Call for Abstract | South Asian Forum on Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Heritage | Submit Abstract by 20th September 2026

Call for Abstract | South Asian Forum on Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Heritage | Submit Abstract by 20th September 2026

Call for Abstract: South Asian Forum on Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Heritage, 2026 by CCES

About Us

The Centre for Climate & Environmental Studies (CCES) is a specialized Research Centre of Excellence (RCoE) under the Community for Academic Research and Development (CARD), established with the vision of developing a multidisciplinary academic and research ecosystem dedicated to understanding the most pressing climate and environmental challenges of our time. CCES serves as a platform for research, education, policy dialogue, knowledge production, academic collaboration, youth engagement, and public awareness in the broad and interconnected fields of climate change and environmental sustainability. The Centre recognizes that climate change is no longer an isolated environmental concern. It is a defining challenge for the future of economies, societies, ecosystems, institutions, legal systems, public policy, international relations, technology, agriculture, infrastructure, energy, health, migration, food security, and human development. Similarly, environmental degradation cannot be understood only through the lens of pollution or conservation. Questions concerning forests, biodiversity, water, oceans, land, energy, cities, consumption, production, technology, development, and human rights are deeply interconnected. CCES therefore adopts an interdisciplinary, evidence-based, globally informed, and policy-oriented approach to environmental research.

About the Forum

The South Asian Forum on Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Heritage, 2026 is an international interdisciplinary forum organised by the Centre for Climate & Environmental Studies (CCES), Community for Academic Research and Development (CARD) in collaboration with the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The Forum seeks to establish a significant international platform for dialogue on the preservation, recognition, protection, transmission, and contemporary relevance of Indigenous knowledge systems, traditional practices, cultural heritage, community rights, and living traditions across South Asia and the wider Global South. South Asia is home to extraordinarily diverse Indigenous and traditional communities whose knowledge systems have evolved over generations in close relationship with land, forests, mountains, rivers, biodiversity, agriculture, medicine, crafts, architecture, food systems, languages, cultural practices, and spiritual traditions. Yet these knowledge systems and cultural expressions increasingly face challenges arising from climate change, biodiversity loss, displacement, cultural homogenisation, commercial exploitation, digital transformation, inadequate legal protection, and the erosion of intergenerational transmission. The Forum provides an interdisciplinary space bringing together Indigenous representatives, scholars, researchers, policymakers, environmental and intellectual property lawyers, anthropologists, historians, cultural practitioners, conservationists, development professionals, civil society organisations, government representatives, international organisations, technology innovators, students, and community leaders. Particular emphasis will be placed on examining how Indigenous knowledge can contribute to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, sustainable development, environmental governance, food and water security, cultural preservation, public health, community-based resource management, and inclusive development, while ensuring that such knowledge and cultural expressions are protected from misappropriation and exploitation.

Forum Objectives

• Examine contemporary challenges concerning the protection, preservation, recognition, and transmission of Indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.
• Promote interdisciplinary and comparative research on Indigenous knowledge systems across South Asia and the Global South.
• Explore legal and policy frameworks for protecting traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions from misappropriation and unauthorised exploitation.
• Examine the relationship between Indigenous knowledge, biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and climate resilience.
• Promote meaningful participation of Indigenous communities in cultural, environmental, developmental, and governance processes.
• Explore the role of intellectual property law, customary law, human rights law, and international law in safeguarding Indigenous knowledge and cultural expressions.
• Encourage dialogue between Indigenous knowledge systems and contemporary scientific and technological knowledge.
• Examine the role of Indigenous knowledge in sustainable agriculture, traditional medicine, water management, forest governance, disaster resilience, and ecosystem conservation.
• Explore ethical approaches to documenting, digitising, researching, commercialising, and disseminating Indigenous knowledge and cultural heritage.
• Strengthen regional and international cooperation for the protection of Indigenous peoples, traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, institutions, researchers, and international organisations.
• Promote intergenerational transmission and revitalisation of Indigenous languages, traditions, knowledge, and cultural practices.

