Wetlands Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Heritage in the Hindu Kush Himalaya - Technical note

High‐altitude wetlands of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) are vital ecological systems that regulate water flows, store carbon, support biodiversity, and sustain the livelihoods of nearly 1.4 billion people downstream. Beyond their environmental importance, these wetlands are deeply embedded in the cultural, spiritual, and traditional knowledge systems of mountain communities across eight countries. For centuries, customary beliefs, ritual practices, seasonal observations, and community norms have functioned as informal yet effective conservation mechanisms. Sacred lakes such as Manasarovar, Gosaikunda, Gokyo, Tso Moriri, Shey Phoksundo, and many others illustrate how spiritual values shape behaviours that limit pollution, restrict resource extraction, guide grazing calendars, and maintain ecological balance. These traditional ecological knowledge systems—rooted in Hindu, Buddhist, Bon, and Indigenous cosmologies—continue to influence stewardship even amid increasing tourism, climate change, and socio-economic pressures. The document highlights the need to integrate cultural values, customary institutions, and intergenerational knowledge transmission into modern wetland governance. Combining traditional knowledge with scientific approaches can enhance resilience, strengthen conservation legitimacy, and ensure that HKH wetlands continue to sustain both nature and culture in a rapidly changing mountain landscape.