The article analyzes a local concept called “alternative knowledge” through the Lahu ethnic group in the context of religious transition and compares it with the concept of folk wisdom. Presently, there have been debates on religions that have attracted public attention after the conflict over community forests, which has been a hot issue in Thailand. The analysis found that environmental conservation according to the ethnic religious concept is analogous to alternative knowledge or folk wisdom, which is expected to replace capitalism in national development in the East. Nevertheless, the alternative knowledge created by both Christian and Buddhist Lahu is in contrast with the expectations of scholars. According to the ethnic group, it is evident that alternative knowledge was created by God.