The Anatolian Yörük people carry a centuries-old indigenous ecological knowledge rooted in nomadic and semi-nomadic life across the mountains and plains of Anatolia. Their traditional way of life is based on a balanced relationship with land, water, animals, and seasonal cycles. Through transhumance — the seasonal movement between summer and winter pastures — Yörük communities have sustained grazing ecosystems without exhausting natural resources. Their deep understanding of climate patterns, medicinal plants, animal care, weaving, and sustainable use of local materials reflects a living knowledge system shaped by coexistence with nature. This ancestral wisdom preserves ecological balance while maintaining strong cultural and communal ties to the landscape.
