Concluding Reflections on the Indigenous and Local Water Knowledge, Values, and Practices and Lessons Learned

Abstract

AbstractThe Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) Global Assessment (GA) demonstrated the importance of Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) to global biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. Bridging indigenous and local knowledge systems with scientific knowledge systems is vital to enhance knowledge, practice, and ethics to move toward sustainability at multiple scales. Apart from the indigenous water knowledge, religious and spiritual value of water demonstrates the significance of water and employs its followers as caretakers of water resources. As editors, we summarize the key lessons in the final chapter drawn from the 17 chapters included in this book volume. The chapter concludes with the key learnings which emphasizes on the mainstreaming of indigenous water knowledge, values, and practices into the formal water management process.KeywordsIndigenous knowledgeWater managementWater conservationCultural valueWater governanceReligious value