Ethnobiology and Conservation (EC) is a leading international, open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the intersection of ethnobiology and biodiversity conservation. EC publishes original research that explores the dynamic relationships between humans and nature, emphasizing theoretical, methodological, and applied contributions that advance biodiversity conservation, sustainability, and socioecological resilience.
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Far Beyond Bushmeat: A Review of the Hunting and Uses of Neotropical Columbids
Hunting and the use of wild columbids are widely documented practices across the Neotropical region, associated with multiple forms of utilization, harvesting pressures, and conservation implications. Our study represents the first systematic literature review focused on the uses and trade of Neotropical Columbiformes. Data were obtained from articles, books, book chapters, theses, dissertations, and technical reports indexed in Science Direct, Scirus, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. A total of 49 species belonging to 10 genera were recorded, distributed across 23 countries. The genera Patagioenas, Geotrygon, and Columbina comprised the highest species richness. The main uses identified were for food, followed by commercial/pet, medicinal, magico-religious, and artisanal purposes. Among the most frequently reported species were Zenaida auriculata and Leptotila verreauxi, both documented in more than ten countries. Ten capture techniques were recorded, with slingshots and firearms being the most prevalent. Brazil, Mexico, and Peru showed the highest number of records. Our findings indicate that hunting and trade affect a broader set of species than currently acknowledged in global assessments, revealing a significant yet underestimated pressure. This scenario underscores the need for integrated strategies that combine sustainable use, community-based management, and economic alternatives—such as birdwatching tourism—to mitigate unsustainable exploitation and ensure the conservation of Neotropical columbids. Furthermore, the results highlight the importance of strengthening public policies, expanding educational initiatives, and promoting continuous research capable of informing evidence-based and regionally coherent conservation decision-making
Copyright (c) 2026 Wedson Medeiros Silva Souto, Esdras Phelipe Oliveira Santos, José Augusto Aragão Silva, Isac Santana Menezes, Rômulo R N Alves, André Bastos Silva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Future climatically stable habitat of a vulnerable medicinal tree, Warburgia salutaris (Pepper-bark tree), overlaps with some protected areas in southern Africa
Climate change will affect the distribution of medicinal plant species in sub-Saharan Africa, with potential negative consequences to especially rural and poor communities that depend on them for traditional medicines. The aim of the study was to determine future climatically stable habitat of Warburgia salutaris, a commonly used vulnerable medicinal plant species. An ensemble species distribution model (SDM) was built from eight algorithms and used to estimate the current and future distributions of the species. Six environmental variables and 146 occurrence records were used to calibrate individual SDMs before combining them into the ensemble SDM. The ensemble SDM was projected to 2041‒2060 and 2081‒2100 under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs), namely SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5. The projections were made under three general circulation models (GCMs), which were CanESM5, IPSL-CM6A-LR and MIROC6. Results show that the current suitable habitat of the species occurs in South Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Under both time periods and SSPs, the suitable habitat of the species will markedly contract, especially under SSP5-8.5 in 2081‒2100 (CanESM5 = -79 %, IPSL-CM6A-LR = -87 %, MIROC6 = -71 %). Climate refuges that overlap with the future suitable habitat of W. salutaris were identified in protected areas (PAs), such as Malalotja Nature Reserve (Eswatini), Itala Nature Reserve (South Africa), and Nyanga National Park (Zimbabwe). The climate refuges in PAs may be priority areas to introduce the species.
Copyright (c) 2026 Percy Jinga, Tawanda Manyangadze https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Functional responses and adaptation strategies of pastoral households to drought and volcanic ashfall in Northern Patagonia
Livestock is the main source of food and income, as well as a key socio-cultural asset for pastoralist households in arid and marginalized environments. Pastoral households in the drylands of Northern Patagonia in Argentina have faced repeated droughts over the past two decades and a large volcanic ashfall in 2011 that halved their livestock herds. While most households were severely affected by these events, some were able to withstand or recover over time while others suffered prolonged stress or even out-migrated. Through in-depth interviews with 33 pastoral households in Pilcaniyeu (Río Negro Province), we investigated the factors that shaped their functional responses and adaptive strategies in the face of these shocks, under the lenses of ethnobiology and systemic resilience theories. We assessed livelihood decisions, social interactions and changes in household assets before the ashfall (2011), during the six months following it, and eight years later (2019), and identified four structural and four functional responses archetypes (Anticipatory, Reactive, Conservative and Passive) and their adaptation strategies (Tolerance, Resistance, Avoidance, Diversification and Transformation). Household structural characteristics were less instrumental at determining the adaptive responses observed in the community than their ethnobiological and biocultural characteristics. Household responses were enabled by assets, local knowledge and social capital, mediated by individual motivation, collective agency and culturally situated values. Our findings further highlight that in such marginalized environments access to telecommunication or road connectivity are critical at enabling a range of functional responses and adaptive strategies, especially when they rely on collective action. Policies to support resilience of pastoral livelihoods should consider the diversity of strategies as identified here, prioritizing aids for households exhibiting passive responses while enhancing the adaptive potential of those already able to mobilize conservative, anticipatory and reactive strategies. Overall, this study contributes a novel, complementary methodology for understanding and categorizing household adaptation from an ethnobiological and biocultural perspective.
