ABSTRACT

Indigenous knowledge is herein defined as a cumulative body of knowledge and beliefs handed down through generations by cultural transmission about the relationship of living beings, (including humans) with one another and with their environment (Berkes. F, 1993). The tribal population depend highly on the environmental resources for their sustenance. They are not skilled enough to use or import resources available outside the purview of environment. Thus, it is imperative that they take utmost care of natural resources and help it flourish (Gadgil, M. 1987). Indigenous knowledge is of utmost importance for ecological balance in the industrialized world. This traditional knowledge is an asset if considered from point of view of saving our environment. They have acquired traditional knowledge from their ancestors, which they tend to lose if shifted from their traditional place of dwelling. For various reasons, they have been forced to migrate from their place of origin and sustenance. Then these indigenous people with time mingle with the organised societies. They get integrated in the general corridors of trade, economy, population, and the means of livelihood. This has further pushed these indigenous people away from their traditional way of living and the dove of knowledge gained out of it. When BRT Tiger Reserve was being built in Karnataka, Soliga Tribe were, piece by piece, forced to confine themselves in small pocket of the forest. Still with time, they were able to prove that their presence in the forest had helped in the population growth of tigers in the same area. This paper takes up case study of Soliga Tribe and its role in tiger conservation in Karnataka. This paper focuses on the symbiotic relation that the Soliga tribe shares with nature leading to improved biodiversity zone of the area. Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, environmental, Tiger Reserve, biodiversity, Tribal
Publication date: 01/12/2021

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2021/December/MS_IJBPAS_2021_DEC_SPCL_2033.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2021/10.12.2033