myburgh, 2011).
 Issues in TEK utilisation
Legal issues: such as 1) Recognition of TEK in environmental laws (e.g. Meyer, 2001).; 2)
Ownership/IP (e.g. Myburgh, 2011).
Barriers: such as 1) institutional barriers (e.g. Fernández-Giménez & Fillat Estaque, 2012). 2) lack
of mutual understanding-different perspectives, language problem et al.; 3) low
capacity of Indigenous communities , et al. (e.g. Chiappetta Jabbour & Puppim-de-Oliveira, 2012).
Scale: "local" (indigenous) vs. "global" (scientific). (e.g. Brodt, 2002; Chambers, 2008; Wohling,
2009)
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Conclusions
 A large volume of literature
 Integration of TEK into SK recognised
 Barriers and frameworks of integration well studied
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Conclusions
 Different perspectives
 More case studies, less generalised or comparative ones
 More positive less negative aspects of TEK studied
 Lack of comparative studies
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Discussion
 Any universal principles among TEK in different
regions and in different countries?
 Indigenous-governed integration vs. double learning
process
 Should we re-think SK too?
 Do we need the comparative research?
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014
Thank you!
My e-mail: benxiang.zeng@cdu.edu.au
AIATSIS 2014 National Indigenous Studies Conference, Canberra, Australia, 26-28 March 2014