Copyright (c) 2026 Luciana Laborda https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Biocultural Calendar of the Mahsewal Miltsin (sacred Milpa): Biocultural Heritage of the Northeastern Sierra of Puebla, Mexico
Abstract Introduction: The milpa is an emblematic agricultural system in which corn, squash, beans, chili peppers, tomatoes, quelites, shrubs and fruit trees coexist. It is a cornerstone of Mexico's biocultural heritage. Within the framework of biocultural heritage, this study explores the complex relationships between the Mahsewal (Nahua) people and the milpa in the highlands of Yaonáhuac, Puebla. Methods: The research employed an ethnographic approach including in-depth interviews, participant observation of daily and ritual practices, field visits to milpas, and two wisdom dialogue circles. The results were systematized through a biocultural calendar, a methodological tool that illustrates the interrelation between ritual-religious cycles, perceptions of time and space, agricultural cycle and affective dimensions. Results and discussion: Thirteen ritual-religious activities and twenty-two agricultural activities associated with the milpa were documented over the course of an annual cycle. The Mahsewal language reveals profound affection and respect for the sacred sustenance provided by the elements of nature. These values are embodied in agricultural work and in all aspects of life, forming part of the wisdom of Mahsewal people. One notable aspect is the reciprocity found in religious rituals, seeking to harmonize with the manifestations of nature and the cosmos for the benefit of the Mahsewal Miltsin. These practices underscore the resilience of contemporary knowledge while reaffirming cultural identity. Conclusion: The Mahsewal Miltsin represents a living biocultural heritage of the highlands of Yaonáhuac and the Northeastern Sierra of Puebla, Mexico. It offers valuable insights into the continuity of Indigenous knowledge and its contribution to biocultural diversity. Tahtolkonet Tahkuilolpewalis: In miltokalis se milahtekit ton weyi ixpowi, pos onpa sentih in miltsin, ayohtsin, etsin, chil, tomat, kilit, pahsolxiwit, wan taakilkuawit. Nonhon yehwa ika motaixkechia in wehkawkayo milahixpanolis weyaltepet Mexko. Ihkon kemeh motahtani itech in wehkawkayo milahixpanolis, nihin taixyehyekolis kitstinemik keniw nochi senpilkatokeh in altepekayomahsewalmeh wan in miltsin, nepaka ahkopa taltikpak Yaonáhuac, Puebla. Ihkuin mochiw: In weyi ixyehyekolis mochiw ika in mahsewalixpanolis kanpa semi tikintatsintokihkeh keniw motekitiliah, wan no iniwan titewantikeh seki tonalmeh kanpa tikitakeh keniw ilwitih, no miakpa timilahtachiatoh, wan ohpa timosentalihkah kanpa timonohnotskeh ika in milahtekit. Nochi in milahtekitilis tiktekpankeh itech se tonalpowal-milahixpanolis, se tamapalewil ton teyeknextilia keniw iwan pilkatok in xiwkayotekit wan in tiopantsinkoilwitsin, keniw tonalpowah wan ixpanowah, no in xiwkayomilahtekit wan keniw kiikneliah in miltsin. Keniw timoixyehyekohkeh: Tikopinkeh mahtakti eyi takachiwalis tiopantsinko-ilwitsitsin wan senpualome milahtekitilis itech in weyi xiwit. In Mahsewaltahtol weyi kiiknelia wan kitakaita in tomostayantsin ton techtayokoliah in wehweyi tamatinimeh. Nihin takamatil kinextiah itech in milahtekit wan no ika ixpanotioweh, kanpa kiixpowah kemeh weyi taixmatil in altepekayomeh Mahsewalmeh. Weyi technextiliah keniw nochin mosenpalewiah ika in tiopantsinko-ilwitsin, kanpa kitemowah keniw kinyolpaktiskeh in wehweyi tamatinimeh ton nemih ne talokanilwiyak, wan mah kitiochiwakan in Mahsewalmiltsin. Nihin takachiwalis kinextia keniw moweyichiwaok in axkanpa ixtamatilkayot, wan no ihkon kiyeknextia in mahsewalixpanolis. Ihkuin tikitakeh: In Mahsewalmiltsin kinextia keniw kitakamatihok axkanpa in wehkawkayo milahixpanolis ne ahkopa taltikpak Yaonáhuac wan no onpaka Tepetah Tanipatonalix Puebla, Mexko. Tenextilia miak taman, keniw in Mahsewalixtamatil momoyawtiwitsok axkanpa wan keniw weyi tapalewia itech miak taman milahixpanolis.
