scholarly journals Traditional Ecological Knowledge and the Cultural Significance of Plants in Hungarian Communities in Slovenia

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 481-512
Author(s):  
Dániel Babai ◽  
Mátyás Szépligeti ◽  
Antónia Tóth ◽  
Viktor Ulicsni
Keyword(s):  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Ornamental Plants ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Biological Species ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Important Species ◽  
The Common

Traditional ecological knowledge of plants is an important aspect of scholarship in relation to land use and contributes to the sustainable use and management of natural resources as well as to the monitoring of changes in the natural environment. The aim of the present paper was to examine traditional ecological knowledge in Hungarian communities in Slovenia in connection with knowledge of the plants growing in the region, their local names, and their uses. We quantified the earlier role of the utilized plant species in order to determine the former significance of certain species. We carried out structured interviews with a total of 20 individuals in three studied settlements. In the Hungarian communities in Slovenia, we uncovered knowledge of a total of 130 folk taxa. Of these, 123 taxa have local names. The majority of the folk taxa can be correlated with a single biological species. A significant proportion of the known species were utilized in some way, most of them as medicinal plants, wild edible plants, or ornamental plants. As in other farming communities, the most important species are mainly woody plants, which include the common hornbeam, the common juniper, and the silver birch. Among the herbaceous plants, utilization of the dandelion, nettle, and bulrush was significant. Members of the older generations living in the Hungarian communities in Slovenia still retain knowledge of plants that were once used on a daily basis, along with their local names and the traditional ecological knowledge connected with their earlier use.

scholarly journals Culturally Driven Monitoring: The Importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge Indicators in Understanding Aquatic Ecosystem Change in the Northwest Territories’ Dehcho Region

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (19) ◽  
pp. 7923
Author(s):  
Sydney Stenekes ◽  
Brenda Parlee ◽  
Cristiana Seixas
Keyword(s):  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Ecosystem Change ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Hydroelectric Development ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Quality Water

There is growing concern about the sustainability of freshwater ecosystems in northern Canada that are under significant stress from climate change, resource development, and hydroelectric development, among others. Community-based monitoring (CBM) based on traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has the potential to contribute to understanding impacts on the environment and community livelihoods. This paper shares insights about culturally driven monitoring, through collaborative research with Kátł’odeeche First Nation (KFN) in the Northwest Territories. This research was initiated in 2018 to improve understanding of the changes occurring in the Hay River and Buffalo River sub-basins, which extend primarily across the Alberta and Northwest Territories borders. Drawing on 15 semi-structured interviews conducted with KFN elders, fish harvesters, and youth, this paper illustrates the kinds of social–ecological indicators used by KFN to track changes in the health of aquatic systems as well as the fishing livelihoods of local people. Utilizing indicators, fishers observe declines in fish health, water quality, water quantity, and ice thickness in their lifetime. Community members perceive these changes to be a result of the cumulative effects of environmental stressors. The indicators as well as trends and patterns being observed and experienced can contribute to both social learning in the community as well as the governance of the larger Mackenzie River Basin.

scholarly journals Traditional ecological knowledge and flood risk management: A preliminary case study of the Rwenzori

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bosco Bwambale ◽  
Moses Muhumuza ◽  
Martine Nyeko
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Flood Risk Management ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Flood Hazards ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Indigenous Plants ◽  
Managing Risk

