A Match Made in Heaven: Traditional Wisdom and Modern Science

Mahalingam Balan, from Galithimbam village in Tamil Nadu’s Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, visits different forest transects once a week. He meticulously observes and documents various ecological aspects — water levels in streams, bee activity, seasonal changes in flora, the presence of invasive species, and signs of animal activities. Inspired by his work, his wife, Amudha M., along with several other women from the village, began using their traditional knowledge of forests and ecology to monitor agro-ecological landscapes and rivers near their village, as forest transects are accessed only by men.

“We diligently track trees such as Indian blackberry and fig trees, recording their fruit-bearing, flowering and drying cycles. We also document the presence of animals and birds near our villages and farms and observe seasonal changes in water streams, trees, and plants,” shares Amudha.

Balan and his wife, belonging to the economically disadvantaged Urali tribe, are part of an ecology monitoring project, the Barefoot Ecology Programme, conceptualised and implemented by the Nilgiris-based non-profit Keystone Foundation, which is dedicated to empowering indigenous communities in the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve and promoting socio-ecological resilience. The programme is designed to equip indigenous youth in integrating traditional ecological knowledge with scientific methods of data collection and analysis.

Traditionally, the Urali tribe, skilled in honey collection, food harvesting, and herbal medicine preparation, relied on selling honey, wild fruits, milk, ghee, and other forest produce for their livelihood. However, studies show that many members of the Urali community in Tamil Nadu now work as agricultural labourers, facing inadequate daily wages due to exploitation, loss of assets, and changes in land ownership.

Launched in 2008, the Barefoot Ecology Programme seeks to integrate traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous people in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, who have historically been at the forefront of forest management, into contemporary forest conservation efforts. The programme empowers them to advise policymakers and officials on management strategies, contribute to decision-making processes, and play a central role in shaping conservation strategies.

Plugging gaps in knowledge transfer

The programme emerged from the recognition that scientific research in forests often relies on the extensive knowledge of adivasis, particularly in locating species.

Anita Varghese, an ecologist and director at Keystone Foundation, has witnessed this firsthand. “They know exactly where everything is in the forest. Without their guidance, I wouldn’t have even found the trees,” she notes. She also observes that the value of a particular species to the community is crucial, as many unique species remain unnamed or unknown because they lack immediate practical use for the community.

Varghese observed that, over time, tribal youth had become increasingly disconnected from the forest, with some lacking even basic knowledge about it. Encouraged to move to cities for better opportunities, they were drifting away from their traditional environment. As a result, a generation emerged that struggled to adapt to or thrive in their natural surroundings, yet remained reluctant to fully embrace urban life.

During a research project on bees, biodiversity, and livelihoods, Keystone Foundation hired indigenous youth to join the field research teams. Varghese noticed that neither the researchers nor the tribal youth knew the traditional names of many plants and animals. In fact, one Kurumba (a south Indian tribe) youth even requested a botanical field guide to identify forest plants.

These concerning observations provided the impetus for the Barefoot Ecology Programme to take off. Selected youth underwent comprehensive training with external experts such as ecologists and wildlife biologists trained in making natural history observations, GIS mapping and so on; they were also encouraged to explore the forests with village elders, who imparted their traditional knowledge to them.

Understanding forestscapes

Soliga tribal youth Shivanna B. from Pulinjoor village in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple (BRT) Tiger Reserve in Karnataka became a barefoot ecologist around 2013 at the age of 28. Before that, his interaction with the forest was limited to collecting non-timber forest products (NTFP). “Even though we lived in the forest, we hadn’t explored many of its transects because it wasn’t necessary,” Shivanna explains. “As a barefoot ecologist, I started to learn more about the forest and its species. The village elders, in particular, taught us how to stay safe from wild animals while moving through the forest.”

For Sivamoorthy R., a 29-year-old from Mavanatham village in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve and a member of the Urali tribe, whose family has lived in close connection with the forest for generations, it is second nature to gauge animal presence by their sounds, smells, and footprints. “Observing their foraging patterns or the presence of dung helps us avoid disturbing their habitats,” he shares.

“Although we have rich traditional knowledge about natural cycles, such as when trees flower or streams flow, we didn’t know how to document those observations,” Shivanna notes. “As barefoot ecologists, we learned scientific names and were trained to systematically record our observations through consistent and detailed forest monitoring.”

