Chapter 26 - Indigenous technologies: knowledge and practices for sustainable development

Abstract

Indigenous knowledge and practices have many benefits to mankind and the environment. In spite of this, indigenous knowledge is being replaced with foreign ones. This chapter aims to illuminate the importance of indigenous knowledge and practices in achieving sustainable development. To achieve this, a systematic review was conducted to collate and discuss various applications of indigenous knowledge and practices for human development. Research studies included in the systematic review were from reputable databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Web of Science. A total of 1470 articles were downloaded, but only 51 of them were in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis framework. Our analysis showed that indigenous knowledge had the potential to substantially contribute to the sustainable development of underprivileged societies. The integration of indigenous knowledge and practices in development plans, policies, and programs is recommended for a sustainable world.