As a branch of anthropology, Traditional or indigenous knowledge has a unique position in infrastructural studies of persistent development. Beside discussing the global position of indigenous knowledge, this paper has tried to present a case research project of coal making in Mazandaran Province of Iran using traditional method. to do this, the researcher has carried out direct in depth observations, face to face and qualtitative interviews, along with the use of documents. The Focus group solely consists of coal makers, meanwhile mule keepers, contractors and other locals people were also studied. Interviewed people were selected through snowball sampling in a longitudinal or multi periodic time course study in the research site.The study reveals how coal making process has passed down from eneration to generation by the foresters through a special kind of natural environment coexistence resulting in forest preservation. In contrast, current companies carelessly exploit forest resources with no careful supervision leading to total destruction of this national property, so that the alarm ring for forest and biodiversity has already tolled.

indigenous knowledge (IK) is important for every nation and consequently for the whole world. from scientific and cultural view point. Previously IK did not have a good status and it was in a ‘backward’ state during 19th century, but in 20th century due to bio-environmental problems caused by inopportune use of modern technology in developing countries, the scholars directed their attention to IK. In this process Gender IK was dealt with as necessity, because the GIK make the rural development more effective.  In this paper my aim is to identify GIK, while acknowledging that the rural women IK is different with men’s one. The methods of data gathering include documentary and library Sources, Internet and Field study. In Field study, the different “PRA” Techniques are used. For this purpose 150 women from 22 Nieshabour villages are chosen by simple random and are interviewed. The result of the research shows (with 95% confidents) that the women in this area are very rich in agriculture IK. Most of their IK is in plantation particularly in mixed and livelihood crops, while they have less IK in identifying the modern methods of pest control. But the men have high rank AIK in commercial and mono-cultivation.

This study analysed women s indigenous knowledge of folk medicines with respect to human and livestock illnesses in selected areas in upper Swat, Buner, and Chitral Districts of the Malakand region of North West Frontier Province, Pakistan in the summer 2003. This analysis was completed by a male and female multi-disciplinary team of specialists. Interviews were conducted using Questionnaires and Medicinal Herb Data Sheets, and Transect Walks where executed in each area visited. The women’s general medical herb collection habits, use, preparations, storage and marketing were ascertained from the Questionnaires, whereas the Medicinal Herb Data sheets (using both male and respondents) provided comprehensive information on individual herbs employed in health care. The Transect Walks allowed the identified herbs of each area to be seen in their natural habitat, and provided a platform for the exploration of local herbs not known to be medicinally active by the community. A total of 87 women interviewed during the course of this study supplied information on 143 different herb species, out of which 58 species were used for the treatment of humans and 85 species were found to bed used for the treatment of both humans and livestock. The result of the survey showed that the knowledge of the women in all 3 districts was appreciable, but it was observed that the elder women generally, and the women from Buner District had a superior understanding of folk medicine. On combining the knowledge recorded from the men and women, and from the Transect Walks, a list of 345 different medicinal plant species can be formulated The transect Walks revealed that on average the women only knew of 29% of the medicinally active herbs in their locality, whilst the men were familiar with 51%. It can be stated that the use of herbs for medicinal purposes was prevalent throughout the regions visited, and this form of medication was administered to both adults and children. The advice of doctors was also sought by most women, the main reasons being for accidents, surgery and births. Preparations of medicinal herbs rarely went beyond drying (most sun-drying), some women dispensed the herbs in the forms of infusions, decoctions, syrups etc., however, the typical method employed was swallowing the dried powdered herb with water. The place and type of storage of medicinal plants varied immensely, and often poor techniques such as non-airtight containers and storing in partial sunlight were observed. Cultivation and marketing was not a priority for the women interviewed, however, of the 3 Districts surveyed the highest incidence of cultivation occurred in Chitral District. Only 9 herbs were found to be marketed by the women throughout the survey, and this enterprise only occurred in Buner and Chitral District. In response to the findings of this survey, a rationale has been developed for screening the ethnobotanical data base generated, and 44 species have been identified as either threatened species, and/or species of commercial value. It has been recommended that these species be included in the future planned medicinal plant research and development initiatives. A primary recommendation concluded from this survey was the need for education of the women. This would embrace the techniques regarding medicinal herb use, including collection, preparation, storage and cultivation advice. Education, awareness, and possibly the formulation of women s enterprise groups was considered to be essential for improved health care and successful marketing.

