Knowledge of nature | ICH ISRAEL

KNOWLEDGE OF NATURE

Knowledge and practices concerning nature and the universe are one of the domains of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) as defined by UNESCO's 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. This domain encompasses the knowledge, know-how, skills, practices, and representations that communities, groups, and sometimes individuals develop through their interaction with the natural environment and the universe around them. It includes:

Traditional ecological/environmental knowledge: understanding of ecosystems, weather patterns, seasons, and natural cycles passed down through generations
Traditional medicine and healing practices: knowledge of medicinal plants and remedies
Cosmologies and worldviews: knowledge systems about the universe and celestial bodies
Festivals and practices related to nature: ceremonies tied to agriculture or natural phenomena
Traditional culinary knowledge: including sustainable foodways tied to local environments
Traditional ecological management: methods of land, water, and resource management (irrigation systems, sustainable farming techniques)
Astronomy and calendrical knowledge: traditional systems for tracking time and seasons (agricultural calendars or moon cycles).

Israel has several traditions that fall under this domain, reflecting the diverse communities living in the region:

Traditional Agricultural Knowledge

Terraced farming techniques: ancient agricultural terracing in hilly regions (e.g., around Jerusalem and the Galilee), some dating back thousands of years, used for growing olives, grapes, and vegetables
Traditional olive oil production: knowledge of olive cultivation, harvesting timing, and pressing techniques passed down through generations among both Jewish and Arab communities
Traditional viticulture and winemaking knowledge: Dryland/desert agriculture techniques, ancient Nabatean-derived methods for water harvesting and desert farming, still studied and partially practiced today

Traditional Water Management

Ancient cisterns and water harvesting systems: knowledge of rainwater collection techniques used historically across the region
Traditional irrigation knowledge: techniques adapted to arid and semi-arid conditions

Traditional Medicine and Healing

Jewish folk medicine traditions: brought by various Jewish diaspora communities, each with unique herbal and healing practices
Arab and Druze traditional herbal medicine: use of local plants for medicinal and health purposes.

Traditional Bedouin Knowledge

Desert navigation and survival knowledge: reading stars, wind patterns, and terrain in the Negev desert
Traditional Bedouin weather forecasting: predicting rain and seasonal changes based on natural signs (animal behavior, plant growth, cloud formations)
Camel husbandry knowledge: breeding, herding, and utilizing camels for transport, milk, and other products
Traditional herbal medicine: use of desert plants for healing purposes
Traditional Bedouin tent-related ecological knowledge: understanding of seasonal migration patterns (following water and grazing sources)

Culinary Traditions Tied to Nature

Traditional foraging of wild edible plants
Traditional bread-making and grain knowledge

Calendrical and Astronomical Knowledge

Jewish lunar calendar traditions: historical methods of determining the Hebrew calendar based on moon sightings, agricultural festivals (Sukkot, Shavuot, Pesach) tied to harvest cycles
Traditional Jewish agricultural laws and practices tied to the Land of Israel: such as Shmita, and other Torah-based agricultural cycles that reflect an ancient knowledge system about land, rest, and sustainability

Bedouin and Arab lunar/seasonal calendars for agriculture and pastoralism

Sacred Natural Sites

Sacred places, events, and seasons: various sites are considered holy and significant for the different religious traditions in Israel.