A new study from Pune’s Centre for Resilience Studies reveals the Mahadev Koli tribe in Maharashtra holds vital ecological knowledge. Based in the North Western Ghats, this community uses 51 medicinal tree species and has deep insight into climate patterns. The research urges policymakers to integrate their traditional ecological knowledge into climate adaptation strategies.

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• Mahadev Koli tribe lives in Western Ghats, one of world’s top biodiversity hotspots
• Study by Centre for Resilience Studies highlights their rich medicinal and ecological knowledge
• Community uses 51 native tree species for treating fevers, infections, snake bites, more
• Knowledge spans plant taxonomy, land use, climate patterns, healing practices
• Tribe tracks subtle forest changes—critical for local climate monitoring
• Bark most used tree part (24.8%), followed by leaves (23.1%), fruits (20.5%)
• Fabaceae and Moraceae most dominant medicinal tree families in their ecosystem
• Study urges ethical collaboration with tribal communities for climate policy integration
• Calls for recognising tribal calendars, spiritual plant use as valid scientific data
• Traditional knowledge reframed not as folklore, but climate-resilient science