Preservation of Indigenous Practices in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area: The Need for Inclusion of Local Communities

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), situated in the district of Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, not only has stunning scenery but also preserves a vast amount of indigenous knowledge and customs developed by communities that have lived in peace with its ecosystem for thousands of years.The possibility of neglect is present, posing a risk of eradicating this priceless knowledge and its vital contribution to sustainable resource management, preservation of cultural heritage, and environmental resilience.This is all due to a lack of interest, modernization, and the fact that less money can be earned from such practices.A maximum number of youth are migrating to Goa, Manali, Delhi, and Chandigarh to work with hotels as they earn better income, and it also seems glinting or appealing to work in the travel and hospitality industry.Others are busy on their mobile phones and are looking for easy money to be earned.One more reason is the easy availability of products on the market and not appreciating the art of handicrafts.The medicinal use of herbs present in the area, beekeeping, dairy, basket making, making hemp fiber products (the shoes, ropes, carpet), handcrafted shawls, pattus, socks, and traditional cuisine will be forgotten.Within the context of the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP), this abstract investigates the potential consequences of neglecting indigenous knowledge, with a particular focus on the depletion of sustainable practices, loss of cultural identity, and a decreased ability to respond to environmental concerns.Furthermore, it sheds light on significant attempts that promote the collaborative sharing of knowledge, conservation efforts that are founded in local communities, and the recognition of indigenous knowledge and abilities.