Copyright (c) 2026 María Isabel Palestina González, Elda Miriam Aldasoro Maya https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Decolonial Conservation and Political Ethnobiology as a Pathway to Socio-Environmental Justice in the Global South
Biodiversity conservation remains largely shaped by technocratic and colonial paradigms that marginalize the political agency of Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and racialized populations. In response, we propose Political Ethnobiology as a critical approach for a truly decolonial conservation. Grounded in Political Ecology, decolonial thought, feminism, and Ethnobiology, we argue that socio-environmental conflicts are not externalities, but arenas of negotiation regarding power, knowledge, and nature. We examine how hegemonic models reproduce epistemic violence and exclusion through the enclosure of territories and disregard for local autonomy, despite legal instruments for benefit-sharing. This scenario reflects a structural incompatibility with plural ontologies. By centering local experiences and those of racialized women, we highlight the disputes within conservation governance. Based on this, we propose four pillars for a People-Based Decolonial Conservation: (1) epistemic justice and co-authorship of knowledge, (2) people-based conservation and pluriverses, (3) ethics of Buen Vivir and socioecological reciprocity, and (4) institutional transformation and epistemic justice. We advocate for a paradigmatic shift that goes beyond symbolic inclusion, advancing toward the redistribution of power, the recognition of "pluriverses," and the construction of practices grounded in social justice, ecological reciprocity, and political accountability.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rodrigo Felipe Rodrigues Carmo, Arthur André de Barros Rodrigues, Jeferson Matheus Gomes de Moura, Clau Aguiar Silva, Cinthia Diniz de Oliveira, Paula Thayanne Mata, Julio Avanzo Neto, Manoela Olegário da Costa, Gustavo Taboada Soldati https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Management of Pindo palm Syagrus romanzoffiana (Cham.) Glassman, (Arecaceae) to produce Coleoptera edible larvae among the Guaraníes of northeastern Argentina
One of the most important uses of palm trees among Amerindian groups is as a food source as coleopteran larvae are reared on their stems. Guaraní groups settled in the province of Misiones, in northeastern Argentina, consume three species of Curculionidae larvae (Metamasius hemipterus, Rhynchophorus palmarum and Rhinostomus barbirostris), which are bred in the stipes of Syagrus romanzoffiana palm. This work deals with the management of the different ontogenetic stages of this palm to promote the development of the three edible larvae species. Field observation suggests a great knowledge of these insects ecology and of the differential characteristics of the palm tree wood anatomical structure throughout its ontogenetic development. This constitutes the first record of the use of Metamasius hemipterus as food for the Mbya.
Copyright (c) 2017 Ethnobiology and Conservation
Ethnomedical Remedies among Slavic Speaking People in South Kosovo
Local natural resources play an important role in securing human health in the Balkans, particularly as a source of food and medicine. The aims of this study were to document the ethnomedical practices of Slavic speaking groups in South Kosovo and to compare these findings to other studies conducted in the Western Balkans. Field research was conducted over a series of trips in 2014. Semi-structured interviews in which respondents were asked to list local taxa used for food and/or medicine were conducted in six communities located in the municipalities of Prizren and Dragash. Prior informed consent was obtained and 91 people were interviewed. Voucher specimens of cited wild flora and fungi were collected and deposited in duplicate at the herbaria of the University of Prishtina (Kosovo) and Emory University (USA). A total of 1,050 use citations were recorded for the various uses of 119 species (4 fungi and 115 plants) for food and/or medicine. Additionally, the ethnomedical uses of 27 ingredients of animal, mineral or industrial origin were also documented. The greatest number of citations were for dermatological and food uses of local plants. The most common families reported were Rosaceae (18 species cited), Lamiaceae (16) and Asteraceae (10). Informant consensus regarding category of use was highest (Fic ≥ 0.85) for the categories of oral health, dermatological, and otolaryngological applications. Both wild and locally cultivated plants continue to play an important role among various ethnic groups in South Kosovo, with 389 distinct applications documented in this study alone.
Copyright (c) 2018 Ethnobiology and Conservation
Comparison of medicinal plant knowledge between rural and urban people living in the Biosphere Reserve “Bioma Pampa­Quebradas del Norte”, Uruguay: an opportunity for biocultural conservation
The Biosphere Reserve, UNESCO, “Bioma Pampa­Quebradas del Norte”, Rivera Department is an important reservoir of biocultural diversity of Uruguay. With the objective of contributing to its recognition and valuation, we describe the diversity of medicinal plants used by local communities in rural or urban settlements at the Reserve, from a quali­quantitative ethnobotanical approach. We estimated and compared species richness of alien and native medicinal plants mentioned by the 13 urban and 31 rural people in semi­structured interviews selected by snowball sampling. We found that the diversity of medicinal plants comparing urban and rural areas did not present significant differences. However, rural areas report more native species as consequence of a higher environmental offer of medicinal plants and the prevalence of cultural elements of native peoples; in contrast, the construction of homegardens within a pluricultural context in urban areas promotes the incorporation of alien species in the local herbalist. Finally, we emphasize the possibility of integrating the official medicinal system with the traditional medicinal systems based in plants, contributing to the programs of conservation of biocultural heritage and primary health care as posed by the World Health Organization in its Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014­2023.
