Humans are not the only ones who have the right to use the wealth of nature. It is for the generations to come and also for the birds, animals and other creatures. Aborigines, tribals and farmers nourished and practised this concept of biodiversity. The necessity of eco-development became significant because of the failure of the institutionalised pattern of knowledge industry and the Eurocentric methodology of progress. The traditional knowledge of the folk was made weak systematically by the onslaught of the knowledge patronised by the power centres. Research organisations and professionals looked down upon the tribals and villagers who were the custodians of knowledge.
Understanding these issues down to the earth realities, Centre for Indigenous Knowledge/Folklore Studies(CFS), an informal group started 
collecting and propagating the IK since 1995. A methodology was evolved for mapping the memory of the aborigines, tribals, and the villagers. Now many organisations including some governmental and non-governmental groups come forward to use the eco-centric programmes for the sustainable development.
Indigenous knowledge in Kerala, as in any other part of the world, had impeccable clarity in matters concerning the forests and their wildlife, the agricultural fields, the ponds and the rivers. It had a holistic approach to the social and ecological fabric of the living planet. Ironically, just as our traditions and the knowledge base carried by them are rapidly depleting, the rains seem to be disappearing too. 
One of the places on earth where the rain gods were especially kind is today facing all the crises of th “developing” world
Generated from archived content: cfs-editors.html Author: dr-cr-eng
