Articles
Open Access

Local Wisdom and Traditional Knowledge Research in Thailand: Publication Growth, Scholarly Networks, and Emerging Themes

Manavavee Mamah 1 TH , Badriyah Yusof 2 BN , Khalilah Hassan 3 MY
1 Department of Malay Language for Business, Yala Rajabhat University, Thailand
2 Department of Malay Language and Malay Linguistics, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Darussalam
3 Sustainability, Urban Design and Well-being Research Group, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia
Published 2026-06-30
Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026) Pages 76-101
DOI https://doi.org/10.65508/df5v0v86
Views / Downloads 107 46
Download PDF

Abstract

Local wisdom, indigenous knowledge, and traditional knowledge are increasingly important to research on biodiversity conservation, public health, food security, cultural continuity, and sustainable development. In Thailand, however, scholarship on these knowledge systems remains fragmented across disciplines and publication outlets, limiting an integrated understanding of the field. This study mapped the growth, intellectual structure, influential contributors, geographical relationships, and thematic evolution of relevant research published between 2017 and 2026. Bibliographic records were retrieved from Scopus using a TITLE-ABS-KEY search combining “local wisdom,” “indigenous knowledge,” or “traditional knowledge” with “Thailand.” After PRISMA-guided screening, 303 English-language documents were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, VOSviewer, and Biblioshiny. Analyses covered publication and citation performance, source and author productivity, PageRank centrality, country collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution. Publication output increased markedly, especially after 2023, while papers published from 2019 to 2021 showed the strongest citation impact. Plants, Biodiversitas, and Sustainability were among the most productive sources, while Thailand dominated corresponding authorship and occupied the central position in the international bibliographic network. Ethnobotany, medicinal plants, biodiversity, traditional food systems, and community-based knowledge formed the mature conceptual core, whereas sustainability, food security, cultural heritage, and knowledge management emerged as developing themes. By integrating conventional performance indicators with network centrality and temporal thematic analysis, this study provides a country-level map of a fragmented literature within Thailand and its international scholarly connections. The findings establish a systematic baseline for future scholarship and support broader interdisciplinary collaboration, ethical knowledge governance, community participation, and greater attention to education, language, cultural rights, and intergenerational knowledge transmission.

Keywords: Bibliometric analysis Indigenous knowledge Local wisdom Thailand Traditional knowledge

How to Cite

Mamah, M., Yusof, B., & Hassan, K. . (2026). Local Wisdom and Traditional Knowledge Research in Thailand: Publication Growth, Scholarly Networks, and Emerging Themes. Journal of Local Wisdom in Education, 2(1), 76-101. https://doi.org/10.65508/df5v0v86
More Citation Formats

Views / Downloads

No statistics available yet.
107 Abstract
46 Downloads

Files

PDF
46 downloads Download

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Manavavee Mamah, Badriyah Yusof, Khalilah Hassan (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

All articles published in the Journal of Local Wisdom in Education are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Under this license, authors retain the copyright of their work. Anyone is free to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material) for any purpose, even commercially, provided that proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and the source, and any derived work is distributed under the same license (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Authors grant the journal the right of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons license that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.

For full license terms, please visit:
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

References

Aria, M., & Cuccurullo, C. (2017). Bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis. Journal of Informetrics, 11(4), 959–975. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.08.007

Aria, M., Cuccurullo, C., D'Aniello, L., Misuraca, M., & Spano, M. (2024). Comparative science mapping: A novel conceptual structure analysis with metadata. Scientometrics, 129, 7055-7081. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-024-05161-6

Aria, M., Le, T., Cuccurullo, C., Belfiore, A., & Choe, J. (2023). openalexR: An R-tool for collecting bibliometric data from OpenAlex. The R Journal, 15(4), 167-180. https://doi.org/10.32614/RJ-2023-089

Aumeeruddy, M. Z., & Mahomoodally, M. F. (2020). Traditional herbal therapies for hypertension: A systematic review of global ethnobotanical field studies. South African Journal of Botany, 135, 451–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajb.2020.09.008

Aylesworth, L., Phoonsawat, R., Suvanachai, P., & Vincent, A. C. J. (2017). Generating spatial data for marine conservation and management. Biodiversity and Conservation, 26(2), 383–399. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1248-x

Bancong, H. (2024). The past and present of thought experiments' research at Glancy: bibliometric review and analysis. Discover Education, 3, Article 142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00246-z

Boonma, T., Saensouk, S., & Saensouk, P. (2024). Biogeography, conservation status, and traditional uses of Zingiberaceae in Saraburi Province, Thailand, with Kaempferia chaveerachiae sp. nov. Horticulturae, 10(9), Article 934. https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae10090934

