Work

Legal Pathways for Gender-Inclusive Circular Enterprises: Forest Rights and The Protection Of Traditional Ecological KnowledgeIn Northeast India

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Forest-based livelihoods in Northeast India follow circular practices grounded in Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) held by tribal women, who use selective harvesting, rotational gathering and low-waste processing to maintain ecological balance. However, TEK remains invisible in Indian law. Patent law excludes it, the Biodiversity Act documents species but not decision rules, and the GI Act recognises products without recognising women’s knowledge. Forest rights law grants access but not knowledge-based rights. Customary institutions further limit women’s participation in governance. Recent amendments to the Forest (Conservation) Act weaken Gram Sabhas and reduce community control, affecting TEK-based enterprises. This chapter argues for recognising TEK as collective knowledge, integrating gender-sensitive procedures across forest and IP systems, and aligning FRA with livelihood schemes to support sustainable, women-led circular systems.

Source: Journal of Asia Entrepreneurship and Sustainability

DOI: 10.66635/q5bw9z97

Authors: Dr. Tanwi Shams, Dr. Gitanjali Ghosh, Dr. Arjyalopa Mishra, Dr. Itishree Mishra, Wagisha .

Institutions: National Law University Odisha, Tezpur University

Language: English

Topic: Indigenous Peoples' Rights and Law

Subfield: Law

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Gender equality, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: diamond

Funder: Indian Council of Social Science Research