Abstract:
During the last few decades, the increasing demands of growing human
population in developing countries have resulted in extensive degradation of natural
ecosystems. This has contributed to significant reduction in ecosystem goods and
services, posing a grave challenge on ecosystem and human wellbeing. The Natural
ecosystems are dynamic and complex and their management requires understanding of
social and ecological interactions. Whilst there is a better appreciation on application
and use of formal knowledge in natural ecosystem management still there is a need to
have better understanding on traditional knowledge which is available with local
communities. Integrating two knowledge systems, traditional and formal, is important
for sustainable natural resource management.
In this paper an effort is made to discuss the role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge
in conservation of biodiversity and natural resource management in India with special
reference to sacred groves and management of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)for
sustainable livelihood.
Key words: Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Non Timber Forest Products, Sacred
Grove.