Bowra, A., Mashford-Pringle, A., & Poland, B. (2021). Indigenous learning on Turtle Island: A review of the literature on land-based learning. The Canadian Geographer, 65(2), 132–140. https://doi.org/10.1111/cag.12659

Buenavista, D., & Purnobasuki, H. (2023). People and mangroves: Biocultural utilization of mangrove forest ecosystem in Southeast Asia. Journal of Marine and Island Cultures, 12(2), 95–115. https://doi.org/10.21463/jmic.2023.12.2.07

Bureekhampun, S., & Maneepun, C. (2021). Eco-friendly and community sustainable textile fabric dyeing methods from Thai buffalo manure: From pasture to fashion designer. SAGE Open, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440211058201

Harmayani, E., Anal, A. K., Wichienchot, S., Bhat, R., Gardjito, M., Santoso, U., Siripongvutikorn, S., Puripaatanavong, J., & Payyappallimana, U. (2019). Healthy food traditions of Asia: Exploratory case studies from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Nepal. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 6(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42779-019-0002-x

Hassan, M. K., Jintana, V., Kuittinen, S., & Pappinen, A. (2018). Management practices and aboveground biomass production patterns of Rhizophora apiculata plantation: Study from a mangrove area in Samut Songkram Province, Thailand. BioResources, 13(4), 7826–7850. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.13.4.7826-7850

Inta, A., Trisonthi, C., Pongamornkul, W., & Panyadee, P. (2023). Ethnobotany of Zingiberaceae in Mae Hong Son, northern Thailand. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 24(4), 2114–2124. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d240422

Junsongduang, A., Kasemwan, W., Lumjoomjung, S., Sabprachai, W., Tanming, W., & Balslev, H. (2020). Ethnomedicinal knowledge of traditional healers in Roi Et, Thailand. Plants, 9(9), Article 1177. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9091177

Junsongduang, A., Sirithip, K., Inta, A., Nachai, R., Onputtha, B., Tanming, W., & Balslev, H. (2017). Diversity and traditional knowledge of textile dyeing plants in northeastern Thailand. Economic Botany, 71(3), 241–255. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-017-9390-2

Kalita, D., & Deka, D. (2020). Ontology for preserving the knowledge base of traditional dances (OTD). The Electronic Library, 38(4), 785–803. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-11-2019-0258

Kantasrila, R., Pandith, H., Balslev, H., Wangpakapattanawong, P., Panyadee, P., & Inta, A. (2020). Medicinal plants for treating musculoskeletal disorders among Karen in Thailand. Plants, 9(7), Article 811. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070811

Kiwfo, K., Yeerum, C., Issarangkura Na Ayutthaya, P., Kesonkan, K., Suteerapataranon, S., Panitsupakamol, P., Chinwong, D., Paengnakorn, P., Chinwong, S., Kotchabhakdi, N., Saenjum, C., Vongboot, M., & Grudpan, K. (2021). Sustainable education with local-wisdom based natural reagent for green chemical analysis with a smart device: Experiences in Thailand. Sustainability, 13(20), Article 11147. https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011147

Kuhnlein, H. V. (2017). Gender roles, food system biodiversity, and food security in Indigenous Peoples' communities. Maternal & Child Nutrition, 13(S3), Article e12529. https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.12529

Lamb, V. (2018). Who knows the river? Gender, expertise, and the politics of local ecological knowledge production of the Salween River, Thai-Myanmar border. Gender, Place & Culture, 25(12), 1703–1718. https://doi.org/10.1080/0966369X.2018.1481018

Meixi, M., Moreno-Dulcey, F., Alcalá, L., Keyser, U., & Elliott-Groves, E. (2022). When learning is life giving: Redesigning schools with Indigenous systems of relationality. AERA Open, 8, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1177/23328584211062587

Nanda, A. R., Nurnawaty, N., Mansida, A., & Bancong, H. (2025). A bibliometric analysis of trends in rainfall-runoff modeling techniques for urban flood mitigation (2005–2024). Results in Engineering, 26, Article 104927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.104927

Nguanchoo, V., Wangpakapattanawong, P., Balslev, H., & Inta, A. (2019). Exotic plants used by the Hmong in Thailand. Plants, 8(11), Article 500. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8110500

Numpulsuksant, W., Saensouk, S., & Saensouk, P. (2021). Diversity and ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants in Ban Hua Kua, Kae Dam District, Thailand. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 22(10), 4349–4357. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d221027

Nurfadilah, N., Fahrunnisa, F., Saad, R., & Syahrir, M. (2025). Mapping research on local wisdom in environmental management: A global bibliometric study. Journal of Local Wisdom in Education, 1(2), 106–124. https://doi.org/10.65508/eggafw39

