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The International Society of Ethnobiology
- Ninth International Congress
Hosted by the Department of Anthropology
at the University of Kent, Canterbury, UK, 13th - 17th June, 2004
sldskds
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Session 37
Biodiversity conservation, resource management and cultural knowledge
Co-chairs: Nigel Leader-Williams and Ian Bride
Grimond Lecture Theatre 2, Wednesday 16th June
10.20 - 12.20, 14.40 - 15.40 and 16.00 - 18.00
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10.20 - 12.20
MENDONÇA DE CARVALHO, L.; F. Fernandes; M.T. Almeida.
Escola Superior Agrária de Beja, Rua Pedro Soares, Apartado 158, Beja
7800, Portugal.
lmmc@esab.ipbeja.pt, ffernandes@eseb.ipbeja.pt, talmeida@ci.uc.pt.
THE BOTANICAL MUSEUM OF BEJA, PORTUGAL
The Botanical Museum of Beja opened in 2002, after several years of preliminary work.
The Museum’s reserves include approximately 2000 items (both natural and man-made
items, and also raw botanical material) from Portugal and around the world. The major
goals of the Museum are to record and preserve Portuguese ethnobotanical knowledge,
and also to promote botanical education. Since it has opened the Museum has held
three major temporary exhibitions (with the corresponding catalogues), summer courses
on economic botany and short courses, as well engaging in continuous work with local
schools and local non-governmental organisations. The Museum publishes catalogues
in Portuguese and English, which are also available in braille. Recently, a Museum
shop was opened in order to sell traditional items made by local artisans. The Museum
received two Ford Motor Company Awards for Nature and the Environment (2003), and
was chosen to represent Portugal in the UNESCO Sultan Qabus Biannual Award for Nature
(2003).
CASTLE, LISA.
Kansas Biological Survey, Higuchi Hall, 2101 Constant Ave., Lawrence, Kansas
66047-3759 USA.
lcastle@ku.edu.
PRAIRIE TURNIP PARADOX: CAN TRADITIONAL HARVEST HELP SUSTAIN POPULATIONS?
First hand accounts suggest that prairie turnips (Pediomelum esculentum, a North
American legume) are more abundant in areas where they are harvested than where they
are not. Because the roots of this long-lived perennial are eaten and plants do not
re-sprout following harvest, a greater abundance in areas where plants are harvested
is impossible following a simple demographic model. For this study, harvesters, retailers
and users were interviewed in order to determine if a compensatory mechanism might
have been overlooked. Harvesters from three North American tribes, Crow, Oglala and
Lakota, emphasized that plant tops were left in the field when roots were harvested
in order to rejuvenate the population. Historical accounts also suggest that across
the Great Plains prairie turnips were harvested when seeds were ripening. As a result
of the ethnographic exploration, new attention was given to the role of disturbance
in seedling recruitment and survival and a more complex life-cycle model proposed.
Vázquez-López, Martín; Edmundo García-Moya; HEIKE
VIBRANS.
Departamento de Ecologia y Recursos Naturales, Centro Universitario Costa Sur. Universidad
de Guadalajara, Mexico.
mvazquez@cucsur.udg.mx, edmundo@colpos.mx, heike@colpos.mx.
IMPACT OF HARVESTING ON POPULATIONS OF A NATIVE BAMBOO IN THE SIERRA DE MANANTLAN
BIOSPHERE RESERVE, MEXICO
Bamboos are one of the most important non-timber products of tropical forests. We
studied the impact of continual harvesting on populations of a native bamboo called
otate (Otatea acuminata (Munro) Calderón & Soderstrom subsp. aztecorum
(McClure Smith), which is used in large quantities throughout its range in western
Mexico for basket-making, furniture and trellises for crop support. The study area
was the ejido Platanarillo, Colima, within the Sierra de Manantlán Biosphere
Reserve; 35 local families harvest 50,000 to 60,000 shoots per year. We sampled 50m2
plots of 19 harvested and 22 non-harvested populations, measuring shoot diameter,
length, vigour and counting the number of stumps. Non-harvested sites had higher
mortality and fewer shoots than harvested ones, probably because of compensatory
growth and fewer obstructive deadshoots in the harvested stands. Apparently, a level
of exploitation of about 1000 shoots/ha (= 5-6 t) annually is sustainable, with a
selling price of about USD 100-200. Other factors may endanger the populations of
otates, such as grazing of germinating plants.