Forum Date & Venue  

• Dates: 10-11th October, 2026
• Venue: Virtual Mode (Internationally)

Forum Theme

Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Sovereignty & Sustainable Futures

Key Themes and Sub-Themes

Participants are invited to submit papers engaging with the following thematic tracks:

1. Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Sovereignty & Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

• Indigenous knowledge systems and epistemologies
• Cultural sovereignty and self-determination
• Indigenous peoples’ collective rights
• Indigenous rights under international law
• UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
• Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)
• Indigenous participation in decision-making
• Community ownership of knowledge
• Customary law and Indigenous governance
• Indigenous peoples and sustainable development

2. Traditional Knowledge, Intellectual Property & Benefit-Sharing

• Legal protection of traditional knowledge
• Traditional cultural expressions
• Indigenous cultural expressions and copyright
• Patents and traditional knowledge
• Genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge
• Biopiracy and misappropriation
• Cultural appropriation
• Defensive protection of traditional knowledge
• Access and benefit-sharing
• Community ownership and collective IP rights
• Commercialisation and ethical licensing
• WIPO and international IP frameworks

3. Indigenous Knowledge, Biodiversity & Conservation

• Indigenous knowledge and biodiversity conservation
• Traditional ecological knowledge
• Indigenous stewardship of ecosystems
• Community-based conservation
• Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas
• Forest and wildlife conservation
• Sacred forests, rivers and landscapes
• Traditional resource management
• Ecosystem restoration
• Nature-based solutions
• Indigenous knowledge and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
• Biodiversity governance and community participation

4. Indigenous Knowledge, Climate Change & Environmental Resilience

• Indigenous climate knowledge
• Traditional climate adaptation
• Community-based climate resilience
• Indigenous approaches to disaster risk reduction
• Climate-induced displacement
• Loss and damage and Indigenous communities
• Climate justice and Indigenous peoples
• Traditional weather and ecological forecasting
• Climate-resilient agriculture
• Indigenous approaches to ecosystem restoration
• Climate governance and Indigenous participation

5. Indigenous Cultural Heritage, Languages & Living Traditions

• Intangible cultural heritage
• Indigenous languages and language revitalisation
• Oral traditions and storytelling
• Traditional music, dance and performing arts
• Indigenous crafts and craftsmanship
• Traditional architecture
• Indigenous food cultures
• Rituals, ceremonies and festivals
• Sacred sites and cultural landscapes
• Oral histories and community memory
• Cultural identity and continuity
• Intergenerational transmission of heritage

6. Indigenous Knowledge in the Digital Age: AI, Data Sovereignty & Technology

• Artificial Intelligence and Indigenous knowledge
• AI and Indigenous cultural representation
• Indigenous data sovereignty
• Indigenous digital sovereignty
• Digital preservation of traditional knowledge
• AI and Indigenous languages
• Digital archives and cultural databases
• Digitisation of cultural heritage
• Indigenous knowledge and big data
• Algorithmic bias and cultural misrepresentation
• AI-generated Indigenous cultural content
• Ethical technology governance
• Community consent and digital ownership

7. Indigenous Knowledge, Land, Territory & Natural Resource Governance

• Indigenous land and territorial rights
• Customary land tenure
• Community forest governance
• Indigenous water governance
• Traditional fisheries management
• Commons and community resources
• Mining and extractive industries
• Infrastructure development and displacement
• Conservation-induced displacement
• Land acquisition and Indigenous communities
• Resource conflicts and community rights
• Indigenous participation in environmental governance

8. Indigenous Health, Traditional Medicine, Food Systems & Well-being

• Traditional medicine and healing systems
• Indigenous medicinal plants
• Ethnobotanical knowledge
• Indigenous midwifery and maternal care
• Traditional healthcare practices
• Indigenous food systems
• Food sovereignty
• Traditional seeds and agricultural biodiversity
• Indigenous nutrition
• Mental and community well-being
• Protection of traditional medical knowledge
• Health rights and Indigenous communities

9. Indigenous Knowledge, Agriculture, Food Security & Sustainable Livelihoods

• Indigenous agricultural practices
• Traditional seed systems
• Indigenous crop varieties
• Agroecology and regenerative agriculture
• Traditional irrigation systems
• Indigenous livestock practices
• Sustainable fisheries
• Forest-based livelihoods
• Food sovereignty and food security
• Traditional food preservation
• Indigenous entrepreneurship
• Community-based sustainable livelihoods
• Indigenous knowledge and rural development

