The importance of deepening our understanding of small-scale farming and its intersections with ethnobiology and ethnoecology cannot be overstated. These fields illuminate not only traditional agricultural practices that have sustained communities for generations, but also contemporary locally adapted sustainable practices. Together, they underscore the vital role of local knowledge in preserving biodiversity and shaping cultural landscapes.

Recent research has highlighted the intricate relationships between local communities and their territories and ecosystems, showing how both traditional and locally adapted innovative farming methods can enhance biodiversity and promote ecological balance. These insights are essential for informing sustainable land management and ecosystem resilience.

Looking ahead, continued exploration in this area holds the potential to yield transformative insights. Integrating traditional knowledge with organic and agroecological practices—which may be ancient, innovative, or retro-innovative—can lead to more sustainable and resilient food and agriculture systems. This research is not only key to preserving cultural heritage but also to addressing urgent global challenges related to food security and environmental sustainability.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

Local Knowledge & Sustainability

• Local Knowledge Systems in Agriculture

• Traditional Agricultural Practices and Sustainability

• Indigenous Knowledge and Climate Resilience

Biodiversity & Conservation

• Biodiversity Conservation in Small-Scale Farming

• Ethnobiological Approaches to Conservation

• Ethnoecological Perspectives on Land Use

Agroecology, Organic Farming & Cultural Landscapes

• Agroecological & Organic Practices and Transitions

• Innovation and Local Knowledge in Agroecological and Organic Systems

• Cultural Landscapes and Food Sovereignty.

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 2, Zero hunger, SDG 12, Responsible consumption and production, and SDG 15, Life on land.

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.

This collection seeks to advance ethnobiological research across South Asia and South East Asia—two regions rich in cultural and biological diversity yet underrepresented in global scholarship. By bringing together scientists from countries such as India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives (South Asia), as well as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines, and Timor‑Leste (South East Asia), the collection aims to fill a critical gap in the literature while fostering collaborative networks that transcend political and social boundaries.

We invite contributions that explore:

• Traditional ecological knowledge
• Human–nature interactions
• The role of ethnobiology in addressing contemporary challenges, such as biodiversity conservation
• Ethnobiological perspectives on sustainable livelihoods
• Cultural heritage preservation in diverse and rapidly changing environments

Beyond advancing science, this collection aspires to serve as a bridge—supporting dialogue and cooperation among researchers in regions where collaboration is often difficult but deeply needed.

All submissions in this Collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process, and all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) are handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.