Abstract
This chapter argues that different people groups and their respective indigenous/traditional knowledge systems have contributed to maintaining a sustainable ecology in various parts of the world. There is a need to document and incorporate the contributions of such groups into the sustainability debate. This chapter aims to provide an understanding of how the San people (or Khoisan) of southern Africa use their indigenous knowledge for ecological sustainability. Accordingly, the chapter seeks to answer several closely related questions: What is the perception of the San people regarding nature? How do the San people take care of their ecosystems in a sustainable way? Why do the San people believe in preserving their ecology? Answers to these questions are obtained through an extensive literature review of journal articles, government publications, websites, books and other relevant sources. The answers offer insightful alternative perspectives on sustainability that transcend the contemporary Western paradigm, wherein development is commonly conceived as being predicated on the exploitation of nature, made possible by a perceived human separation from nature. This chapter concludes that debates on sustainability should be more inclusive and pluralistic, inviting multiple cultural experts to interact mutually with each other while maintaining their distinct perspectives and integrity on matters of sustainable ecology.