Ethnobotany; Medicinal Plants; Traditional Knowledge; Alien Species; Rarefaction Curves; Protected Areas
What role do wild animals (fish and wildmeat) play in the food security of urban teenagers living in poverty and conflict - the case of Quibdó, Colombia
Many urban areas located at the forest edge maintain a high connection to the forest, either because forests provide resources and services that act as safety nets for the poor or because they represent a cultural link to traditional lifestyles. In urban areas located in forest landscapes, access to food markets is limited, particularly in regions where armed conflict has resulted in decreased agricultural and livestock production and poor or unsafe communication means for the transportation of goods. In this study, we assess the nutritional status of teenagers living in Quibdó, a forest town that lies at the centre of Colombia’s long history of political conflicts, and analyse the role that wild animals (wild fish and wildmeat) play for their food security. While our analysis clearly shows that wild animals significantly contribute to dietary diversity, food and nutrition insecurity prevail among teenagers, especially among the poorest families. Our results suggest that post-conflict policies should explicitly promote integrated approaches to reduce food insecurity and value biodiversity for it’s in reducing malnutrition.
Wildlife and spiritual knowledge at the edge of protected areas: raising another voice in conservation
International guidelines recommend the integration of local communities within protected areas management as a means to improve conservation efforts. However, local management plans rarely consider communities knowledge about wildlife and their traditions to promote biodiversity conservation. In the Sebitoli area of Kibale National Park, Uganda, the contact of local communities with wildlife has been strictly limited at least since the establishment of the park in 1993. The park has not develop programs, outside of touristic sites, to promote local traditions, knowledge, and beliefs in order to link neighboring community members to nature. To investigate such links, we used a combination of semi­directed interviews and participative observations (N= 31) with three communities. While human and wildlife territories are legally disjointed, results show that traditional wildlife and spiritual related knowledge trespasses them and the contact with nature is maintained though practice, culture, and imagination. More than 66% of the people we interviewed have wild animals as totems, and continue to use plants to medicate, cook, or build. Five spirits structure human­wildlife relationships at specific sacred sites. However, this knowledge varies as a function of the location of local communities and the sacred sites. A better integration of local wildlife­friendly knowledge into management plans may revive communities’ connectedness to nature, motivate conservation behaviors, and promote biodiversity conservation.
A theoretical review on the origin of medicinal practices in humans: echoes from evolution
Humans have been coping with diseases throughout the evolutionary history. The emergence of medical systems, which integrate knowledge and practices related to health management, can be assumed as one of the reactions of the human species to respond to the pressures of diseases. An intriguing question is related to the understanding of how these systems have emerged in our species. To answer this question, some authors created scenarios to explain the origin of these systems, from an ecological and evolutionary logic. In this article, we briefly introduce some of the key ideas linked to these scenarios and how they may be important in guiding ethnobiology research.
Practices and spaces by gender: landscapes and rural tasks of livestock producers of the Sierras Chicas from Córdoba, Argentina
The present contributions shows as the gender role and the economic way of life of people have influence among landscape perception and classification. Data were obtained by the use of semi­structured surveys aimed at criollo cattle ranchers in the mountains of Córdoba and index of cultural significance, economic value and statistical differences by gender were calculated. It is observed the domestic role of women as a cultural guide of these population, which determines their action in the different perceived units of landscape. Also was verified that the domestic units have greater degrees of classification, and that such classification is related to their practice of generalist breeding. Likewise, vegetation management practices related to their occupation are also revealed.
Ethnobiology; Roles by Gender; Landscape Units; Traditional Livestock
Relations with wildlife of Wichi and Criollo people of the Dry Chaco, a conservation perspective
Indigenous Wichís and mestizos Criollos inhabit a rural, biodiversity rich, area of the Argentinean Dry Chaco. Traditionally, Wichís were nomads and their relations with wildlife were shaped by animistic and shamanic beliefs. Today, Wichís live in stable communities and practice subsistence hunting, gathering and in some cases, fishing. Criollos are mestizos, i.e. a mixture of the first Spanish settlers and different indigenous groups. They arrived during the 20th century from neighbouring Provinces. They practice extensive ranching, hunting and gathering. Our aim was to help develop effective and legitimate actions to conserve wildlife species in this region, focused on Wichís´ and Criollos´ perceptions of and relations with wildlife. We conducted semi-structured interviews (N=105) in rural settlements. We found differences in both groups´ hunting techniques, drivers and perceptions on the importance of wild meat for nutrition. However, both groups have a close relation with wildlife, they use wild animals in a variety of ways, including as food resource, medicine and predictors of future events. Wichís and Criollos also relate with wildlife in a spiritual dimension, have animistic and shamanic beliefs and have unique traditional ecological knowledge. Hunters in both communities are breaking traditional hunting norms but conservation measures grounded on these norms have a higher probability of success. Management recommendations include developing programmes focused on (i) conserving thin armadillos; (ii) conserving pregnant and breeding females of all species; (iii) managing dogs to avoid unnecessary killings and on (iv) improving local livelihoods. We also provide recommendations that are specific for each group.
