INTEGRATING SCIENTIFIC APPROACHES AND INDIAN KNOWLEDGE SYSTEMS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: A ROADMAP TO ACHIEVE SDG 15

Dr. Ranjana Verma*

Biodiversity forms the foundation of ecological stability by supporting nutrient cycling, soil fertility, pollination, and climate regulation. However, unsustainable land use, habitat fragmentation, and climate change are accelerating biodiversity loss, which threatens ecosystem integrity. SDG 15 (Life on Land) promotes the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity. This work emphasizes combining modern scientific tools with traditional ecological knowledge to improve biodiversity management. From a scientific perspective, methods such as population genetics, molecular barcoding, GIS-based habitat mapping, and bioindicator monitoring offer accurate assessments of ecosystem health. Recent studies on pollinators, amphibians, and freshwater zooplankton show their role as early warning systems for ecological imbalance, making them essential tools in conservation biology. Habitat restoration, controlled reforestation, and sustainable agro-ecological practices are evidence-based actions that can halt biodiversity loss. Equally important is the Indian Knowledge System (IKS), which reflects centuries of ecological wisdom. Ancient texts like the Vrikshayurveda and Arthashastra describe sustainable forestry and wildlife management practices. Indigenous conservation traditions, such as sacred groves, community-led water harvesting, and the protection of keystone species like the cobra, peacock, and elephant, highlight the cultural reverence for biodiversity in India. Combining these practices with scientific strategies creates a synergistic conservation model that is both culturally rooted and globally relevant. This abstract underscores the need for a transdisciplinary approach that combines modern life science research with IKS-based ecological ethics. Such an integrated pathway strengthens not only SDG 15 but also interconnected goals, including SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). By aligning science and tradition, India can offer a unique model of sustainable biodiversity conservation with global applicability.