This open access book takes an interdisciplinary approach by blending ecology, culture, and conservation. It emphasizes how these areas, often treated separately, are deeply interconnected and how understanding their intersections can lead to more effective and inclusive conservation strategies. By acknowledging both ecological science and cultural wisdom, the work proposes a more holistic view of environmental protection. A key feature of the book is its focus on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Indigenous and local communities have long used sustainable practices that align with the natural world. By incorporating TEK into conservation strategies, the book highlights the value of Indigenous wisdom and practices that have been honed over centuries. This also addresses a critique of modern conservation efforts, which sometimes neglect or dismiss cultural knowledge.

The work emphasizes that cultural perspectives are central to successful conservation efforts. It acknowledges the role of cultural practices, such as rituals, festivals, sacred landscapes, and storytelling, in maintaining ecological balance. This focus challenges traditional conservation models, which often prioritize biodiversity and ecosystems without considering how human culture is intrinsically linked to these environments. The proposed work also explores how sacred landscapes and cultural identity are tied to ecosystems. It highlights how cultural practices and sacred sites contribute to biodiversity conservation. This perspective broadens the scope of conservation from purely ecological considerations to include the preservation of cultural heritage, offering a more nuanced approach that integrates the environment and human identity.

The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a standard CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by Bloomsbury Open Collections Library Collective.

Sakti Sekhar Dash is a Fellow of Social Science Research Council, Open Association of Research Society, USA.

Rajkumar Bera is Assistant Professor at Midnapore City College, India.