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Approaches and methods used to bring together Indigenous and Environmental Science Knowledge in environmental research: A systematic map

Pirie, Emma1

Published Mar 12, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.8kprr4z2t

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Abstract

The bringing together of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) and Environmental Science Knowledge (ESK) in environmental research has the potential to strengthen ecological understanding, inform management decisions, and support Indigenous environmental stewardship. While previous studies have explored aspects of how these knowledge systems are brought together—such as the guiding principles, research design, and methods for collecting information—the ways in which IK and ESK are combined at the data level remain poorly documented. Without a clear understanding of what happens when data from these knowledge systems are linked—how it is combined, analysed, and interpreted—it is difficult to assess various aspects of the outcome of these efforts. This highlights the need to systematically map and describe the approaches and methods used to weave or link IK-ESK datasets in environmental research. 

A systematic mapping protocol was applied to identify, gather, and review English-language peer-reviewed literature on environmental research that links IK and ESK. Two hundred ninety articles were identified and included in the systematic map database and analyzed for trends in geographic distribution, data collection methods, study aims and objectives, and knowledge weaving or linking approaches. 

The systematic map reveals that research linking IK and ESK is geographically concentrated in Canada, the United States, and Brazil, with relatively fewer studies in Africa and Europe. Linking is most often framed as a means to enhance understanding of environmental topics, but reported efforts to assess the quality or validity of IK in relation to ESK remain present. Linking approaches were most often statistical or narrative, with the transformation of IK from qualitative to quantitative formats being common. A notable finding is the lack of consistency in how and where the process of linking is described across studies. 

Practical implication: By summarizing the extent, nature, and range of studies linking IK and ESK, this systematic map highlights patterns and gaps in methodology, reporting, and epistemological considerations. As the first global overview focused on dataset-level combination, this work provides a starting point for reflection and discussion and offers insights to support more transparent, rigorous, and culturally respectful approaches to combining knowledge systems in future environmental research.