Wild edible leafy plants are vital to food security, biodiversity conservation, and ecological resilience in forest-dependent communities. Women’s traditional ecological knowledge plays a critical, yet underrecognized, role in safeguarding and sustainably managing these resources. This study, conducted in the Great Himalayan National Park Conservation Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the western Himalaya, investigates how rural women’s knowledge systems intersect with biodiversity governance and the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Using qualitative ethnobotanical methods, 27 women were purposively selected, with eight identified as key informants based on their expertise. Data collection involved open-ended interviews, participant observation, and species verification through park management records. The study documented 13 wild edible leafy plant species, representing 11 botanical families, with reported uses spanning nutritional, medicinal, and cultural domains. Rural women demonstrated sustainable harvesting practices and in-depth biocultural knowledge. Findings reveal that women’s knowledge significantly contributes to multiple SDGs, including SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, and 17. However, various direct and indirect drivers are eroding intergenerational knowledge transmission. Bridging these disconnects requires participatory, gender-responsive governance through women-led biodiversity mapping, value chain development, and institutional reforms that embed social equity in conservation. This study underscores the need to shift from mere recognition to the redistribution of rights, resources, and decision-making power. Integrating women’s ecological expertise into biodiversity policy not only enhances conservation effectiveness but also anchors global sustainability goals in local realities.