Ekoloku

Ekoloku is a term used in ecological philosophy and cultural anthropology to describe a holistic system of knowledge and practice that treats humans as part of an interconnected ecosystem. It emphasizes reciprocal relationships among people, land, and non-human beings, and it promotes sustainable resource use, community resilience, and long-term ecological integrity.

The term is used across disciplines rather than tied to a single language. In scholarly contexts, ekoloku refers to integrated management approaches that blend traditional ecological knowledge with contemporary science. The concept is often described as place-based and community-centered, reflecting local histories, biodiversity, and cultural values.

Core practices associated with ekoloku include participatory governance of resources, seasonal and sacred cycles that guide harvests, kinship networks that share food and labor, and continuous learning through storytelling and observation. It advocates adaptive management in response to environmental change and frames ecological health as inseparable from human well-being.

Ekoloku has been discussed in debates on indigenous knowledge inclusion in conservation and policy. Supporters argue it offers a comprehensive framework for sustainability that respects cultural diversity, while critics caution against romanticizing local practices or oversimplifying diversity.

See also: Traditional ecological knowledge; place-based education; sustainability; community-based natural resource management.