Revisiting traditional knowledge systems in environmental governance: Towards a contextual and pluralistic sustainability framework

Abstract Traditional knowledge systems (TKSs) have gained renewed importance in environmental governance and sustainability debates in response to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the limitations of technocratic resource management. This study systematically reviews and synthesises the multidisciplinary literature on TKS, with the objective of identifying its conceptual foundations, evaluating its empirical significance for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and resource management, and critically examining the institutional and epistemic barriers to its integration into mainstream sustainability governance. The review adopts a hybrid design combining PRISMA-guided screening, bibliometric mapping, and narrative thematic synthesis, drawing on Scopus bibliometric data (1631 records) and a PRISMA-screened corpus of 464 publications. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and narrative synthesis organise the literature into four thematic clusters: (i) the conceptual foundations of TKS as a system of environmental stewardship; (ii) its practical application in environmental governance and resource management; (iii) its uneven and often contradictory positioning within contemporary sustainability discourse, including the Sustainable Development Goals; and (iv) the legal, institutional, and governance frameworks shaping its recognition, protection, and epistemic justice. Building on this synthesis, the review further develops a contextual and pluralistic sustainability framework that integrates these- clusters into a conceptual model for TKS-inclusive environmental governance. The findings show that TKS functions as a dynamic and contextually embedded knowledge framework central to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and community-based governance, yet its incorporation into mainstream sustainability frameworks remains partial, instrumental, and often subordinate to scientific validation. The review argues for more plural, participatory, and justice-oriented approaches to sustainability governance, underscoring the relevance of TKS not as a supplementary resource but as a legitimate foundation for equitable environmental governance.