Learning ’From’ and ’With’ the Locals: Traditional Knowledge Systems for Environmental Sustainability in the Himalayas

This book aims to capture the fading traditional knowledge systems of local and indigenous communities in the Himalayas. As many of these practices are at risk of disappearing, the book serves as a valuable record. It encourages readers to reflect on the implications of such knowledge for environmental sustainability today. Focusing on one of the most crucial mountain ranges globally, the book emphasizes the importance of learning ’from’ and ’with’ the locals about their lived experiences in the Himalayas. Understanding their unique set of traditional knowledge and technologies is crucial for building climate resilience and effective environmental management. With contributions from experts across the Himalayan region, the book strives for a comprehensive grasp of environmental challenges and potential solutions. Beyond documentation, the goal is to explore opportunities for integrating traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches. Recognizing the urgency, the book advocates for the preservation of local and indigenous knowledge to address the ongoing global environmental crisis.

Dr. Anwesha Borthakur is currently a Landhaus Fellow at the Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany. Soon, she will commence her Humboldt Research Fellowship. Additionally, she is affiliated with Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium, where she completed her Marie Sklodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2021. She earned her PhD in Science Policy from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. Her research focuses on electronic and textile waste governance, traditional ecological knowledge, and public engagement for environmental sustainability.

Dr. Pardeep Singh is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Studies, PGDAV College, University of Delhi in New Delhi, India. He earned his PhD from the Indian Institute of Technology (Banaras Hindu University), Varanasi, India. With over 75 research/review papers in international journals in the field of environmental science/studies, he also serves as an editor for more than 40 books published by various publishers, including Springer Nature, Elsevier, CRC Press, and Wiley.