The shift from flood protection to flood risk management, together with recent arguments on incorporating culture in managing risk, underscores the application of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in managing disasters from flood hazards. Yet, documentation and incorporation of TEK into practice remains a challenge. This article contributes to addressing this challenge by exploring the existence of TEK to flooding in the Rwenzori Mountains, Uganda. Using semi-structured interviews, data were collected from residents of the Nyamwamba watershed where intense flash floods caused deadly impacts in May 2013. Collected data were analysed using content, thematic and interpretive analysis techniques. Results indicate that TEK is exhibited through various traditional ecological approaches (TEAs). Although endangered, TEAs (conducted through collective action for a communally accepted end) are framed in three main activities: (1) assessment and prediction of rainfall and flood by the traditional hydro-meteorologist (diviner) and the traditional rain forecaster (rainmaker); (2) the mountain cleansing ritual (which act as flood risk awareness platform); and (3) immunising riverine communities through planting certain indigenous plants, which improve hydrological systems through their high conservation value for native ecological diversity. As most TEAs are conducted through collective action, they represent a platform to understand local capacities and enhance adoption of measures, and/or a source of knowledge for new measures to address flood risk. Therefore, full-scale investigations of these TEAs, determining how relevant TEAs are fine-tuned, and (scientific) measures enculturated based on fine-tuned TEAs could result in effective flood risk management in various flood hotspots where TEAs influence action.

scholarly journals Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Connection with Non-Domesticated Animals in the Slovenian and Hungarian Borderland

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 453-480
Author(s):  
Viktor Ulicsni ◽  
Dániel Babai
Keyword(s):  
Central Europe ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Butterfly Species ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Separate Species ◽  
East Central Europe ◽  
Domesticated Animals

Although a significant proportion of folk knowledge of nature concerns knowledge of invertebrates and vertebrates living in the wild, very little ethnozoological research has been carried out in Central Europe focusing on the whole fauna. In writing the present paper, our aim was to contribute to filling this gap by interviewing 40 local farmers who are particularly knowledgeable on this topic, half of them from the Őrség region of Hungary, and half from the neighboring villages in Slovenia, and by recording their knowledge with respect to non-domesticated animals.Our research identified the second highest number of taxa (242 species-level folk taxa) in terms of investigations carried out in the Hungarian language area in relation to the entire fauna. These included 129 invertebrate folk taxa, 73% of which were called by a species-specific name. They also included 109 vertebrate folk taxa, 103 of which had a separate species-level local name. In the case of two groups (butterflies and mammals), we also investigated attributes that were important and salient from the point of view of species knowledge: morphology and size were of particular relevance in relation to mammal species; while salient habitat features and frequency were relevant in relation to butterfly species. In the case of both groups, usefulness was the least important factor.Despite the general erosion of traditional ecological knowledge in Europe, these recently collected data indicate that a rich, vibrant knowledge is still to be found among the Hungarians whom we interviewed in the Őrség region and the neighboring villages in Slovenia. The especially large number of recorded folk taxa, and the accurate knowledge required to differentiate between them confirm, that even today it is worth carrying out investigations on this topic in East Central Europe in the interests of obtaining knowledge of, and conserving cultural and natural values.

scholarly journals Traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation: the medicinal plants of the Dayak Krayan people in Kayan Mentarang National Park, Indonesia

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rina Susanti ◽  
Ervizal A.M. Zuhud
Keyword(s):  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
National Park ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Quantitative Ethnobotany ◽  
Collaborative Management ◽  
Primary Forest ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Important Species

Abstract. Susanti R, Zuhud EAM. 2019. Traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation: the medicinal plants of the Dayak Krayan people in Kayan Mentarang National Park, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 20: 2764-2779. Traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation can support one another for management of national parks in Indonesia as some such areas established in customary areas. This quantitative ethnobotany study aims to find the correlation of traditional ecological knowledge of medicinal plants of the Dayak Krayan people to biodiversity conservation in Kayan Mentarang National Park (KMNP), North Kalimantan, Indonesia. The research method used key informant interviews, transect walks, and questionnaire interviews. There were about 51 and 42 medicinal plants in Wa’ Yagung and Pa’ Padi respectively, which most used in life form of herb and tree, and to treat digestive system and infestations. Moreover, the important species are trees Alstonia scholaris and Cinnamomum cuspidatum, and vine Aristolochia sp. which grow in primary forest, while shrub Melastoma malabathricum in young secondary forest. There were significant differences in knowledge and use regarding age and gender groups, which older groups tend to possess higher values. The linking concept is proposed by using a review of three stimuli NUR (Natural-Usefulness-Religious) pro-conservation tool of traditional ecological knowledge and biodiversity conservation. The authorities’ stakeholders in KMNP will have to emphasize the traditional ecological knowledge in short or long-term management plan to achieve the objective of collaborative management in this national park.