CHAPMAN, REBEKAH; James Affolter; Stanley Kays; David Giannasi; Marta LaGrotteria.
Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602 USA.
rebekahc@uga.edu.
PLANT CONSERVATION THROUGH CULTIVATION: COUPLING ECOLOGICAL FIELD WORK WITH AGRICULTURAL
METHODS IN THE STUDY OF Aloysia citriodora
Demand for medicinal plants is increasing worldwide, and the bulk of these plant
materials are still collected from the wild with little regulation or understanding
of their chemical variability. We have conducted a pilot study in Argentina to: 1)
establish baseline data for wild populations of Aloysia citriodora in northwestern
Argentina, 2) demonstrate the utility of thin layer chromatography (TLC) in analyzing
variation in foliar essential oil composition within wild populations of medicinal
and aromatic plants, and 3) develop cultivation strategies that optimize the yield
per acre of medicinal plants while maintaining the integrity of the desired chemical
constituents. Results from our fieldwork suggest that: 1) there are a variety of
monoterpene chemical races (chemotypes) in wild populations throughout Argentina
and 2) TLC allows for rapid assessment of these chemotypes. Agricultural trials conducted
with a lemon-scented variety of A. citriodora (purchased in the US) at the University
of Georgia have demonstrated that: 1) terpene composition does not change significantly
throughout the harvest period, 2) terpene concentration per leaf declines throughout
the season, 3) plant spacing significantly affects biomass per plant though it does
not significantly affect terpene yield per leaf and 4) leaf ontogeny significantly
affects terpene concentration.
TICKTIN, TAMARA; Hoala Fraiola; Namaka Whitehead.
Dept of Botany, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, Hawaii
96822, USA.
ticktin@hawaii.edu, hoala@hawaii.edu, awhitehe@hawaii.edu.
RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN HARVEST, CONSERVATION, AND RESTORATION OF NATIVE HAWAIIAN PLANT
RESOURCES IN A CHANGING FOREST ECOSYSTEM
In the Hawaiian islands, as elsewhere, the maintenance of cultural and biological
diversity is closely linked. The art of hula is an important Hawaiian cultural tradition,
but the native plant resources associated with its practice are dwindling. We
assessed some of the relationships between use, conservation and restoration of hula
plants in Hawaiian forests that are increasingly dominated by non-native, invasive
species. Specifically, we drew on experimental ecology, traditional Hawaiian ecological
knowledge and population monitoring, to identify the effects of differing management
practices on populations of two indigenous (Microlepia strigosa, Sphenomeris chinensis)
and two endemic (Alyxia oliviformis, Pelea anisata) species, as well as on the spread
of invasive species. Our results illustrate that Hawaiian gathering practices are
highly variable and some include adaptive strategies for invasive forest systems.
Some types of harvest of S. chinensis and M. strigosa have no significant effects
on measures of individual and population growth, and, in fact, decrease the cover
of invasives. However, P. anisata harvest appears to exacerbate regeneration problems
that are caused by understory invasives. Based on our results, we discuss the ways
in which hula gathering practices can play a role in Hawaiian forest restoration
and conservation.
14.40 - 15.40
Perdomo-Roldan, Francisco; HEIKE VIBRANS.
Programa de Botánica, Colegio de Postgraduados en Ciencias Agrícolas,
km 32.5 carretera México-Texcoco, 56230 Montecillo, Estado de México,
Mexico.
malesa@colpos.mx, heike@colpos.mx.
WEED MANAGEMENT FOR PRODUCTION AND CONSERVATION IN SUGARCANE (MORELOS, MEXICO)
Proper weed management has two objectives: to lower the impact of weeds on crops
as far as possible while avoiding the emergence of new problem weeds; to conserve
the soil, the biodiversity and other uses of weeds, such as forage. Traditional and
small-scale farmers have found various ways to balance these partially conflicting
objectives. We studied weed vegetation in small-scale, irrigated, commercial sugarcane
plantations in Tlalquiltenango, Morelos, Mexico. Ten fields along a 10 km transect
with varying management regimes were surveyed. In each field two 1m2 subplots were
sampled monthly for 13 months, counting number of individuals per species. The data
were analyzed with various diversity and evenness indices. While there was a negative
relationship between number of weed individuals and yield, there was no such relationship
between weed richness and yield. Weed richness is promoted by crop rotation (here
rice, jícama, Pachyrrhizus erosus, or fallow). Evenness was high and comparable
to temperate forest understories. We show that rotation is important to maintain
weed diversity, avoid emergence of problem species in sugarcane and maintain traditional
uses of weeds, while maintaining good yields of the main crop.
