Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As part of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), a panel session “Ethnoecology: traditional practices and the use of indigenous knowledge in with climate change" was held.

The event was attended by the Director of the Secretariat of the UN Forum on Forests and Greening Juliet Biao Kudenukpo (UNFF), representatives of the Central Asian Green University, diplomatic corps and international organizations.

The purpose of the event is to promote interdisciplinary research into culture, environment and ecology; discussing the benefits and risks of research that engages local communities and their traditional knowledge systems; collection of international experience and recommendations for the creation of a Center for Ethno-Ecological Research at the Central Asian University of Environmental Studies and Climate Change Central Asian Green University.

The session discussed the importance of ethnoecological approaches for sustainable development, adaptation to local conditions and inclusive environmental practices. The role of ethnoecology in climate change mitigation and adaptation was emphasized. Topics such as traditional crop varieties and cultivation methods, food security, locally adaptive architecture and rangeland management were also discussed.

It is worth noting that the diverse landscapes of Central Asia (CA) from mountains to deserts support a rich diversity of flora and fauna that have ancient historical connections with human traditions and serve various purposes such as livelihood, medicine and cultural decoration. However, Uzbekistan’s biodiversity faces numerous threats, including habitat loss, climate change, pollution and the knock-on effects of urbanization and globalization. Although the direct causes are unclear, biological and cultural diversity are correlated in a global spatiotemporal context, and declines in one are associated with declines in the other. The complex relationship between biological and cultural diversity requires a holistic approach to conservation that integrates local communities, traditional knowledge and interdisciplinary research.

Despite their importance, local ecological knowledge (ELK) and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) are often ignored in conservation or sustainable development theory, primarily due to the undervaluation of traditional knowledge and limited collaboration between ecologists and anthropologists. Ethnoecology, coming together at the intersection of anthropology, linguistics, biology, and politics, bridges these gaps and facilitates interdisciplinary research that focuses on the dynamic roles of humans and fuel and energy complexes in maintaining ecosystem integrity.

During the session, the future “Center for Ethno-Ecological Research of Uzbekistan” was presented, which will initiate interdisciplinary research and equal cooperation with local communities in Central Asia, which is expected to protect the environment, expand cultural heritage and promote sustainable development.

During the session, specialists and experts in the field exchanged traditional knowledge of local practice, as well as best practices for the effective and ethical use of acquired knowledge.