TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE REGARDING CLIMATE PROTECTION AND THEIR ADAPTATION UNDER INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT LEGAL FRAMEWORK

Traditional knowledge is considered as one of the important contributors to any society. In the need of climate protection, the use of traditional knowledge cannot be ignored. Ancestral practices used by various indigenous communities around the world have protected the mankind from the menace of forest fires, helped in redistribution of water across degraded soils, navigated through unpredictable weather conditions in the Arctic region and made it possible to store water through various traditional water harvesting techniques.  But all these efforts would be in vain if they are not protected and appreciated by the legal framework. Around the world, and India itself there are various laws and regulations which provide protection to this traditional knowledge. Starting from organisations like the UNESCO and UNFCCC to the acts like Patent Amendment Act (2002), Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmer’s Right Act (2001), and Biological Diversity Act (2002), we have seen the support of the people and the government itself for the protection and conservation of our traditional treasure. Traditional knowledge being local and specific is generated within the communities, it is not systematically documented because majority of it being oral and rural in nature. This creates the risk of bio-piracy and stealing the worth of skills, innovations and practices of other unaware people. The constitution of India has provided their protection in directive principles of state policy but that is not enforceable, thus acts like the Biological Diversity Act (2002), Forest Rights Act (2006), Environment Protection Act (1986), Geographical Indication of Goods Act (1999) are not enough for preserving our traditional knowledge. We need to frame and adopt some specific laws rather than submerging this under general acts. Holistic and inclusive approach with self-awareness about the knowledge is the key to sustainable use of traditional knowledge.