Indigenous knowledge(IK) is a special type of knowledge.It has been demonstrated to play an important role in conservation of biodiversity,promotion of sustainable utilization of biology resources and harmony development of the society.IK has be paid much more and more attention by the society especially the scholars.This article will summarize the history,representative projects and organizations,influence of the projects completed,main auspice agencies and the prospects of IK researches in the world so that the current statues of IK researches and importance of IK researches will be better understood.