His extensive experience living close to the forest notwithstanding, R. Rangasamy (50) from Ittarai village in Sathyamangalam benefited from the training that better equipped him to explore the forests and respond effectively to wildlife encounters.

Varghese adds that while local adivasi people never saw the need to count saplings under a tree, it is crucial from a population ecology perspective to understand the number of individuals in each generation and how they change over time in a given space. “The formal knowledge I bring into the system is as valuable as the traditional knowledge they contribute towards conservation,” she explains.

Women foray into documentation

When the programme began in 2008, only men served as barefoot ecologists. Women, who traditionally manage water collection, firewood, and medicinal plants, possess unique ecological knowledge due to their culturally assigned roles, but are typically excluded from decision-making forums. The programme challenged this gendered approach to conservation.

Today, 20 indigenous women from tribes such as Urali and Soliga in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve have created many success stories as barefoot ecologists. Their work earned them the prestigious Gender Just Climate Solutions Award at COP27 in Egypt in 2022—a significant milestone in the fight against climate change.

Amudha served as the president of the women barefoot ecologists team in the Nilgiris from 2019 for three years. During this time, she received a nominal stipend from Keystone Foundation, which helped her manage household expenses.

Armed with her knowledge as a barefoot ecologist, Sakthi P. from Bokkapuram village in Masinagudi panchayat now serves as a nature educator at government schools, where she takes classes on climate change and environmental education. “As barefoot ecologists, we gain a profound understanding of nature through systematic observation. For example, although we always knew when mango trees would flower in our region, systematically recording it revealed a pattern: if flowering is very high one year, it tends to be lower the next year—an insight we didn’t have before.” She notes that her students quickly take to nature observation and enthusiastically share their findings with their peers.

Bhavya George, the Climate Solutions Programme coordinator at Keystone Foundation, highlights that children and women are keen observers of small insects and birds, often overlooked in conservation efforts that mostly focus on large mammals. “Children happily bring their observations of small creatures from their villages to school and share their experiences. Nature educators like Sakthi have effectively passed on their knowledge as barefoot ecologists to the next generation.”

Key observations for conservation

The barefoot ecologists have made significant climate observations through meticulous scientific monitoring of the forest. For instance, Sivamoorthy has noted a decline in the Peesundai (Viburnum punctatum) tree population. He observed that many herbivores, particularly sambar deer, fed on the tree bark due to a shortage of leaves during unusually hot summer months in recent years. “If the bark of the tree is gone, the entire tree will be gone,” he remarks.

Thangavelu K., another resident of Mavantham village, attributes the widespread decline of native trees, including the once-abundant gooseberry trees, to the presence of Lantana camara, an invasive species in the forest.

Before restrictions were imposed on the collection of certain non-timber forest products like gooseberries, the communities harvested gooseberries and carefully trimmed diseased bark to promote tree growth and health. “When the forest department banned this practice, it led to the gradual destruction of many gooseberry trees,” Thangavelu claims.

The barefoot ecologists also collect saplings of endangered plants to conserve at the nursery at Keystone’s Field Ecology Centre in Arepalayam, Sathyamangalam. Once these saplings have matured, they are reintroduced into the forest to aid in the revival of the species, according to Thangavelu.

Another key focus of their documentation is endangered species in the forest, such as lorises and pangolins. To better understand the conservation status of these species, they help install voice recorders and cameras at strategic locations in the forest. Rangaswamy speculates that these animals, which once thrived in the forest, are now facing population declines due to reduced reproduction rates.

The barefoot ecologists receive a stipend of Rs. 500 per forest visit from the non-profit. However, many of them maintain that their work is driven by a deep connection with the forest rather than financial incentive.

Building leadership and capacity

Varghese emphasises the importance of building leadership and capacity among tribal communities through the programme. Most barefoot ecologists are engaged in other livelihood activities and are often called upon as needed, such as to assist with research or projects. “When we undertake research, we invite these barefoot ecologists to participate and become core researchers. They are not just trackers and field assistants but also partners in our research. When we write a research paper, we include them as co-authors,” she explains.

In each village, barefoot ecologists maintain detailed records of their observations. However, since maintaining electronic copies may not be feasible for them, Keystone Foundation’s Field Ecology Centre in Arepalayam, near Hasanur, assists in storing and managing this data. “These records have been invaluable in analysing patterns such as peak times for animal activity, seasonal changes in flowering and fruiting, and variations in stream behavior,” says Mahadesh B., additional programme coordinator for the Biodiversity Conservation Programme at Keystone Foundation.

