Indigenous knowledge creates a relationship that is respectful and symbiotic with the natural world and promotes the existence of passing on hands-on experiences to future generations.
[1] Direct TPK is translated through the use of belief systems, spirituality, stories, myth and ceremonial events.
The observation of nature timings along with stories and beliefs, pass down the knowledge from elders and family members that also contribute to the essence of TPK.
As Swartz defines; "Phenology is the study of recurring plant, fungi and animal life cycle stages, especially as they relate to climate and weather".
In temperate locations, the change of increased temperatures will signal growth which, in turn will create an environmental response that indicates spring and/or summer.
[2] Phenology is describes as a process that revolves around the development of an organism (plants or animals) in relation to the change of the seasons.
Embracing TK and continuous observations of the physical environment creates reliable information for future generations.
[1][2][8] Fire management can be timed with phenological events in North-American Indigenous Nations.
[1] Burning causes more water to be retained in the soil which promotes seedling sprouts in the spring and summer.
Practises of Indigenous Knowledge can be useful for sustainability and solutions for modern day environmental issues regarding climate change and biodiversity loss.
[1][3] TPK,TEK, TK, IK are ways to look at landscape ecology in a method that also scientists and the general public can learn from.
TPK is based on historical observations that can help climate scientists because of records of past and current changes in the environments around the world.
[4][6] TPK can provide knowledge and information that are not easily accessible to the Western Sciences regarding climate change.
It can be a tool for decision making, revolving ecology and conservation where gaps of information and data are lacking.
[6] In most parts of the world, especially in higher elevations and northern latitudes such as Alaska, Alaskan communities have observed changes in phenological cycles.
[4] Hotter summers and thawing of permafrost also create an unsteady landscape which affects negatively the vegetation in this region, for instance, wild berries.
[1][3] Indigenous communities in the North-East of India such as Tripura can use TPK to predict weather patterns which aid with activities of agroforestry, farming and agriculture.
The use of astronomy and observation of planetary positions such as conjunctions are important for Tripura Indigenous communities.
June and July are the months containing the highest amount of rainfall and accurately predicted by traditional farmers in the region which is confirmed by the Meteorological Department of Narsinghgarh Bimangarh India.
[12] Due to the region's geographical location, there are several lakes which permit the community to practise fishing.
[12] Astronomical observations such as the location of the moon and its color are used to determine when is the next onset of rainfall and rain intensity.
[12] Elders notice longer of droughts, increase winds and species disappearance, and a halt of fish migrations to previously plentiful rivers due to climate change which is affecting phenological cycles at a quicker and greater rate.
[12] Traditional herders of the land-locked country of Mongolia use TPK and TEK for herding animals, determining height of grasses in the next seasons and their understanding of the ever-changing land.
[13][14] Herder's traditional movement is in accordance with seasonality where observations are made on the relationship and behaviour of vegetation and animals.
[14] Additionally, numbers are associated with certain areas based on characteristics of viability, zones of ecology, soil health and topology.
[14] Furthermore, knowing when a plant will bloom comes from repeated observations and counting the joints of vegetation and relative humidity in the atmosphere i.e. Bagluur or Anabasis Brevifolia.
[14] With the information provided by Indigenous Peoples, TPK is based on knowledge and intellectual property.