Integrating traditional ecological knowledge into US public land management: Knowledge gaps and research priorities

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is an understanding of natural systems acquired through long-term human interactions with particular landscapes. Traditional knowledge systems complement western scientific disciplines by providing a holistic assessment of ecosystem dynamics and extending the time horizon of ecological observations. Integration of TEK into land management is a key priority of numerous groups, including the United Nations and US public land management agencies; however, TEK principles have rarely been enshrined in national-level US policy or planning. We review over 20 years of TEK literature to describe key applications of TEK to ecological understanding, conservation, restoration and land management generally. By identifying knowledge gaps, we highlight research avenues to support the integration of TEK into US public land management, in order to enhance conservation approaches and participation of historically underrepresented groups, particularly American Indian Tribes, in the stewardship of ancestral lands critical to the practice of living cultural traditions.

Automated summary

Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is an integral part of understanding ecosystems, providing a holistic assessment and a longer time perspective than western scientific disciplines. Despite its importance, TEK has not been widely incorporated into US national-level policies or planning. This review of TEK literature highlights its applications in ecological understanding, conservation, restoration, and land management, and identifies knowledge gaps to support its integration into US public land management, particularly to involve historically underrepresented groups such as American Indian Tribes in the stewardship of their ancestral lands.