Defining Traditional Ecological Knowledge

Traditional Ecological Knowledge is such a long drawn out term by the time I’m done spelling it out I have forgotten what I was in the midst of writing.  Yet the term defines an aspect of humanity’s interaction with the world, and therefore I want to fully grasp what Traditional Ecological Knowledge means to me.  In order to define the entire term for myself I defined each word individually.  According to Dictionary.com:

Traditional –  of or pertaining to tradition; handed down by tradition; in accordance with tradition.

Synonyms: conventional, widespread, customary, established.

• Tradition - the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation; something that is handed down; a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting; a continuing pattern of culture beliefs or practices; a customary or characteristic method or manner.

Synonyms: custom, practice, habit, convention, usage.

Ecological – of or relating to ecology; (of a practice, policy, product, etc) tending to benefit or cause minimal damage to the environment.

Synonyms: green.

• Ecology - (scientific definition) - the scientific study of the relationships between living things and their environments; a system of such relationships within a particular environment.
• Ecology - (cultural definition) - the study of living things, their environment, and the relation between the two.

Synonyms: conservation, preservation.

Knowledge – acquaintance with facts, truths or principles, as from study or investigation; familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning; acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report; the fact or state of knowing, the perception of fact or truth; awareness as a fact or circumstance; the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time.

Synonyms: comprehension, enlightenment, acquaintance, consciousness.

After obtaining the definitions of the three words that compile Traditional Ecological Knowledge, I tried looking up the meaning of the entire term.  It was not in the dictionary.  So it was back to me rereading the myriad of words in an attempt to comprehend what Traditional Ecological Knowledge encompasses.

Traditional, meaning that the ecological knowledge is passed down from previous generations.  A standard of understanding that is slow to change.

Ecological, this word can have two nuanced meanings.  One option is traditional knowledge pertaining to the “study of the relationships between living things and their environments”.  Another possible definition is traditional knowledge “tending to benefit or cause minimal damage to the environment”. 

Knowledge: (Although the dictionary definition for this word is long), I liked one’s “perception of fact or truth” AND “the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time”.

In the end, it seems as though all I accomplished in my attempt to define Traditional Ecological Knowledge was stretching a three word term into an even wordier mess.  So to end on a slightly more comprehendible note, I will simplify Traditional Ecological Knowledge as I have decided to view it.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge: An understanding of the interactions between elements of nature that enable manipulation of those elements in order to benefit humankind and the environment ,that has been passed down from previous generations with limited amendments, and pertaining to the local ecosystem in which the knowledge was been cultivated.