Panyadee, P., Balslev, H., Wangpakapattanawong, P., & Inta, A. (2019). Medicinal plants in homegardens of four ethnic groups in Thailand. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 239, Article 111927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2019.111927

Panyadee, P., Wangpakapattanawong, P., Inta, A., & Balslev, H. (2023). Very high food plant diversity among ethnic groups in northern Thailand. Diversity, 15(1), Article 120. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15010120

Paul, A., Roth, R., & Moo, S. S. B. (2021). Relational ontology and more-than-human agency in Indigenous Karen conservation practice. Pacific Conservation Biology, 27(4), 376–390. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC20016

Phatlamphu, N., Saensouk, S., Saensouk, P., & Junsongduang, A. (2021). Ethnobotany of edible plants in Muang District, Kalasin Province, Thailand. Biodiversitas Journal of Biological Diversity, 22(12), 5432–5444. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d221226

Pholhiamhan, R., Saensouk, S., & Saensouk, P. (2018). Ethnobotany of Phu Thai ethnic group in Nakhon Phanom Province, Thailand. Walailak Journal of Science and Technology, 15(10), 679–699. https://doi.org/10.48048/wjst.2018.3737

Phoochinda, W. (2018). Development of community network for sustainable tourism based on the green economy concept. Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism, 9(6), 1236–1243. https://doi.org/10.14505//jemt.9.6(30).13

Phumthum, M., & Balslev, H. (2020). Anti-infectious plants of the Thai Karen: A meta-analysis. Antibiotics, 9(6), Article 298. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics9060298

Phumthum, M., Balslev, H., Kantasrila, R., Kaewsangsai, S., & Inta, A. (2020). Ethnomedicinal plant knowledge of the Karen in Thailand. Plants, 9(7), Article 813. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070813

Plaiphum, S., & Tansuchat, R. (2023). Cultural capital of sea salt farming in Ban Laem District of Phetchaburi Province as per the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). Sustainability, 15(15), Article 11947. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511947

Punchay, K., Inta, A., Tiansawat, P., Balslev, H., & Wangpakapattanawong, P. (2020). Traditional knowledge of wild food plants of Thai Karen and Lawa (Thailand). Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution, 67(5), 1277–1299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10722-020-00910-x

Saensouk, P., Saensouk, S., Boonma, T., Koompoot, K., Rakarcha, S., Chanthavongsa, K., & Jitpromma, T. (2025). Ethnobotanical of the Lao Isan ethnic group in Pho Chai District, Roi Et Province, northeastern Thailand. Tropical Journal of Natural Product Research, 9(8), 3607-3624. https://doi.org/10.26538/tjnpr/v9i8.21

Saising, J., Maneenoon, K., Sakulkeo, O., Limsuwan, S., Götz, F., & Voravuthikunchai, S. P. (2022). Ethnomedicinal plants in herbal remedies used for treatment of skin diseases by traditional healers in Songkhla Province, Thailand. Plants, 11(7), Article 880. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11070880

Saleng, S., Ishaq., I, & Syatriana, E. (2025). Global trends in local wisdom-based school education: A comprehensive bibliometric review (2009–2025). Journal of Local Wisdom in Education, 1(1), 48–71. https://doi.org/10.26618/8fjph017

Srithi, K., Balslev, H., Tanming, W., & Trisonthi, C. (2017). Weed diversity and uses: A case study from tea plantations in northern Thailand. Economic Botany, 71(2), 147–159. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-017-9378-y

Sutjaritjai, N., Wangpakapattanawong, P., Balslev, H., & Inta, A. (2019). Traditional uses of Leguminosae among the Karen in Thailand. Plants, 8(12), Article 600. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants8120600

Toyoda, Y., & Tanwattana, P. (2023). Extracting local disaster knowledge through gamification in a flood management model community in Thailand. Progress in Disaster Science, 20, Article 100294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pdisas.2023.100294

van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2017). Citation-based clustering of publications using CitNetExplorer and VOSviewer. Scientometrics, 111(2), 1053–1070. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-017-2300-7

Visser, M., van Eck, N. J., & Waltman, L. (2021). Large-scale comparison of bibliographic data sources: Scopus, Web of Science, Dimensions, Crossref, and Microsoft Academic. Quantitative Science Studies, 2(1), 20–41. https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00112

Yue, J., Zuo, Z., Huang, H., & Wang, Y. (2021). Application of identification and evaluation techniques for ethnobotanical medicinal plants of the genus Panax: A review. Critical Reviews in Analytical Chemistry, 51(4), 373–398. https://doi.org/10.1080/10408347.2020.1736506

Similar Articles

Similar Articles

1-10 of 15

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.