Assessing the state of traditional knowledge at national level

Traditional practices of Indigenous Peoples support the sustainable management of a quarter of the global land area. Yet their traditional knowledge is declining. To date, there has been insufficient focus on the development of participatory and evidence-based processes for assessing the state of traditional knowledge at national levels. We used traditional knowledge indicators and participatory video to evaluate the state of traditional knowledge within three Indigenous groups in Guyana. We find that traditional knowledge is perceived to be 'stable' and responding and adapting to a diverse set of environmental factors and new circumstances. There are differences amongst Indigenous groups, but also commonalities, which help identify areas of intervention and point towards developing shared and collective narratives at the national level to feed into policy making. The findings have critical implications for the ways in which traditional knowledge should be researched, measured and safeguarded.

Automated summary

Traditional practices of Indigenous Peoples play a significant role in sustainable land management globally. There is a need for more focus on developing participatory and evidence-based processes to assess the state of traditional knowledge at national levels. Research findings point towards the importance of recognizing and safeguarding traditional knowledge while taking into consideration the unique needs and perspectives of Indigenous groups.