The value of local knowledge in solving ecological problems has received considerable attention in foreign countries, but not yet in China. This paper summarizes the relevant worldwide literature about local knowledge and demonstrates that research on local knowledge has been gradually increasing in recent years and that studies abroad are significantly greater in number and deeper in content than domestic studies. Overall, the ecological value application of local knowledge can be summarized in four areas:background knowledge, basic data, future potential, and ecological management. Domestic research on local knowledge is merely on the level of description, especially, the description of background knowledge. In contrast, Foreign research is more focused on how to use local knowledge to provide data, provide new planning and technical methods, and strengthen the role of local knowledge in ecological management. At the end of this paper, we sum up the concrete role of local knowledge in ecological applications, and propose a general framework to use local knowledge in ecological solutions and guide relevant scientific research and practices in China. As shown in foreign research, there are many opportunities for the application of local ecological knowledge in China. As an effective complement to universal knowledge, local knowledge should be fully involved in the entire process of data gathering, decision-making, and management. We put forward some difficulties in the future development and application of local knowledge in China, but expect that local knowledge will soon play its valuable role in scientific planning and resource management.