Traditional Knowledge of Indigenous Communities of Rajasthan and Environment (A Short Review)

Today, indigenous communities are facing a serious crisis of survival due to ecological imbalance and the deteriorating status of the environment. Modernization, changes in cultural, ethical and moral values, the devaluation of indigenous knowledge, lack of traditional practices, dislocation of tribal communities due to large scale development projects and derisory rehabilitation ways are some of the major factors that have altered and weakened both traditions of indigenous communities and nature. The need of the hour is to understand the traditions, knowledge and practices of India in general and tribal communities in particular for environmental conservation. The present paper explores the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities of India particularly Rajasthan in conservation and management of environment. Their storehouse of knowledge leads to many discoveries for modern pharmaceutical products, however patent laws are inadequate to protect traditional knowledge and biodiversity. The rights of tribal people can be defended by creating a community biodiversity register (CBR) of local products and their uses. Proper documentation of traditional tribal knowledge, conservation beliefs and values, environmentally acclimatize land use, natural resource management practices and defense could be supportive in environmental protection. For sustainable conservation of natural resources of the tribal area, there is a great necessity to sensitize the tribal communities about the plantation, afforestation, rainwater harvesting, use of bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers along with proper sanitation.