JOURNAL ARTICLE

"Forest doesn't burn anymore": Indigenous ontologies of cultural burning and fire in Southern India.

  • Published In: Environment & Planning E: Nature & Space, 2025, v. 8, n. 3. P. 934 1 of 3

  • Database: Environment Complete 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Jolly, Helina; Kandlikar, Milind; Vishnudas, Suma; Satterfield, Terre 3 of 3

Abstract

This article focuses on the cultural burning practices and fire ontologies of the Kattunayakan, an Adivasi (Indigenous) community in the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary of Southern India. It documents how Kattunayakans perceive fire as a vital, sentient component of the forest ecosystem that preserves landscape identity, co-manages forest spaces, and enables ecological functions such as biodiversity renewal and human–wildlife coexistence. Despite these longstanding Indigenous fire practices, colonial and postcolonial forest policies in India have criminalized cultural burning, leading to ecological degradation, restricted forest access, and the erosion of traditional knowledge. The study highlights the need to recognize and integrate Adivasi fire knowledge into contemporary forest management to support healthier ecosystems and Indigenous rights.

Additional Information

  • Source:Environment & Planning E: Nature & Space. 2025/06, Vol. 8, Issue 3, p934
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Environmental Sciences
  • Publication Date:2025
  • ISSN:2514-8486
  • DOI:10.1177/25148486251323153
  • Accession Number:185859523
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of Environment & Planning E: Nature & Space is the property of Sage Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

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