Indigenous Practices and Sustainability

Abstract

Sustainable Development to preserve the current resources for the progeny emerged as an agenda to overcome global inequality faced by developing countries. Developing countries have several indigenous practices which tend to be in harmony with nature but unsustainable use of modern technology has destroyed such harmony and mutualism. This paper seeks to understand some of these indigenous ways and practices of forest communities which are sustainable in nature. As an illustration, ethno-medicine and the process of healing practiced by the forest communities (Bhotias & Baigas) to attain the SDG of Health for All has been discussed. The role of traditional medicine in promoting quality health care in isolated habitations and the acceptance it has in the tribal culture has been discussed at length. The paper also explores the SDG of sustainable consumption and production pattern by illustrating the symbiotic relationship which forest communities share with nature and the affect of its breakdown has on the ecosystem. The importance of indigenous medicines to be substantiated by modern medicine has also been highlighted in the paper.

Keywords: Indigenous, Ecosystem, Forest Communities, Ethno-medicine, Sustainable Development Goals

View PDF