In this debate article, we have tried to discuss Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and its close link to the available resources and lack of options in the indigenous communities. We came across the article of Hartel et al. where they initiated a discussion on this important but debatable topic of TEK and its merits and demirits for the environment. We believe that this discourse could continue to clarify both sides of the picture. Our research group is working on species facing extinction threats due to extensive utilization, leading to overexploitation of the taxa, which the TEK seldom cares for. We are of the opinion that the marginalized tribal communities living around the globe extensively use some of the species and natural resources for their food, fodder, fiber, shelter, energy, health and other benefits, irrespective of their conservation needs, and many other ecosystem services. They have to sustain their basic live’s needs from the resources available for their livelihood. They collect economically important medicinal and other species in large quantities to gain higher earnings, rather than thinking of the issues faced by them. Hence, we believe that the continuity and utilization of TEK are driven by poverty and lack of choices rather than positive environmental values, historically. Nevertheless, those communities sometimes have their local system of protection which sometimes works very well or otherwise with the passage of time and the formation of government-driven regulations in the recent past, TEK itself has lost its real sense especially, related to conservation and management. Therefore, TEK could be linked with existing research-based policies and regulations for long-lasting benefits to the environment and its sustainable future. Such bridging can benifit all the stake hoders—the TEK holders, regulatory bodies, government agencies and many more. This debate can lead to a positive and critical discourse towards the clarification of the conundrum under consideration as well as creation of more questions hyptheses related to TEK.

中文翻译：

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传统的生态知识之所以得以延续，是因为贫困和缺乏选择，而不是对环境的思考

在这篇辩论文章中，我们试图讨论传统生态知识（TEK）及其与土著社区可用资源和缺乏选择的密切联系。我们看到了 Hartel 等人的文章。他们就 TEK 及其对环境的优点和缺点这一重要但有争议的话题展开了讨论。我们相信，这次谈话可以继续澄清事情的双方。我们的研究小组正在研究因广泛利用而面临灭绝威胁的物种，导致对类群的过度开发，而 TEK 很少关心这些物种。我们认为，生活在全球各地的边缘化部落社区广泛使用某些物种和自然资源来获取食物、饲料、纤维、住所、能源、健康和其他利益，而不管他们的保护需求和许多其他生态系统服务。他们必须利用可用于生计的资源来维持基本生活需求。他们大量收集经济上重要的药用和其他物种以获得更高的收入，而不是考虑他们面临的问题。因此，我们认为，从历史上看，TEK 的连续性和利用是由贫困和缺乏选择驱动的，而不是积极的环境价值观。然而，这些社区有时有当地的保护系统，有时效果很好，但随着时间的推移和最近政府驱动的法规的形成，TEK 本身已经失去了真正的意义，特别是在保护和管理方面。因此，TEK 可以与现有的基于研究的政策和法规联系起来，为环境及其可持续的未来带来长期利益。这种桥梁可以让所有利益相关者受益——TEK 持有者、监管机构、政府机构等等。这场辩论可以引发积极和批判性的讨论，以澄清正在考虑的难题，并提出更多与 TEK 相关的问题假设。