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

Abstract

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.

Lay of the (wet)land: manager practices and challenges in wetland revegetation

“…In the most successful manager–researcher partnerships, scientists collaborate with land managers at the initial stage of developing research questions that are relevant for revegetation and maintain active collaboration throughout the research process (Rohal et al 2018; Funk et al 2020). In addition to partnerships with research institutions and plant material vendors, research has also shown that including local and indigenous ecological knowledge in management can improve monitoring efficiency and restoration outcomes (Souther et al 2023). While the present study focused on land managed by state and federal entities, the perspectives of tribal and privately managed lands are important for a full understanding of wetland revegetation in the Intermountain West.…”

State of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the wildlife management profession

“…The discipline, as a result, experienced a substantial shift in the recognition of Indigenized research studies, which present mutual forms of dialogue, research, theory, and action (Kovach 2016, Ramos 2022 Schley et al 2022). This is a testament to the adoption of TEK, with recent publications indicating a statistically significant increase in TEK literature over the same time period (Jessen et al 2022, Souther et al 2023. Additionally, Indigenous research methodologies (Chalmers 2017, Smith 2021 have gained traction as a potential course of action (Ramos 2018) in which TEK and research in wildlife management is more appropriately conducted with, rather than on, Indigenous communities (Lavallée 2009).…”

Incorporating uncertainty in Indigenous sea Country monitoring with Bayesian statistics: Towards more informed decision-making

“…The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples established a universal framework to uphold the rights and interests of Indigenous people including their role in management and governance of land and sea Country. Governments and researchers are increasingly creating spaces for Indigenous roles and perspectives to improve our collective understanding and management of natural resources (Nakashima et al 2018 ; Souther et al 2023 ). Key to the success of these efforts are genuine two-way partnerships between Indigenous peoples and science organisations that move beyond knowledge inequities to fully integrate traditional and contemporary knowledge in a way that equally shares their power and participation (Hill et al 2012 ).…”

“…Healthy Country Plans outline key targets for conservation and set out strategies to abate threats, restore targets, and evaluate their ongoing health and impacts through performance indicators. Science partnerships are essential elements of management plans in IPAs; they can provide training and assist in the collection of systematic monitoring data to inform, implement and evaluate management actions (Depczynski et al 2019 ; Rist et al 2019 ; Souther et al 2023 ).…”