Social perception of tree plantations in the Atlantic forest of Argentina: the role of management scale
Land use changes associated with the advance of forest plantations on lands previously used for agriculture generate diverse perceptions of the socio-environmental impact they entail. In last decades there has been a transformation in land use associated with the development of forestry activity in the northwest of the province of Misiones, Argentina. Considering local communities in order to improve assessment, governance and decision-making in sustainable management, we posed two questions: What are local communities’ environmental, social and economic perceptions of tree plantations? What is the role of scale of production in these perceptions? To this purpose we first described the productive matrix of the landscape mapping the forest plantation cover of the area and classifying the productive units in different Forest Management Model (large, medium and small scale). Then, we identified and selected participants from comparable rural communities in each FMM, who through a Q survey grouped phrases according their perceptions. Subsequently, emerging viewpoints were recognised. Our analysis shows that forestry activity is not poorly conceptualized in contrast to conceptualization of the management of larger-scale productive systems in combination with government policies promoting them. The management carried out through large areas that result in a homogenization of the landscape are perceived negatively. In general terms, the local imagination perceives the promotion and establishment of forestry companies as a mistake if planning to protect pre-existing familiar productive systems is not previously carried out.
Is the knowledge about the wild birds influenced by the socioeconomic conditions of the human populations?
The human populations of the Brazilian semiarid region interact strongly with the avifauna throughout the entire occupation of its territory. These interactions were established in a context of adverse edaphoclimatic conditions that limited farming production and socioeconomic welfare, making the use of birds as food and income generators excuses as an important subsistence resource. Therefore, it is relevant to know whether such interactions today are still influenced by socioeconomic factors and in what way. Semi-structured interviews were applied to 105 residents, 45 men and 60 women, in rural communities of Casa Nova, Bahia state. Correlation analysis and regression models were performed to verify how the socioeconomic variables ‘gender’, ‘age’, ‘education’, ‘monthly income’ and ‘residence time’ in the region explain the variation in the number of known species and the acknowledgement of the ecological importance of the birds. The respondents made 840 bird citations, corresponding to 60 species. There was a correlation between the socioeconomic factors (age, income, residence time in the region) and the number of species mentioned, but there was no correlation with the acknowledgement of the ecological importance of the species, probably because few people knew how to answer to that question. Men cited significantly more bird species than women. The results also indicate a low level of knowledge about bird species among younger populations. Socioeconomic factors strongly influence people's knowledge of bird species in their region. Exposure to and experience with wild birds, gender, education and income together influence the knowledge about the diversity of this group.
Copyright (c) 2020 Ethnobiology and Conservation
Seasonal Variation in the consumption of biomass fuel in a rural community of Patagonia, Argentina
The use of biomass as an energy resource is key to the subsistence and development of diverse rural populations throughout the world. Nevertheless, little has been considered as to how biomass consumption patterns vary throughout the year, or what strategies locals may employ. In a rural community of the Patagonian steppe, seasonal variation in domestic consumption of fuel plants was studied. Possible socioeconomic conditioning factors (i.e., size of family unit, infrastructure of dwellings, number of combustion appliances used) were analysed, and seasonal variation in the richness of plant species used was determined. Average biomass consumption was found to be 12000 kg/year/home and 1479 kg/year/per capita, with significantly higher values during winter (62.89 kg/day/home), than in summer (18.45 kg/day/home). The richness of fuel species used varied significantly during the year, and in line with biomass estimates, the highest use consensus for species was recorded during winter and autumn, with exotic species predominating. The maximum difference in species was registered in autumn, due to an increase in the stockpiling of wood bought for winter, when the preference is for high caloric value and accessible commercial price. During the year the main species used were Salix spp. and Nothofagus antarctica. The study of seasonal variation in firewood consumption contributes knowledge that can be used in detailed management of this resource, with attention being paid to differential needs as seen from a local perspective.
Domestic Slaughter in Southern Italy, with special reference to Campania Region
The relationships between animals and humans date back thousands of years. Cultures around the world developed specific ways of interacting with the fauna over time, so that human communities accumulated a huge deposit of animal knowledge closely integrated with many other anthropological aspects focused on the human-animal relationship. Through the administration of a questionnaire-interview, in this work we studied ritual aspects related to animal slaughter, as well as the link between the slaughterhouse and the time of the year. Moreover, the apotropaic uses of Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 and Sus scrofa domesticus Erxleben, 1777, by local rural communities, were analyzed. The data we collected come with important witnesses, supported by old pictures and tools used during the slaughter that reinforced the story of the interviewee, allowing to draw a timeline after which the relationship between man and farm animals moves and gets modified. These almost forgotten rituals constitute an important ethnozoological knowledge to be integrated into our human cultural heritage. To the best of our data, this is the first study documenting the apotropaic uses of Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 and Sus scrofa domesticus Erxleben, 1777. All the questionnaires, administered in Campania, were analyzed and compared in the search of ritual customs, archaic beliefs and ancient legacies still present today and inherited from elder times. Rites surrounding animal slaughter aimed at communicating with the divine and at explaining all those processes that cannot be readily answered. Man, by making animals the protagonists of mythological tales and investing them with a sacred force, has linked to the slaughtering act a psychological component that has led the killing itself to being configured as a ritual. From the witnesses gathered, interesting parallelisms emerged stimulating thoughts on a serious and complex dichotomy of our present-day society: a meat-based diet versus the total rejection of it. Integrating scientific knowledge with local ecological ones, the informations collected in this work can be used to design an effective and targeted conservation management strategy for these mammals as valid alternative to intensive farming.
