Localising the UN-SDGs by Integrating Indigenous and Local Knowledge in Sustainable Natural Resources Management

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has defined Indigenous and local knowledge as “social and ecological knowledge, practices and beliefs pertaining to the relationship of living beings, including people, with one another and with their environments.” IPBES notes further that “Such knowledge can provide information, methods, theory and practice for sustainable ecosystem management.” (IPBES, 2020). IPBES regional assessments for Asia Pacific, Africa, Europe and Central Asia, and the Americas (each published in 2018), as well as the Global Assessment (2019) have provided evidence that proper acknowledgement, recognition, mainstreaming and adoption of such knowledge systems into practice would further foster sustainable development while conserving the natural resources to control and reduce further ecological degradation.