Indigenous communities across the world have developed sophisticated systems of ecological knowledge, resource governance, biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihoods over centuries of interaction with their environments. These knowledge systems, often referred to as Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), represent dynamic, evidence-based, and place-specific approaches to sustainability that have enabled communities to maintain ecological balance while supporting human well-being.

Despite increasing global recognition of Indigenous knowledge in international policy frameworks—including the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Paris Agreement, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals—research on Indigenous sustainability remains fragmented across disciplines, institutions, and geographical regions. Existing initiatives often document traditional practices without adequately examining their adaptive capacity, scientific foundations, innovation potential, or policy relevance in rapidly changing environmental and socio-economic contexts.

Climate change, biodiversity loss, land degradation, food insecurity, and cultural erosion present unprecedented challenges that require collaborative approaches integrating Indigenous knowledge with contemporary scientific inquiry. Establishing an international coalition dedicated to adaptive research on the science of Indigenous sustainability would create an institutional platform for co-producing knowledge, strengthening evidence-based policymaking, and supporting Indigenous leadership in sustainability science.