Slaughter – Livestock holding – Rural conservation
Fishing, trade, and local ecological knowledge of the marine gastropod, Cassis tuberosa – a target species of the international shell trade
Cassis tuberosa is one of the most exploited marine gastropods on the Brazilian coast, due to its aesthetic value. The lack of characterization of the species’ trade makes it difficult to establish effective monitoring strategies. This is the first survey to characterize the fishing and trade chain of C. tuberosa, and to record aspects of local fishermen’s traditional ecological knowledge of the species. C. tuberosa is caught while fishing for other target resources, such as fish, lobsters, and octopuses. The most popular use of the shell is for ornamental purposes, and the demand for this is enhanced by the intensive tourism. Knowledge of capture techniques and species usefulness is transmitted vertically in the community. The local ecological knowledge points to a population decline over time and attributes such decline to increased fishing. We hope the characterization provided in this study will contribute to the effective management of this species.
Perceptions and attitudes of the local people towards bats in the surroundings of the Escaba dam (Tucumán, Argentina)
When biodiversity conservation of non-charismatic species is a priority, local people perception and value attributed to species are of vital importance. The presence of a huge colony of bats (Tadarida brasiliensis) in the Escaba dam located at the Yungas forest is an emblematic case for the conservation of bats in Argentina. The objective of this study was to evaluate the perception and attitude about the bats of the people living around the Escaba dam in order to redirect conservation efforts and education plans. Semi-structured surveys and participant observation were used to survey the information; and generalized linear models to analyze. The local inhabitants do not recognize the diversity of bat species, and mention only blood-sucking and insectivorous bats. The results show a positive trend in perception and attitude, influenced by the recognition of the role of bats as insect controllers and a feeling of identity generated by the colony. The perception becomes more positive as age advances and in those who reached the secondary level of education. New ways of measuring perception and attitude are presented, such as describing the forms of bat exclusion. All this must be taken into account in the development of the management plan, which should consider the possible local use of guano as a fertilizer, sustainable tourism and educational actions aiming at differentiating the species (i.e. this is not an hematophagous bat colony), the role of the colony at controlling possible diseases and the ecosystem services associated with these species.
Shifting baseline syndrome highlighted by anecdotal accounts from snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) fishery
The fishes of the Lutjanidae family are widely distributed throughout the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans and have relevant commercial importance. Yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus chrysurus) is a targeted species in the small-scale fishery of the northeastern coast of Brazil, notably for hand-line fishing. We used the local ecological knowledge (LEK) of three generations of fishers from Ilhéus (southern Bahia State, Brazil) to evaluate the perception of weight, best day of capture and relative abundance of the species. More experienced fishers captured the largest specimens, had larger catches and were more likely to indicate a decrease in species abundance. On the other hand, younger fishers had smaller catches and were more likely to indicate that the species abundance is stable or increasing. The results suggest the occurrence of shifting baseline syndrome among fishers and emphasize the importance of including information from fishers in the construction of management measures. Fishers can play a key role in developing viable proposals that are aimed at the management of fishing of species with spawning aggregation, such as yellowtail snapper.
Conservation of pūpū whakarongotaua - the snail that listens for the war party
Snail ecotypes are an indicator of local forms that can have cultural value and also represent evolutionary potential. Conservation of both regional diversity and evolutionary potential can be improved by recognition and documentation of genetically determined phenotypic variation. The large threatened terrestrial snail pūpū whakarongotau (Placostylus ambagiosus) is a range restricted species that is valued by the indigenous people of the northern most region of New Zealand, valued as both a security alarm and food source. Some populations of this rare species are restricted to sites of human occupation and oral history suggests these distinct populations represent prehistoric translocations. We used 2-D geometric morphometrics and nuclear markers to document the distribution of variation. We aimed to determine whether shell shape variation was entirely an ecophenotypic plastic response, and whether or not prehistoric human movement of snails and establishment of food populations on pā sites (fortified settlements) had resulted in the loss of spatial genetic structure within this species. We could discriminate specimens due to shape variation among population samples. Using samples from prehistoric sites we infer shell shape in this species is not purely a plastic response to the local environment but reveals evolutionary potential. Genotypes with 1738 nuclear loci for 19 individuals from ten locations revealed some evidence of population mixing, but genetic variation was mostly partitioned among locations, with strong spatial structure revealed. Thus, we advocate conservation measures that will preserve will local forms that represent evolutionary potential of this species.