CONHECIMENTO ECOLÓGICO TRADICIONAL DOS PESCADORES DA FLORESTA NACIONAL DO AMAPÁ

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Colares Brandão ◽  
Luis Mauricio Abdon da Silva
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Conservation Unit ◽  
The People ◽  
Methodological Procedures ◽  
Level Of Understanding

Traditional ecological knowledge can be defined as an interpretation of the information that the human population accumulates through the relation between the use and dependency established with the natural resources. The National Forest of Amapá (FLONA/AP), State of Amapá, Brazil is a federal conservation unit localized at the central region of the state and holds high land and varzea ecosystems which are well preserved and have great biological importance. Being a sustainable use area, there is a small local population that utilizes its natural resources for survival through traditional activities such as artisanal fishering. This study had the objective of interpret the traditional ecological knowledge of the FLONA/AP fisherman and to conduct the characterization of the fishering activity gathering the information given by the people that develop the activity. The methodological procedures included interviews, questionnaire application and direct observation; also photos were taken of the catch and the artifacts used. Citations of the fisherman were annotated, analyzed and compared to the existing scientific references. This allowed to demonstrate the level of understanding of those people of the environment as well as the resources that they use. It was identified 29 species and 6 etnofamilies grouped by the fisherman and that agree with the taxonomic classification. There was also the description of the atisanal fishering adopted in the area, showing the main characteristics and fish captured. One may conclude that the phrases used by the fisherman to describe the fish behavior are congruent to the ecology studies; besides they arerelevant to the elaboration of the fishery agreements and management plan of the conservation unit.

The Relationship between the Biodiversity Conservation and the Traditional Beliefs of the Native People in Dalai Lake Biosphere Reserve

2011 ◽  
Vol 295-297 ◽  
pp. 574-580
Author(s):  
Wei Wu ◽  
De Lin Fan
Keyword(s):  
Biodiversity Conservation ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Biosphere Reserve ◽  
Native People ◽  
Traditional Practices ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Traditional Beliefs ◽  
Main Research ◽  
The Relationship

With the development of the economy, the positive influences of traditional beliefs on the biodiversity conservation have been ignoring and the traditional beliefs have been meeting the serious challenges since 80’s of the last century. At the same time, the biodiversity, dependent on the traditional beliefs, have been declining dramatically. From 2008 to 2009, we adopted the main research methods such as semi-structured interviews and structured interviews, collection and analysis of historical and literature, and picture recording in Dalai Lake Biosphere Reserve to carry out the research on the relationship between the biodiversity conservation and the traditional beliefs of the native people in Dalai Lake Biosphere Reserve. The results revealed that the traditional beliefs, the traditional practices and the traditional ecological knowledge have the positive influences on biodiversity conservation.

scholarly journals Ka’ux

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-143
Author(s):  
Alfonsina Arriaga-Jiménez ◽  
Citlali Pérez-Díaz ◽  
Sebastian Pillitteri
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Nous Avons ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Natural Environment ◽  
Biodiversity Loss ◽  
Indigenous Languages ◽  
English Abstract ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Ethnographic Approach

