Abandonment of sustainable traditions

Abandonment of traditional practices by local communities

Nature

The abandonment of sustainable traditions refers to the decline or loss of practices that promote environmental stewardship, cultural heritage, and community resilience. This phenomenon often occurs due to modernization, globalization, and urbanization, leading to the erosion of indigenous knowledge and local customs that have historically supported sustainable living. As communities shift towards industrialized methods, the ecological balance is disrupted, resulting in increased resource depletion, biodiversity loss, and cultural homogenization. The neglect of these traditions poses significant challenges to sustainability, as it undermines the interconnectedness of social, economic, and environmental systems essential for future generations.

Incidence

A 2021 UNESCO report estimated that over 40% of the world’s languages—many of which encode sustainable land management and agricultural traditions—are at risk of disappearing, with the loss most acute in regions experiencing rapid urbanization and globalization, such as Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also documented a marked decline in traditional agroecological practices, particularly among younger generations, threatening biodiversity and food security.
In 2018, in the Peruvian Andes, the abandonment of the traditional "waru waru" raised field agriculture by local communities in Puno led to increased soil erosion and reduced crop yields, as modern techniques failed to replicate the resilience of ancestral methods.

Claim

An increasing number of indigenous, peasant and local communities are abandoning sustainable traditions in favour of destructive modern activities.

Counter-claim

Present-day traditional societies are to a large extent part of the global economy and have lost many of their traditional cultural values. It is unfair to expect them to continue using traditional, low-impact subsistence technologies and strategies.

Local communities are more likely to employ sustainable practices when they enjoy territorial security and local autonomy.