Harnessing Indigenous Wisdom for Climate Resilience
Context:
Union MoS (Environment, Forest and Climate Change), Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, led India’s intervention at the High-Level Roundtable Dialogue with IUCN President, H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi on October 10th 2025.
Deliberating on the theme of the session - ‘Nature's Promise for Climate and People: A Call and Commitment from the Conservation Community to Belem and Beyond’ - the Minister discussed how to better integrate Science Knowledge and Traditional Wisdom to resolve the Climate Crisis.
Indigenous communities in India are custodians of a profound heritage of insights cultivated over generations of coexistence with nature.
India is working to document, validate and integrate these indigenous practices into formal systems of climate adaptation & biodiversity conservation.
Some of important Indigenous Practices for Climate Resilience
Tribe / Community
Indigenous Wisdom for Climate Resilience
Apatani
(Eastern Himalaya, Ar. P)
•Employs sustainable farming with wet and terrace cultivation. • Practices paddy-cum-fish culture and efficient irrigation.
Lahaul's Tribe
(Cold Desert, HP)
• Showcases rich agro-biodiversity through methods like ice-water harvesting and agro-forestry.
Dongria Kondh
(Eastern Ghats, odisha)
• Focuses on sustainable agro-forestry, diverse crop cultivation, and organic practices to combat climate challenges.
Irular
(Western Ghats, TN and Kerala)
• Utilizes indigenous pest management, traditional seed storage, and weather prediction. • Employs 11 preservation methods and 16 plant-based pesticides.
Toda
(Niligiri Hills, TN)
• Predicts the arrival of monsoon rains by observing the behaviour of ants building small mounds.
Jarawa
(Andaman & Nicobar)
• Predicts the intensity of cyclones by observing fish swimming in shallow waters near the shore.
Kani
(Western Ghats, Kerala)
• Use of over 700 medicinal plants for treating diseases like malaria, cancer, and AIDS. • They were the first indigenous community in India to receive a patent for a cancer treatment derived from the Kanji tree.
Nyishi
(Arunachal Pradesh)
•Uses orchids for treating respiratory, digestive, and skin infections.
Bishnoi
(Rajasthan)
• A religious community known for its deep respect for nature. • Practices include planting trees, protecting animals, and conserving water.
Mising
(Assam)
•Has developed indigenous adaptation practices in response to floods. •The community works together during floods to evacuate people, distribute supplies, and rebuild homes.
Kadar (Kerala)
• Sustainable honey collection and forest resource management; non-destructive extraction techniques.