English Abstract:The community of Tlahuitoltepec, in the Sierra Mixe of Oaxaca, is losing Traditional Ecological Knowledge due to socially driven changes in its natural environment. Mixe is one of the 69 indigenous languages spoken in Oaxaca, and is spoken almost exclusively in Tlahuitoltepec. Using an ethnographic approach, with loosely structured interviews among key members of the community, we analyzed the theory that biodiversity loss is linked to the loss of indigenous languages and traditional ecological knowledge. Our findings show that certain words in Mixe, used to refer to animals that are no longer observed in the community or its surroundings, are not well known by young people. The case of Ka’ux reflects what happens to traditional ecological knowledge and to an indigenous language when biodiversity is lost.Spanish Abstract:La comunidad de Tlahuitoltepec, en la Sierra Mixe de Oaxaca, pierde conocimiento ecológico tradicional debido a cambios sociales en su ambiente natural. El Mixe es una de las 69 lenguas indígenas habladas en Oaxaca, y es hablado casi exclusivamente en Tlahiutoltepec. Aplicando un enfoque etnográfico, con entrevistas semiestructuradas a miembros clave de la comunidad, analizamos la teoría sobre si la pérdida de biodiversidad se relaciona con la pérdida de lenguas indígenas y conocimiento ecológico tradicional. Nuestros resultados muestran que algunas palabras mixes usadas para nombrar animales que ya no se observan en la comunidad o sus alrededores, no son bien conocidas por la gente joven. El caso de Ka’ux refleja que ocurre con el conocimiento ecológico tradicional y a las lenguas indígenas cuando la biodiversidad desaparece.French Abstract:La communauté de Tlahuitoltepec, dans la Sierra mixe d’Oaxaca, perd ses connaissances écologiques traditionnelles en raison de changements sociaux dans son environnement naturel. Le mixe est l’une des soixante-neuf langues indigènes parlées à Oaxaca et elle est parlée presque exclusivement à Tlahuitoltepec. En utilisant une approche ethnographique, avec des entretiens semi-structurés parmi les membres clés de la communauté, nous avons analysé la théorie selon laquelle la biodiversité est liée à la perte des langues autochtones et des connaissances écologiques traditionnelles. Nos résultats montrent que certains mots en mixe utilisés pour désigner des animaux qui ne sont plus observés dans la communauté ou ses environs ne sont pas bien connus des jeunes. Le cas de Ka’ux reflète l’impact de la perte de biodiversité sur les connaissances écologiques traditionnelles et sur une langue autochtone.

scholarly journals Regeneration Status and Role of Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Cloud Forest Ecosystem Restoration in Ecuador

Forests ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Ana Mariscal ◽  
Mulualem Tigabu ◽  
Patrice Savadogo ◽  
Per Christer Odén
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Traditional Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Cloud Forest ◽  
Stem Density ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Natural Ecosystem ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Regeneration Status ◽  
Ecological Science

The importance of forests for biodiversity conservation has been well recognized by the global community; as a result, conservation efforts have increased over the past two decades. In Ecuador, the lack of integrated information for defining and assessing the status of local ecosystems is a major challenge for designing conservation and restoration plans. Thus, the objectives of this study were (1) to examine the regeneration status of cloud forest remnants, some of which had experienced past human disturbance events, (2) to explore a local rural community’s traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) relevant for restoration and (3) to investigate the integration between TEK and ecological science-based approaches. A survey of regeneration status was conducted in four remnants of cloud forests (n = 16) in Cosanga, Napo Province, in the Andes of northeastern Ecuador. The species of young trees (0.5–5 m height) were identified over 0.16 ha. In-depth interviews of individuals from local communities (n = 48) were conducted to identify socio-ecologically important native species. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.001) in species richness and the stem density of seedlings and saplings in gaps. The stem density of Chusquea sp., a bamboo species, explained 63% of the variation in species richness and 48% of the variation in the abundance of seedlings and saplings between plots. Informants cited 32 socio-ecologically important species, of which 26 species were cited as sources of food and habitats for wildlife. The ranking of species based on a relative importance index and a cultural value index—taking into account both the spread of knowledge among local informants and the multiplicity of uses—revealed that Hyeromina duquei, Citharexylum montanum, Eugenia crassimarginata and Sapium contortum were traditionally the most valuable species for both humans and wildlife. Informants also recommended 27 species for future planting, of which 19 species were amongst the rarest species in the regeneration survey. In conclusion, the results demonstrate a synergy between TEK and ecological science-based approaches (regeneration survey) to natural ecosystem research. Thus, traditional ecological knowledge can provide insights into ecosystem–plant–animal interaction, and to identify native species useful for both humans and wildlife for forest restoration projects to reconnect isolated cloud forest fragments.

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