WHISTLER, ART.
Isle Botanica, 2814 Kalawao St., Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822, USA.
whistler@hawaii.edu.
THE STATUS OF RARE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL PLANTS
Although the islands of Polynesia already had numerous native plant species prior
to human occupation, the most useful plants in the ancient culture were species brought
in voyaging canoes by the early colonizers. About 72 plants can be considered to
be “canoe plants” that were transported into and around Polynesia prior to the European
era, although only about 28 of these reached the most distant areas (Hawai'i). Although
the main food species (e.g., taro and breadfruit) are still extensively used, some
of the others, especially those whose uses have been replaced by modern plants, chemicals,
or artifacts, have become rare or have disappeared entirely from some or all of the
Polynesian islands. Ten of the ancient canoe plants are now considered to be rare
in Polynesia, Cordia aspera (BORANGINACEAE), Atuna racemosa (CHRYSOBALANACEAE), Parinari
insularum (CHRYSOBALANACEAE), Benincasa hispida (wax gourd, CUCURBITACEAE), Cucumis
melo (wild cantaloupe, CUCURBITACEAE), Tephrosia purpurea (FABACEAE), Solanum repandum
(Polynesian tomato, SOLANACEAE), Solanum viride (SOLANACEAE), Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
(stink lily, ARACEAE), Saccharum maximum (POACEAE), and are discussed here.
KOENIG, JENNIFER; Jon C. Altman; Anthony D. Griffiths.
Key Centre for Tropical Wildlife Management, Charles Darwin University, Darwin
0909, Australia.
jennifer.koenig@cdu.edu.au, jon.altman@anu.edu.au, tony.griffiths@cdu.edu.au.
TIMBER HARVESTING FOR THE INDIGENOUS ARTS INDUSTRY: LESSONS FROM CENTRAL ARNHEM LAND,
AUSTRALIA
The Australian Aboriginal Arts Industry is one of few economic opportunities for
Indigenous people in remote communities. In the Maningrida region of central Arnhem
Land, a range of artefact lines are produced and almost all depend on native plants.
One of the fastest growing sectors of local production is woodcarving. An understanding
of how harvesters use local timber resources is required to determine if established
indigenous processes can ensure sustainable species use in the face of growing market
demand. There are over 150 sculpture-producing artists from different cultural backgrounds
in Maningrida. We used participant observation, resource accounting, semi-structured
interviews and data from the community art centre as a means to quantify the patterns
of resource use and harvest practises. Two species were found to be the dominant
trees used for carving, Bombax ceiba (BOMBACEAE) and Brachychiton diversifolius (STERCULIACEAE),
and there were differences between language groups with respect to their choice of
timber. Harvest sites were scattered throughout the region; however, a high proportion
of carvers relied on a few small patches located close to the main settlement of
Maningrida. Over-exploitation at the local patch level may force artists to harvest
further away, which may affect the economic and social viability of the carving industry
in the region.
16.00 - 18.00
CHINNADURAI, MANJULA.
V-old No.22, New No.12, 14th Street, Anna Nagar, Chennai-600 040, Tamil Nadu,
India.
Manjula_c6@yahoo.co.in.
CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY THROUGH THE ADDED VALUE OF TRADITIONAL SKILLS
AND KNOWLEDGE: THE IRULA TRIBE OF TAMIL NADU, SOUTH INDIA.
Traditional Irula knowledge and skills held by communities dependent on the local
flora and fauna have rapidly dwindled over the past couple of years for various reasons.
There have been some efforts by Non-Governmental Organisations to utilise supposedly
redundant knowledge and skills to improve the economic conditions of the community.
This paper will discuss a programme of work undertaken by NGOs in support of the
Irula tribe, a semi-nomadic, hunter-gatherer community of south India who are renowned
for their skill in catching snakes and knowledge of local flora and fauna. I will
focus on the sustainable added value which has resulted in the conservation of local
biodiversity, improvement of their economic conditions and which has given them a
sense of unity and pride in their unique gift.
TAG, HUI; Pallabi Kalita; A.K Das.
Division of Ethnobotany and Plant Taxonomy, Department of Botany, Arunachal University,
Rono Hills, Itanagar-791 112, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
huitag@yahoo.co.in, pallabi_tezu@yahoo.com, arupbot@rediffmail.com.