the paper deals with studying production process of “ Kalpouregan” pottery as an art through anthropological approach to answer the following questions: 1) What is production method of these types of earthenware? 2) What are prevalent information and terminologies used in their production? “ Kalpouregan” is the villages in Sistan and Baluchestan Province that is well-known for its earthenware and their traditional production method being continuously maintained. Pottery performed by hand and local tools is performed just by women. it is based on their mental pattern making. Women have learned the pottery as a profession from their ancestors and this local knowledge of pottery has been maintained and transferred from one generation to the next, as a local culture. Local names selected for patterns used are considered as a part of Baluchi cultural identity and occupational dignity created by the art. through a completely local method. This field study has been performed through an approach towards anthropology; and, data have been collected through interviewing key informed persons as well as those women making pottery; photography and film taking. The outcome presents an appropriate image of Kalpouregan Pottery as a tradition; processing method of raw material; and, stages of construction and production.

This study was conducted to document indigenous knowledge in Kalhor pastoralist nomad tribe, the biggest Kurdish tribe in the field of livestock production. The methodology was qualitative approach using in depth interview and focused group’s techniques. The geographic location of the tribe is Gilane-Gharb County in Kermanshah province. Qualitative purposive sampling and content analysis were used. Result showed that to achieve optimal production, feeding patterns must be changed in different physiological stages of livestock such as pre mating, pregnancy and lactation. Also they consider the range source of forage supply. They divide rangelands according to grazing systems named Thaghat Khor and Halachair and estimate range quality in relation to some factors including vegetation and water availability. Result showed that these pastoralists divide rangelands as Dool and Pal according to their livestock nutrition requirements.

Sicentific knowledge has developed new and efficient technologies to serve agricultural productivity and development in the last five decades. In the meantime application of new technologies have has undesirable consequences for environment and soci-economic life of rural people. The emerging environmental issues is a major growing concerns of scientists. Several alternatives have been introduced to tackle the issue, including application of indigenous knowledge in the process of resource management and agricultural development planning.This paper describe and compares these two kinds of knowledge and argues that, regardless of their differences, there is no contradiction between scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge, and that they should be combined to serve an appropreate knowledge for sustainable agricultural development. The integration of their methodology and scope will help avoide any undesirable technology through local people participation and their views, needs and knowledge in the process of change. In order to merge these two categories of knowledge, we need to address four major confronting issues as follows:- changing academicians attitude toward the importance of local people and their knowledge in the process of change and development.- reforming learning process and higher education systems on related courses to recognise indigenous knowledge as a source of wisdom.- reforming research methodology and process to recognise indigenous knowledge through qualitative and participatory methods and techniques.- developing new knowledge and information system to establish mutual communication systems among local people.

The lion is a stone sculpture that has a variety of cultural, artistic, literary, social and economic uses and functions in Bakhtiari culture. In Bakhtiari, the body is placed on the tombs of sheriffs, brave men, youth and elders of the people. Various types and types of lionesses, considering the structure, tools, experience of the masters, and the process of preparation, size, shape, engraving and various real and abstract varieties throughout its installation and customs throughout the Bakhtiari region, led the author to The material and spiritual functions of the body characterize the body in the native knowledge and culture of Bakhtiari people and show the place of this ancient Iranian art in the contemporary period. This study has been formulated based on field research and conversations with the creators of this indigenous art-industry and occasionally citing library documents. For this purpose, by gathering the necessary information, recording the varieties of oral culture and literature, examples of popular creations and beliefs in Iranian folk culture and art were searched for effective anthropological research, ethnography, and nomadic cultural-literary studies.