Folk traditions preserve not only the cultural identity of communities but also generations of ecological knowledge that has evolved through close interaction with the natural environment. This article examines folk traditions as ecological archives that document indigenous environmental knowledge and promote sustainable relationships between humans and nature. Drawing on ecocriticism and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), the study analyses selected Tamil folk traditions, including folk songs, proverbs, sacred groves (kāvu), and Ayyanar worship, to demonstrate how oral narratives encode ecological memory, biodiversity conservation, water management, and environmental ethics. Adopting a qualitative, interpretive methodology, the paper explores the ways in which these traditions function as living repositories of environmental wisdom and community-based conservation practices. The findings suggest that Tamil folk traditions contribute significantly to ecological awareness by integrating cultural beliefs with sustainable resource management. The study argues that recognizing folk traditions as ecological archives broadens the scope of literary and folklore studies while highlighting the continuing relevance of indigenous knowledge in addressing contemporary environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and ecological degradation. By bringing together folklore studies, ecocriticism, and environmental humanities, the article demonstrates that indigenous ecological wisdom remains an important intellectual resource for promoting environmental sustainability and preserving cultural heritage.