ETHNOBIOLOGICAL HERITAGE AMONG THE TRIBES OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH, NORTH EAST INDIA:
A CROSS CULTURAL STUDY
Among the states of India, Arunachal Pradesh occupies a unique position by virtue
of its rich and diverse ethnocultural heritage. An ethnobiological survey conducted
from 2000-2003 found that there are 25 major tribes and 110 subtribes inhabiting
15 districts with a total geographical area of 83,743 sq.km. Each tribe has its own
mythology and folklore coupled with powerful oral traditions pertaining to sustainable
use and conservation of bioresources of their respective surroundings and localities.
Shifting cultivation is the main occupation of the Arunachalee tribes beside fishing
and hunting. This paper highlights the plants and animals related to traditional
fishing and hunting practices and technologies, handicrafts technologies and religious
ceremonies witnessed among the tribes of Arunachal Pradesh. There are 26 major annual
festivals apart from minor rites and rituals. Some of the traditional practices are
found to have scientific validity that justifies the hidden age old IKS prevalent
among the tribes that have a direct link with conservation and sustainable utilization
of bioresources including rare and endangered species. However, contemporary changes
in tribal society pose threats to the existing IKS and bioresources among the tribes.
Attention is needed from policy makers and the scientific community for their conservation
and documentation.
SHRESTHA, KRISHNA K.; Sangeeta Rajbhandary; Narendra N. Tiwari.
Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal.
kksht@wlink.com.np, imogine@wlink.com.np, hppcl@wlink.com.np.
THE IMPACT OF MIGRATION ON PLANT RESOURCES AND TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN KAILALI DISTRICT,
WESTERN NEPAL
This paper investigates the migration of different ethnic communities from the hills
to the plains of Kailali, in the far west of Nepal, and its impact on plant resources
and the associated traditional knowledge of the local inhabitants. Data were compiled
and analysed on the dynamics of population, migration trends, vegetation, plant resources,
associated traditional knowledge and existing conservation practices in the forests
managed by local communities. Within the last five decades, the population has been
increased dramatically by the migration of mixed ethnic groups from the hills into
areas hitherto inhabited by the Tharu ethnic group. Unmanaged settlement and exploitation
of useful plant resources for domestic use and trade have resulted in massive deforestation
in government forests and along the highway. Forest plots surveyed in six community
forests and ten village development committees (VDCs) revealed about 150 species
of useful plants, of which a quarter are identified as potential sources for income
generation. The threat to high-value plant species and the traditional knowledge
of the Tharu is severe. Conservation of the potential plant resources and traditional
knowledge of the local inhabitants, and sustainable management of community forests
and degraded land, are recommended.
JAIN, ASHOK KUMAR.
Institute of Ethnobiology, Jiwaji University, Gwalior — 474011 (M.P.), India.
asokjain2003@yahoo.co.in.
BIODIVERSITY, TRIBALS AND ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP IN PACHMARHI BIOSPHERE RESERVE
IN CENTRAL INDIA — AN ETHNOBIOLOGICAL APPROACH
Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve is situated in central India and occupies the Satpura
hills, an area of approximately 5000 sq. km. Over 900 plant species, comprising bryophytes,
pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms, were collected during the study. The
Biosphere Reserve is rich in plant and animal diversity and is home to over 900 plants,
28 wild animals and 107 bird species. The occurrence of relict population of Shorea
robusta in the predominant Tectona grandis bearing area is a unique ecological phenomenon.
The main tribal communities belonging to Korku, Gond, Bharia and Mabasi are mainly
dependent on forest products. Over 70 plant species are used for medicinal purposes.
Nearly 97 angiospermic and pteridophytic species have been found to be threatened
in the area. A good number of species are being collected for commercial and other
purposes. However some interesting taboos prevailing among tribals restrict the collection
of some species. The herbivory pattern of animals and several social customs and
traditions are also affecting the forest wealth. Invasion of some weeds has devastated
a good number of plant species in lower hills. The economy of tribals, community
coefficient, IVI and other eco-functional aspects have also been studied.
LYON, LINDA; Michael Simsik.