Use, management and local ecological knowledge of Sabal mauritiiformis in the Colombian Caribbean
The leaves of the palm Sabal mauritiiformis constitute the natural material most used for thatching in the Colombian Caribbean. The leaves and other parts of the plant are also used in other economic and cultural activities on a smaller scale. Through 49 semi-structured interviews and seven days of participant observation, we documented the management and local ecological knowledge of this species in a Colombian peasant community, and identified the value chain for its leaves. We found 25 uses for S. mauritiiformis, belonging to 11 use categories. The leaves are harvested from wild populations, where the most outstanding management practice is tolerance, consisting of the maintenance of the palms in traditional production systems, even after the elimination of forest canopy. Leaf marketing results in an organized, simple and regional value chain, mainly linked to tourism. The relevance of this species in the Caribbean was evident both in the different management modalities and in the stock of ecological and technical knowledge that the communities have accumulated. This has allowed the conservation of this palm, despite the almost total disappearance of its natural habitat. With some adjustments in the practices applied to palms and to the value chain, the case of S. mauritiiformis in the Caribbean would constitute a model of how use and conservation of native biodiversity can contribute to boost regional economy.
Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll. Arg.: A comprehensive review on ethnomedicinal uses
Despite advances in biomedical technology, many communities and local people are still dependent on natural and herbal medications. A large number of different ethnic groups like the Tharu, Kani, Garo and other local inhabitants thrive in the Indian subcontinent and other parts of the world. These indigenous people traditionally use Mallotus philippensis (Lam.) Müll. Arg. (Euphorbiaceae) for a variety of medicinal, ritual and economic purposes. Therefore, the present article aims to assess how many various types of disorders are being treated by ethnic groups using formulations prepared from this tree. In addition, we aim to identify the gaps in knowledge and recommend future investigations based upon them. The present analysis based on 83 articles indicated that different ethnic groups are utilising this tree to treat about 142 health ailments that can be broadly categorised into 11 types of disorders. Among these disorder categories, helminthic infestations, dermatological and digestive disorders are most frequently treated with formulations prepared from the tree. Among plant parts, fruits are the most exclusively used component followed by leaves and bark. The usage of fruits as an anthelminthic is widespread and highly cited for both animals and human beings. Thus, the tree can serve as a promising ethnomedicine to treat helminthic infestations, dermatological and digestive problems. Therefore, the cultivation of this medicinal plant should be encouraged in order to promote conservation of this species.
Traditional management of Cactaceae by local populations in the semi-arid region of Brazil
Cactaceae species are important resources in the semi-arid region of Brazil and have been used and managed in a specific way by farmers to optimize and ensure the availability of cacti to rural communities. Thus, this study aimed to investigate management techniques used by residents of four rural communities in the municipality of Cabaceiras, Paraíba, Northeast Brazil. For this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 44 informants. Seventeen of them reported performing some type of management using the following cacti species: Pilosocereus gounellei (F.A.C. Weber) Byles & G.D. Rowley subsp. gounellei, Cereus jamacaru DC. subsp. Jamacaru, Pilosocereus pachycladus F. Ritter subsp. pernambucoensis (F. Ritter) Zappi, Tacinga palmadora (Britton & Rose) N.P. Taylor & Stuppy, and Melocactus zehntneri (Britton & Rose) Luetzelb. Ex situ and in situ management techniques were recorded. The first one performed by transplantation of propagules and the second one by tolerance. The species propagation is carried out using shoots and vegetative parts. Of the species identified, only Cereus jamacaru has more than one form of management. In addition to management, informants use rudimentary techniques such as burning the vegetative parts for fodder purposes.
Biodiverse food plants: Which gaps do we need to address to promote sustainable diets?
Wild Rubber Extraction in the Peruvian Amazon: local perception and socioeconomic indicators as tools for decision-­making
Forests play an important role in the life of indigenous communities. However, making nontimber forest management a profitable economic activity is a difficult task. Factors contributing to this difficulty include the increasing pressure from the market economy, which leads communities to opt for alternative economic activities such as agroforestry, timber harvest, cacao, and aquaculture. External institutions have implemented rubber projects to reintroduce the rubber extraction activity, but the outcomes of these projects are unknown. To help address this issue, our research was conducted in the Sinchi Roca I native community in Peru. The objectives were (1) to describe the process of wild rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) extraction; (2) to analyze the local perception by gender of rubber management; and (3) to evaluate the outcomes of this activity using socioeconomic criteria and indicators. Data collection techniques included in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and intra-household surveys. First, we found that locals once extracted rubber with unsuitable techniques, which have improved with technical forest management. Second, wild extraction has a positive socioeconomic perception for the community, mainly because it provides income for basic needs. Surveyed families extract around 28,800 liters of rubber per year, averaging US$ 557.80 per family each year. Finally, we found that men and women participate in wild rubber extraction and decision-making. However, women prefer not to actively participate in meetings with external institutions. Despite the benefits found, current use of silviculture techniques and community empowerment should be improved to take better advantage of existing potential.
