Science·Rainforests·conceptual
Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
Understand that indigenous peoples of the rainforest have developed deep ecological knowledge over thousands of years — using plants for medicine, food, and building materials, practising sustainable farming methods like shifting cultivation, and understanding animal behaviour and forest ecology in ways that modern science is only beginning to appreciate
Suggested ages 7–9
Evidence of understanding
- Give at least two examples of indigenous knowledge, such as using specific plants as medicine or practising sustainable farming
- Explain what shifting cultivation is and why it is less harmful to the forest than permanent clearing
- Describe how indigenous knowledge and modern science can work together to protect rainforests
Assessment prompt
Can Indigenous Ecological Knowledge explain that indigenous rainforest peoples know an enormous amount about forest plants and animals — like which plants cure illnesses — and that scientists are learning from this knowledge?
Standards alignment
No external standards are linked to this topic.