The data collected is significantly different from the People’s Biodiversity Register on various counts but most importantly it’s not a document of people’s traditional, sacred or cultural knowledge, but a record of environment conditions and changes through regular nature observations, explains Varghese.

Although the Foundation has not yet fully utilised the findings of barefoot ecologists in its research and other programmes, these ecologists collaborate with Aadhimalai Pazhanagudiyinar Producer Company Limited, a Nilgiris-based collective of tribal farmers and maintains a knowledge-sharing partnership that is mutually beneficial.

Tradition and science join hands

Honey hunter R. Paramesh of Ittarai village has observed a sharp decline in the number of beehives in the area, almost by half. He notes that this decline extends to the bird population as well. “Flocks of birds used to be a common sight here, but not anymore, likely due to rising temperatures,” he remarks.

Despite facing opposition from a forest officer concerned about the impact of honey hunting on wild bees, Paramesh and his fellow barefoot ecologists persisted in their efforts to monitor the bee population. They employed their data collection skills to track hives and record the honey harvest over a year. Their data showed that, even during peak collection times, only up to 40% of the beehives could be removed due to challenging terrain and a lack of machinery.

“We assured the officials of our sustainable practices, including leaving at least 50% of the honeycombs intact to preserve the brood with larvae so they would return to the same location each year,” Paramesh explains. Initially prohibited from honey hunting, they eventually succeeded in negotiating with the officers to continue their work.

Varghese notes that this data was powerful enough to challenge the commonly-held belief that all wild honey was harvested by communities or that the forest was being depleted by their activities. “Now, with training in barefoot ecology, communities are equipped to collect data and present scientifically-backed arguments,” she adds.

Sivamoorthy notes that the forest department is often not receptive to the findings provided by the barefoot ecologists during documentation, preferring, instead, to conduct their own monitoring. A range officer from Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, speaking on condition of anonymity, voices his disagreement with the activities of barefoot ecologists, suggesting that indigenous communities should vacate the forests to improve conservation efforts.

When asked about the potential use of data provided by them for the department, the range officer acknowledged that some of this data could be useful but emphasised that monitoring should be restricted to areas designated by the department. He referenced an incident where data on cattle raising caused controversy within the department, as there is a ban on cattle raising in Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve. However, the barefoot ecologists denied conducting any such study.

Regulations and community dynamics

When Balan began working as a barefoot ecologist around 2012, monitoring forests was relatively hassle-free; permissions from forest officials secured by Keystone Foundation were usually sufficient. The forest department has tightened control over forest access now, requiring barefoot ecologists to notify the department each time they enter the core forest area for monitoring. “In addition, we now need approval from the range officer and must be accompanied by an anti-poaching watcher,” Balan shares.

Mahadesh clarifies that these requirements apply only when the tribals are representing the organisation as barefoot ecologists, not when they enter the forest for personal needs. “Since our organisation collaborates with the tribal community for research activities, this protocol ensures the safety of everyone involved and supports forest conservation,” he assures.

Some forest officials have raised concerns about poachers potentially influencing tribal individuals for personal gain, emphasising the need for checks and balances to ensure fair play. Badrasamy C, a retired divisional forest officer with seven years of experience as a ranger in the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve, while acknowledging the valuable work of barefoot ecologists, stresses on the larger responsibility of the Foundation to prevent any involvement of poachers when tribal members enter the forest for documentation.

Balan, however, clarifies that barefoot ecologists are selected with utmost care and after thorough vetting. No more than two barefoot ecologists are chosen from each village through the gramsabha committee, based on their knowledge of the forest, thus granting autonomy to the villages in the selection process. “The gramsabha of Galithimbam village passed a resolution recognising my selection as a barefoot ecologist due to my understanding of the forest,” he explains.

Balan, who mostly had a positive experience working with the forest department, recalls that the department once provided an honorarium for a few months to two barefoot ecologists in acknowledgment of their contributions to conservation.

Many forest officers recognise the invaluable contribution of tribal communities to forest conservation, particularly as anti-poaching watchers. An officer who wishes to remain anonymous says, “Only they know how to navigate forest transects, entering and exiting areas where tracking becomes difficult beyond certain limits.”

This story was first published on Mongabay India