Gender participation; Kakataibo; Traditional Knowledge; Non­-Timber Forest Products; Multivariate Analysis
Conservation of Amazonian manatee (Sirenia: Trichechidae): the case of Extractive Reserve Verde para Sempre, Brazil
The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is the largest aquatic freshwater mammal in South America found in the main rivers of the Amazon Basin. The main objective of this work was to describe the ecological knowledge and use of the Amazonian manatee in the Extractive Reserve Verde para Sempre (RESEX), located in Porto de Moz, Pará, Brazilian Amazon. This study was conducted through semi-structured interviews, free interviews, participant observation and image capture. Thirty-one residents were interviewed in 21 RESEX communities. The interviewees were previously identified by local informants and selected according to their level of knowledge of the species. We collected information on the morphology, behavioral characteristics and feeding habits of manatees, as well as on the uses of the species. According to interviewees, poaching and consumption of manatees is rare, and entanglement of calves in fishing nets is accidental. The headwaters of rivers and streams, that make up the water network of this extractive reserve, are little affected by human activity, and constitute potential areas of refuge for the species. The study shows that the maintenance of the extractive reserve gives good results in the protection of the Amazonian manatee. Even though, these animals are accidentally caught, and sometimes poached. Thus, it corroborates with the statement that sustainable development reserves are efficient strategies for biodiversity conservation. Thus, it is suggested the application of environmental education programs and awareness measures, aimed at the general public.
How far are we? Information from the three decades of ethnomedicinal studies in Thailand
Ethnobotany has been an academic discipline for more than a century. In Thailand, it was introduced into academia only 30 years ago, but the study has been carried on extensively. To analyze the number of ethnomedicinal reports based in Thailand and guide the design of future studies. The details include studied villages and ethnic groups from publications appearing during the course of the last 30 years. Ethnomedicinal reports were collected from online databases – Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed – and university libraries in Thailand. The other literature sources were Thai journals and the website of the Thai Library Integrated System. The period of publications ranges from 1990 to 2019. During this period, a total of 146 publications (student theses, journal articles, scientific reports, and a book) were published from 32 universities and research institutes in Thailand. The publications revealed records of plants used by 223 villages in 25 ethnic groups overall in Thai regions. Although ethnobotany started in Thailand after 70 years of a continuous track record in other parts of the world, the success in Thailand is reflected in the high number of studies and studied villages. However, more studies need to be done in many other villages and ethnic groups in the country before the subject can be considered well broached.
COVID-19: The need of an integrated and critical view
To understand and act upon a complex reality like COVID-19, we need to integrate knowledge from different academic sciences, in interdisciplinary efforts, and academic knowledge and other knowledge systems, in transdisciplinary processes. Without an integrated view leading to socially robust orientations, we are less likely to successfully navigate our challenging times. However, COVID-19 became a “wicked problem”, in which there is broad disagreement on what the very ‘problem’ is, and instead of a “whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach”, we find partial solutions that fall short of dealing with the complex dilemmas posed by the wicked problem. To build an integrated view, different scientists and social actors should engage in trust relationships and accept mutual epistemic dependencies, as requisites for a concerted way of understanding and acting on the problem. This is particularly hard, however, in a wicked problem. In building an integrated view on COVID-19, the role of academic sciences should be surely recognized, but we should avoid turning this recognition into an advocacy for scientism. It remains necessary to recognize and value the plurality of knowledge systems that span over human history, as well as their integration for mutual learning and concerted action. It is worth briefly examining, then, an integration initiative in COVID-19 treatment, namely between traditional Chinese and Western medicine. Finally, an integrated and critical view of COVID-19 demands that we cast aside the myth of value-free science, consider the relationships between values and scientific work, and conceive how knowledge can be objective without being neutral.
COVID-19 - Knowledge integration - Wicked problems
Variation in ethnomycological knowledge across age groups and length of residency in Benin (West Africa)
The variation of ethnomycological knowledges between age, sex, and ethnic groups has been extensively documented in tropical Africa. However, little is known about the relation between migration events and ethnomycological knowledge as well as the depreciation or gain across successive age groups. This study aims to (1) determine the relationship between the duration of residency within an area and ethnomycological knowledge (number of edible species known by respondents, local nomenclature, and proportion of species whose substrate is known) and (2) assess the dynamic of three variables above across successive age groups. A total of 2,233 respondents were randomly selected for face-to-face semi-structured interviews in nine villages across three community forest zones in central and southeastern Benin. Analyses of variance and covariance assessed the relation between people’s length of residence and ethnomycological knowledge. Differences in knowledge across successive age groups were analyzed using generalized linear regression with poisson error for the number of known species and binomial regression for the proportion of named species and species whose substrate is known. The findings revealed that longer residency correlates with better ethnomycological knowledge. Significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in all three variables across age groups. Knowledge levels varied significantly, with younger generations demonstrating less local knowledge than adults. This decline highlights the need to integrate local knowledge into education programs and combine indigenous knowledge with modern scientific approaches to achieve better social and ecological outcomes, such as sustainable resource management and improved biodiversity conservation. Keywords: Ethnomycology, local knowledge, knowledge incidence, age groups, conservation.
Keywords: Ethnomycology, local knowledge, knowledge incidence, age groups, conservation.
Copyright (c) 2025 Olyvia Gwladys FADEYI, Boris Armel Olou, Apollon Dossou Migan Tadagbé Hegbe, Meike Piepenbring, Nourou Soulemane Yorou https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/