As climate emergencies intensify, countries like Bangladesh are at the forefront of its impact. Examples from other countries show that engaging with and learning from the wisdom of Indigenous people can be crucial to successful policy-making for sustainable natural resource management and development, as Asif All Mahmud Akash argues here.    

Involving Indigenous people in natural resource management is crucial for the long-term sustainable future of the planet, especially amidst ongoing threats of global climate emergencies and environmental disasters. Countries with Indigenous people should actively reach out to them, and include their wisdom in policy. Their deep knowledge of the habitat and their lived practices, closely linked to land, forests and nature more widely, make them an essential asset to sustainable natural resource management. A study in 2019 highlighted that conservation efforts by natural resource managers can improve significantly by incorporating the perspectives of Indigenous people.

There are 370 million Indigenous people worldwide, with 70 per cent living in Asia. According to the Bangladesh Adivasi Forum, 3 million Indigenous people live in the plains and hills of the country. Despite comprising only 1–2 per cent of the population, this group has the unique potential to significantly contribute to sustainable natural resource management, having practiced it as a lived lifestyle for generations (often stretching back centuries), long before sustainability was scientifically understood and validated. Their knowledge is now recognised as dynamic, contemporary and valuable. However, according to a more recent report (2022), the full extent of Indigenous knowledge and traditional practices is often under-appreciated by the scientific community, development practitioners and policy-makers in Bangladesh.

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Modernisation and climate change has been threatening the traditional lifestyles, roles and access to natural resources of Indigenous people for decades, gradually leading to the erosion of traditional knowledge and depletion of resources. Environmental violence, such as over-exploitation of forests and illegal stone quarrying, has further damaged their habitat. For instance, the putitor mahseer fish began disappearing from springs in the Digholchari Hajachara area in east Bangladesh when locals destroyed forests and quarried rocks from streambeds. To address this, a USAID–UNDP project (launched in 2016) worked with Indigenous communities to reduce logging and quarrying, leading to a reversal in the decline of the endangered fish species and preventing it from sliding towards extinction. This example highlights the crucial role of Indigenous wisdom and participation in the preservation of biodiversity.

The economy, livelihood and culture of Indigeneous peoples is closely linked to natural resources. Restricting their access and participation in resource management can lead to resource depletion and negatively impact their well-being, hindering an equitable and just society. The community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approach, which emerged in the 1980s, emphasises the importance and relevance of Indigenous knowledge and practices and is used in many countries. For example, in Australia, Indigenous rights and responsibilities for traditional lands and waters are recognised, and over 100 Indigenous contributors have created guidelines for land and sea management.

Similarly, one study showed how local communities in India’s desert regions have proven to be effective managers of their natural resources through their inherited traditional knowledge and wisdom. Their efficient community strategies demonstrate intelligent and sustainable use of land, water and soil, maintaining the resilience and health of the surrounding ecosystem without causing harm.

If other countries can effectively utilise the CBNRM approach, why can’t Bangladesh do so as well? Enhancing the involvement of Indigenous people in natural resource management aligns with the Bangladesh government’s commitment to democratic values and supports its long-term economic objectives. Sustainable resource management, which emphasises equity, community participation and good governance is crucial for fostering socio-economic and political development. By integrating Indigenous knowledge and practices into resource management strategies, the government can promote more inclusive and effective stewardship of natural resources, ultimately leading to greater economic stability and social cohesion.

However, a study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and the International Labour Organization shows that socio-economic indicators for Indigenous people, including health, education, income, food consumption, participation, and women’s empowerment, fall below the national average. In the plains, nearly 80 per cent of Indigenous people live in poverty, while in the Chittagong Hill Tracts the poverty rate is approximately 65 per cent, a distressing picture of Indigenous communities in the country.

Bangladesh must give due attention to its Indigenous people, and their eco-wisdom. Reinforcing their participation in sustainable resource management will support the country’s goals for UNDP’s Agenda 2030 and the global commitment to ‘leave no one behind’. Inclusive participation of Indigenous people in resource management will protect natural resources, improve livelihoods and foster growth in Bangladesh, contributing to UNDP’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13: Climate Action.

Conservation strategies must include the needs and perspectives of Indigenous people. A policy-level effort is essential to integrate Indigenous knowledge and practices into national resource management policies to ensure sustainable development, protect natural resources and improve Indigenous livelihoods.

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Building a cohesive society necessitates ensuring everyone has equal access to opportunities, resources and rights, regardless of their background, identity or circumstances. What can be more commonly referred to as inclusiveness in participation constitutes a fundamental cornerstone of democratic governance and equitable societal structures. Bangladesh, as a diverse nation, needs to give significant attention to this, ensuring inclusive participation across all sectors. Although Indigenous people constitute a small percentage of the population, subtracting their participation in natural resource management not only loses their knowledge accumulated through generations but is also antithetical to the idea of building an equitable society. Including them in natural resource management not only gives the government access to their lived experiences and knowledge of sustainability but also brings the community from its economic margins into the mainstream of the development process.

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Banner image © Riashat Rafat, ‘A fishing boat waiting for the tide to sail’, Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh, 2020, Unsplash.

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