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Indigenous and local knowledge inclusion in forest fauna research : A systematic review in the tropics

Hernandez Velez, Carlos LU orcid ; Jackson, Guy LU orcid and Krause, Torsten LU (2026) In Ambio: a Journal of Environment and Society
Abstract
Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) is an expression of biocultural diversity and is vital for inclusive and sustainable forest management and epistemic justice. We examine how researchers studying tropical forest fauna engage with ILK and the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) who are holders of this knowledge. We conducted a systematic review of 62 articles that focus on tropical forest fauna and ILK. We used a category-based quantitative and qualitative content analysis on the types of forest fauna studied and how research engages with, defines and represents ILK. We also evaluated the varied forms of inclusion of IPLC in the research. We find that less than half of the reviewed studies (25) explicitly define ILK, and only... (More)
Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) is an expression of biocultural diversity and is vital for inclusive and sustainable forest management and epistemic justice. We examine how researchers studying tropical forest fauna engage with ILK and the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) who are holders of this knowledge. We conducted a systematic review of 62 articles that focus on tropical forest fauna and ILK. We used a category-based quantitative and qualitative content analysis on the types of forest fauna studied and how research engages with, defines and represents ILK. We also evaluated the varied forms of inclusion of IPLC in the research. We find that less than half of the reviewed studies (25) explicitly define ILK, and only four studies reported including IPLC in the decision-making processes. Our findings reveal that science has not fully acknowledged and understood the depth of ILK and we suggest ways to address this in future research. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
Ambio: a Journal of Environment and Society
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
external identifiers
  • pmid:42032422
  • scopus:105037152602
ISSN
0044-7447
DOI
10.1007/s13280-026-02378-y
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f11da1b2-8030-4e6b-bfc6-4e91ed1dfde2
date added to LUP
2026-05-07 10:06:02
date last changed
2026-08-27 03:31:00
@article{f11da1b2-8030-4e6b-bfc6-4e91ed1dfde2,
  abstract     = {{Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) is an expression of biocultural diversity and is vital for inclusive and sustainable forest management and epistemic justice. We examine how researchers studying tropical forest fauna engage with ILK and the Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) who are holders of this knowledge. We conducted a systematic review of 62 articles that focus on tropical forest fauna and ILK. We used a category-based quantitative and qualitative content analysis on the types of forest fauna studied and how research engages with, defines and represents ILK. We also evaluated the varied forms of inclusion of IPLC in the research. We find that less than half of the reviewed studies (25) explicitly define ILK, and only four studies reported including IPLC in the decision-making processes. Our findings reveal that science has not fully acknowledged and understood the depth of ILK and we suggest ways to address this in future research.}},
  author       = {{Hernandez Velez, Carlos and Jackson, Guy and Krause, Torsten}},
  issn         = {{0044-7447}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{04}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{Ambio: a Journal of Environment and Society}},
  title        = {{Indigenous and local knowledge inclusion in forest fauna research : A systematic review in the tropics}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13280-026-02378-y}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s13280-026-02378-y}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}