Speaking of sustainability these days, focus tends to be on technological innovation, corporate commitments, or global pacts such as the Paris Accord. What is obscured by visibility, however, is a rich resource: the long-standing, profound ecological understanding of Indigenous people. From around the world, Indigenous peoples have been sustaining land, forests, water, and biodiversity for thousands of years. Their traditions, based on a close relation with nature, provide valuable models for resolving current environmental challenges.
However, Indigenous knowledge is frequently disregarded or excluded from mainstream environmental policy. Valuing, respecting, and engaging this knowledge is not merely the ethical duty — it’s a pragmatic necessity in reaching sustainable development goals.
A Legacy of Stewardship
Indigenous people comprise about 5% of the world’s population but safeguard 80% of the world’s biodiversity (UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2021). That arresting fact underscores one simple truth: Indigenous ways of living have maintained environmental harmony in some of the planet’s most fragile and valuable ecosystems, from the Amazon rainforest to the Arctic tundra.
The centerpiece of Indigenous environmental philosophy is a relational worldview: human beings are not separate from nature but a part of nature. This is contrasted with the dominant Western worldview that has a tendency to view nature as a resource to be dominated. Rotational farming, sacred forests, controlled burning, and integrated water management are all practices that are founded upon this respect for natural processes.
For example, the Kayapó of Brazil preserve their Amazonian lands through complex agroforestry systems that mimic the forest’s natural biodiversity, which improves soil fertility and resilience. They have been discovered to be more sustainable than large-scale monoculture plantations promoted by modern agriculture.
Fire Management: Lessons from Australia and North America
In Australia, Aboriginal people have been using “fire-stick farming” — small, localized fires — for thousands of years to control runaway wildfires, stimulate plant regrowth, and maintain grasslands. Scientific studies published in Nature Sustainability confirm Indigenous fire regimes create mosaic landscapes that reduce fuel loads and protect biodiversity.
Similarly, many Native American nations, such as the Karuk and Yurok of California, once practiced low-intensity burns as a forest management technique. These fires rejuvenate ecosystems by promoting new growth and maintaining habitats intact for animals like deer and elk. Modern fire suppression policies, however, have had the effect of building up underbrush, which has been the cause of the devastating mega-fires of recent times.
Aware of this, countries like Australia and the U.S. are now beginning to integrate Indigenous fire management strategies into national conservation and hazard reduction plans.
Water and Soil Wisdom
Another area where Indigenous practice shines is in the management of water. The Zuni people of the southwestern US crafted check dams and rock terraces to minimize runoff and improve soil water retention in arid landscapes. Over hundreds of years, these practices transformed infertile landscapes into productive agricultural land — without chemicals or modern machinery.
In the Andes, Indigenous peoples developed the immune system, a pre-Columbian technology that diverts rainwater into underground aquifers. This offers perennial water supply even during drought periods, proof of an outstanding awareness of hydrological cycles.
Concurrently, African Sahel farmers have restored zai pits — an older soil conservation method of digging pits to access water and humus, revitalizing degraded land and boosting crop production. Low-tech, low-cost solutions offer critical answers to climate adaptation in areas with limited water resources.
Marine Conservation
Indigenous communities have also developed powerful ways to protect the ocean. In the Pacific, Polynesian peoples created “tabu” zones. They are parts of the reef where fishing was not allowed for a while. This gave fish time to recover. Scientists today say these local rules can work even better than official marine protected areas. These practices were guided by signs in nature, like changes in fish behavior or coral color, and were enforced by the whole community.
In Canada, the Haida Nation takes care of the sea near British Columbia. They mix traditional knowledge with modern science to bring back fish like herring and salmon. These species are important not only for nature, but also for Haida culture, food, and identity. They also monitor kelp forests and support marine biodiversity. Their approach, that includes the creation of the Gwaii Haanas marine reserve, is now studied by scientists and policymakers around the world.
In places like the Philippines, Indigenous groups like the Tagbanua have also regained control over coastal zones. They use traditional fishing rules, such as seasonal bans and gear limits, to restore marine life. These systems show that Indigenous communities are not only caretakers of the land, but also skilled stewards of the sea.
Challenges and Barriers
Even though Indigenous knowledge is very valuable, it is often ignored. There are many reasons for this.
First, many Indigenous people have lost their land. Without land, it is hard to keep traditional ways of caring for nature. Roads, dams, mining, and agriculture have often pushed Indigenous peoples away from their territories. This weakens the link between culture, knowledge, and the environment.
Second, they are often left out of decisions. Governments and companies make plans about the environment without asking or including Indigenous voices. In some cases, projects are carried out in Indigenous territories without free, prior, and informed consent, although it is a right recognized by international law.
Third, there are few laws to protect their knowledge. Some groups use Indigenous ideas without permission or without giving credit. This is called “biopiracy.” It happens, for example, when pharmaceutical companies use traditional plant knowledge to make new medicines but do not share profits with Indigenous communities.
Also, many people only use small parts of Indigenous knowledge, like a farming trick or a fishing rule, without understanding the full system behind it. Indigenous knowledge is more than just techniques. It includes culture, values, and ways of making decisions. True sustainability means working with Indigenous peoples, not just taking from them. Without respect, these practices lose their meaning and power.
Toward a Future of Respectful Collaboration
There is hope. More people now see that Indigenous leadership is key to solving the climate and biodiversity crises.
The United Nations says Indigenous peoples have the right to keep their own traditions and to help lead environmental projects. The 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples calls for their full participation in decisions that affect their lands and resources.
Some groups and countries are starting to build real partnerships. The UN has a platform to share Indigenous knowledge on climate change. It brings together local communities, scientists, and policymakers to create solutions based on both traditional and modern knowledge.
Moreover, conservation groups like WWF and The Nature Conservancy now support projects that are led by Indigenous communities. These include forest protection in the Amazon, wildlife corridors in Africa, and water management in North America.
In New Zealand, the Whanganui River is now legally treated like a person. This reflects Maori beliefs and helps protect the river in a way that respects their culture. The same has happened with Mount Taranaki and Te Urewera Forest. These legal innovations offer new ways to protect nature and honor Indigenous worldviews.
But these are just first steps. Real change means sharing power, respecting Indigenous rights, and providing long-term support. Listening is not enough. We must act with fairness and commitment. Sustainability is not just about protecting nature, it’s also about justice.
Conclusion: Learning From Those Who Know
Today, the world faces major issues like climate change and loss of biodiversity. Technology alone will not fix them. We need wisdom from people who have lived in balance with nature for generations.
We can’t say Indigenous knowledge is old-fashioned. It is smart, flexible, and based on deep experience. It works because it respects the limits of nature and sees humans as part of the ecosystem, not above it.
From fire management to water storage, from soil care to wildlife tracking, Indigenous knowledge offers solutions that are low-cost, local, and sustainable. These practices are adapted to each landscape: deserts, mountains, forests, and oceans.
The question is not whether this knowledge is useful, because it clearly is. The real question is: will the rest of the world finally start to listen?
If we want a future that is fair and green, we must stop treating Indigenous peoples as guests in global discussions. They are, and always have been, experts. In some situations, it would be globally beneficial to recognize them as leaders in handling sustainability issues.
Written by Benjamine Daniau-Fricotteau and Luca De Giorgi
References:
https://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/documents/workshop_CBDABS_background_paper_en.doc
https://journals.librarypublishing.arizona.edu/jpe/article/2301/galley/2521/view
https://nautil.us/how-taboos-can-help-protect-the-oceans-238208/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0160791X18303403