Biology Department, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD, USA.
llyon@frostburg.edu, mjs245@cornell.edu.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND INDIGENOUS FOREST RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN MADAGASCAR
This presentation summarizes the findings of research projects conducted in two locations
in Madagascar that sought to identify obstacles to forest resource management. The
results revealed that indigenous resource management varied as a function of forest
resource availability. Research carried out in Merina communities on the central
plateau found that they were more amenable to environmental conservation efforts
than people living in other regions of the country. One reason for this is the relative
lack of forest resources, which have declined due to annual burning for grazing.
In comparison the Antanosy in southeastern Madagascar sought to provide an explanation
of local relationships to the forest and sustainable conservation. Early hypothesis
stated that dependence on medicinal plant resources might provide a traditional method
of forest conservation. Thus, conservation projects could work to enhance local practices
to improve conservation in the southeast. Yet very little evidence of traditional
conservation of forests or forest products was found by this research. Rather it
appeared that forest products were used at a rate necessary to meet the demand of
the local people with little regard to future need. This study shows the role that
environmental and cultural differences play in management of forest resources.
KARIUKI, M. PERIS.
National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (KENRIK),
P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya.
pkariuki@kenrik.org.
REVIEW OF THE RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF ETHNOFORESTS IN CENTRAL KENYA:
PRECOLONIAL, COLONIAL AND POSTCOLONIAL PERIODS.
This paper reviews the social change in policy, use, management and utilization of
cultural heritage sites. The results presented are from fieldwork conducted on a
project on conservation of sacred sites around Mt. Kenya. In the past, life revolved
around the sacred sites, in religion, agriculture, health, politics and life itself.
Ceremonies of rainmaking, thanksgiving, initiation, and marriage were performed on
sacred sites. During the colonial period these sites served as strongholds of rebellion
and as refuges for freedom fighters. Today they are used mainly for ecotourism and
retreats by various church denominations. Agrarian and religious change, and colonial
and postcolonial land policies, have had a great impact on the serenity of these
areas; the cultural and religious role of these sites is evident, however, in that
they remain resilient as relics of the past. Attention will be paid to the role of
cultural sites for in situ conservation of endangered species, especially medicinal
plants. Current conservation efforts may help salvage the few existing sites, but
caution is needed to ensure their relevance to the local community for sustainability.
AMUTETE, GEORGE.
Ornithology Department, National Museums of Kenya, P.O. Box 406558 GPO 00100, Nairobi,
Kenya.
kbirds@africaonline.co.ke.
ETHNO-ORNITHOLOGY FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: A MASAI COMMUNITY CASE STUDY, RIFT
VALLEY, KENYA
The Masai community in the Rift Valley, Kenya, have strong conservation ethics. However
the fast-changing way of life is at the same time eroding these ethics. Sensitive
biodiversity elements are the first casualty. The area of the case study is South
Nguruman, which has been categorised as an Important Bird Area (IBA), with globally
threatened birds. Birds are sensitive indicators for biodiversity. Land use practices
and management systems in South Nguruman are adversely affecting the birds, whose
important global status is unknown to the Masai community. This is in spite of the
fact that there exists rich indigenous ethno-ornithological knowledge that can conveniently
form a firm baseline for biodiversity conservation advocacy. This study looks at
ethno-ornithology as a tool for Important Bird Area conservation in the heart of
Masai community land.
MUHANDO NYANGILA, JACOB.
National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge (KENRIK),
P.O. Box 40658, Nairobi, Kenya.
jmuhando@kenrik.org.
THE ROLE OF ETHNOBIOLOGY, TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN BIODIVERSITY
CONSERVATION OF SELECTED KENYAN SACRED SITES
Traditional knowledge (TK) is a difficult concept to define, but it is the basis
for natural resource management and use by local communities, which has helped them
in the use of foods, medicine, clothing, shelter and other necessities. Local people
or communities have a historical relationship with their environment. Over the years,
they have developed a holistic traditional scientific knowledge of their natural
resources and environment. It is therefore important to recognize and accommodate
their values and traditional knowledge, promote and strengthen their resource management
practices and where appropriate, involve them in national formulation of policies,
laws and programmes relating to resource management and conservation strategies.
TK is clearly manifested in the field of environmental conservation by various communities.
This paper take a look at a case study and research findings on TK practices used
in environmental management with emphasis on conservation and management of traditional
sacred sites by various communities in Kenya.
The ICE2004 pages are maintained by Christine Eagle
email: C.M.Eagle@kent.ac.uk
Conference email: ice2004@kent.ac.uk
Last updated: 27.05.04