Importance of Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in Heritage Sustainability of the Sundarbans

Abstract

The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest, represents a unique confluence of ecological richness, natural heritage and cultural heritage. While extensive research focuses on its natural heritage and its conservation through modern methods, the crucial role of its rich and distinct indigenous cultural practices, belief systems, and traditional ecological knowledge in promoting heritage sustainability remains untapped. This study observes that communities maintaining strong cultural connections to the forest, through worship of Bonbibi, traditional resource management practices, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, exhibit more sustainable interactions with the ecosystem. Hence this paper seeks to analyze the contribution of indigenous knowledge and cultural practices to the heritage sustainability of the Sundarbans and propose its inclusivity in the modern conservation measures through extensive review of existing literature. Furthermore, this paper proposes environmental recommendations, collaborating with the cultural dimensions to elevate the social fabric of the indigenous communities and the ecological integrity that these communities have helped maintain for centuries.