Many traditional societies, often referred to as indigenous or tribal people, have accumulated a whole lot of empirical knowledge on the basis of their experience while dealing with Nature and natural resources. This traditional wisdom is based on the intrinsic realization that man and Nature form part of an indivisible whole, and therefore should live in partnership with each other. This eco-centric view of traditional societies is widely reflected in their attitudes towards plants, animals, rivers, and the earth. With biodiversity concerns having been pushed upfront, in more recent times, in the context of global change, traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), encompassing all issues linked to ecology and natural resources management has assumed greater significance. An assessment of TEK in India shows that it encompasses several fields, namely, sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation by sacred groves, sacred landscape and sacred plant species, crop management, farm management, animal management and therapeutic role of Ayurveda. There is a rich trove of religious and nonreligious texts available in different centres in India that deal with these aspects of TEK. Of special interest is the complex relationship between indigenous ecological practices and other ways of interacting with the environment, particularly regional and national programs of natural resource management. TEK is important for its own sake and for its social and cultural values.