10. Indigenous Knowledge, Education, Research & Intergenerational Futures

• Indigenous education systems
• Indigenous pedagogies
• Decolonising education
• Indigenous knowledge in universities
• Community-based research
• Ethical research methodologies
• Indigenous research sovereignty
• Knowledge co-production
• Intergenerational knowledge transmission
• Indigenous youth and cultural revitalisation
• Women as knowledge holders
• Indigenous languages in education
• Museums, archives and community repositories
• Repatriation of cultural knowledge and materials
• Building Indigenous knowledge networks

Format of Presentation

The Forum will be conducted virtually to facilitate broad international participation across geographical boundaries. Selected authors will present their papers in live sessions before an international audience comprising scholars, legal professionals, industry leaders, and policy experts.

Recognitions

Selected Presenters will receive:

• Publication in the International edited Volume titled, “Indigenous Knowledge, Cultural Sovereignty & Sustainable Futures: Rights, Resilience and Innovation in a Changing World” with ISBN. To be published and distributed across 15 nations, with international editorial and institutional collaboration
• International Certificate of Presentation
• Best Papers to be Featured through international Indigenous knowledge, cultural heritage, biodiversity, and policy research platforms
• Eligibility for Best Paper and Emerging Scholar Awards
• Opportunities to participate in future international research collaborations, academic forums, Indigenous knowledge initiatives, and cultural heritage projects
• Contributions to be highlighted through international academic networks, Indigenous knowledge networks, cultural heritage platforms, and conservation and policy communities
• Opportunities for institutional networking and future collaboration with participating academic, research, cultural, conservation, and international organisations

Call for Papers Timeline

• Abstract Submission Deadline: 20th September 2026 (Abstracts should be between 250–300 words, clearly indicating the research question, methodology and relevance to the Forum themes.)
• Notification of Abstract Selection: 22nd September 2026 (Selected authors will be notified via email and invited to submit full papers.)
• Full Paper Submission Deadline: 27th September 2026 (Full-length papers should be 3,000–4,000 words and follow the Forum’s Submission Guidelines.)
• Confirmation of Presentation: 28th September 2026 (Selected participants to be confirmed for presentation and complete registration.)
• Date of Forum: 10-11th October 2026

Abstract Submission Form:

Submission Guidelines

Categories

• Research Article: 3,000 to 5,000 words
• Policy Paper / Legislative Analysis: 3,000 to 5,000 words
• Case Studies / Legal Commentaries: 2,000 to 4,000 words

Format and Structure

• Font: Times New Roman
• Body Text: 12pt, Justified Alignment
• Headings: 14pt, Centre Alignment
• Subheadings: 13pt
• Footnotes: 10pt, Left Alignment
• Citation Style: Bluebook 21st Edition
• Spacing: 1.5
• Language: English only

Abstract

Each submission must include a concise abstract not exceeding 300 words summarising the core ideas of the paper with 5 keywords.

Originality

• Submissions must be entirely original and unpublished.
• Plagiarism should not exceed 10%, and AI-generated content is not allowed. Submissions violating these guidelines will be rejected.

Co-Authorship

Papers may have up to two authors.

Review Process

• A two-stage internal review will assess submissions.
• Authors may be required to revise their papers based on feedback regarding content, structure, or formatting.

Contact Details

For direct communication, email us at cces@cardint.org. 

For More Details

Disclaimer:

Any content on this website (i.e lawof.in) is solely for information purpose. It does not constitute formal recommendation or any professional advice.  Due care has been taken in posting information, the existence of omissions herein is not ruled out. Neither the author nor lawof.in accepts any liabilities for any loss or damage of any kind arising out of any inaccurate or incomplete information on this website nor for any actions taken in reliance thereon. No part of posts on this website should be distributed or copied (except for non-commercial use, personal) without express written permission of lawof.in if there is any question or query then please mail on lawof.in@gmail.com

#IndigenousKnowledge2026 #CulturalHeritageForum #SouthAsianAcademicDialogue #ClimateAndCulture #UNPFIIEngagement #IUCNPartnership #VirtualConference2026 #ResearchForSustainability