By Haripriya P S and Shalini Dhyani, CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Maharashtra, India

South Asia is considered to be one of the most vulnerable regions to global warming (Dhyani et al.,2024), owing to its geographical conditions and socio-economic challenges. Indian Himalayan highlands and the coastal mangroves represent two distinct yet climate-sensitive environments. Mountain and coastal communities, rooted in indigenous knowledge, have long adapted their cultural and livelihood practices to withstand climatic pressures, glacial melt, and sea-level rise (Rai and Dhyani, 2022), and these communities are nourished by the Ecosystem Services (ES) they receive.

Mountain agriculture and agro-biodiversity enhance global food security through climate resilient practices effective in water management, reducing soil erosion, and building adaptive capacity (Dhyani et al., 2021, 2022). In the central Himalaya, Community-managed forests are found to absorb 2-4 tc/ha/yr, making them a potential source of income through carbon trading (Dhyani & Dhyani, 2020), and fodder banks reduce climate-driven vulnerabilities and forest degradation while supporting local livelihoods (Dhyani & Dhyani, 2016). This proves, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), when properly applied, supports sustainable forest use, management, and conservation and can lower disaster risks in mountain regions through community-driven, cost-effective Nature-based Solutions (NbS) like Ecosystem-based Disaster Risk Reduction (Eco-DRR) (Dhyani & Dhyani, 2016; Sood et al., 2025).

Odisha’s Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi delta, which occupies 150,000 people, who are directly or indirectly dependent on the mangrove ecosystems for their various subsistence (Kadaverugu et al., 2021). Scenario-based research conducted here estimates that optimistic, community driven restoration could increase blue carbon and reduce sediment/nutrient loss (Kadaverugu et al., 2022). Mangroves protect coasts by reducing cyclone impacts, groundwater salinity, and trapping sediment, shifting community and policy focus toward their cost-effective, sustainable benefits (Kadaverugu et al. 2021). Such community-driven and culturally sensitive approaches can enhance both ecological resilience and social well-being, promoting more inclusive and sustainable governance of coastal regions globally (Nayal et al., 2025).

In rapidly urbanising settings where indigenous histories may not be directly present, Urban Green Spaces (UGS) continue to play an essential role as natural buffers, storing carbon stocks (Lahoti et al.,2024; S. Dhyani et al., 2021). Urban foraging from UGS has been able to bridge the gap in demand-supply (Sood and Dhyani, 2024; Das et al.,2024), contributing to urban resilience and sustainability, further localising SDG 11. Campus greenery lowers urban temperatures by up to 3°C (Dhyani et al., 2021), yet its value remains underutilized in policy frameworks. The City Biodiversity Index (CBI) and 3-30-300 rule are practical tools for tracking ES and integrating NbS such as urban wetlands, forests, and green roofs (Dhyani et al., 2020; Das et al., 2022; Lahoti et al.,2025; Pimpalshende & Dhyani, 2025). Therefore, documenting and maintaining these UGS is important amid rapid urbanisation.

Across coastal, mountain, and urban systems, a central lesson emerges: socio-ecological systems supporting the unrestricted flow of ES are most effective for climate resilience. The integration of TEK into policy and climate change research is vital for climate resilience planning. Policies focusing on participatory approaches, building interactive governance, and incentives for community-led action can transform local expertise for sustainability and resilience.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this piece are those of the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of AIDMI.