What Happens to Traditional Knowledge and Use of Natural Resources When People Migrate?

Nesheim, Ingrid; Dhillion, Shivcharn S.; Stølen, Kristi Anne

doi:10.1007/s10745-005-9004-y

Cited by 89 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…It was found to facilitate the exchange of ethnobotanical lore among various indigenous groups. Thus, the local knowledge within a given sociolinguistic group, may include aspects of ancestral knowledge, novel and acquired practical experiences, the knowledge from other neighboring communities, and even regional scholarly traditions and scientific or official knowledge (Nesheim et al 2006) that may be acquired through interactions with agricultural extension officers (Dhillion & Gustad 2004, Gadgil et al 2000. On the other hand, some studies pointed out dissimilarities in plant use knowledge among neighboring social groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotany of Pentadesma butyracea in Benin: A quantitative approach

Avocèvou-Ayisso

Avohou²,

Omorou³

et al. 2012

Ethnobot. Res. App.

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Research AbstractIntegrating ethnobotanical knowledge in the development of management and conservation strategies of indigenous plant resources is critical to their effectiveness. In this paper, we used four plant use indices to assess how the plant use knowledge of a multipurpose tree (Pentadesma butyracea Sabine) varies across different sociolinguistic groups from two geographical areas of Benin, and how these variations may influence the species' conservation and utilisation strategies. Seven sociolinguistic groups namely the Anii, Nagot, Kotocoli, and Fulani in the central part, and the Waama, Ditamari and Natimba in the northwestern part of the country were considered. We determined the reported use value of the plant parts, the plant part value, the specific use and the intraspecific use value for each sociolinguistic group. The various communities showed different interests in the plant organs they used. Nagot people showed the best plant use knowledge (highest use value) for P. butyracea bark and roots, two organs critical to the plant survival. Sociolinguistic groups living in the same geographical area shared similar plant part values, likely because of knowledge exchanges through social interactions. The observed intercultural convergences of uses may be a starting point of the selection of parts of the species for phytochemical, biological and pharmacological studies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ethnobotany of Pentadesma butyracea in Benin: A quantitative approach

Avocèvou-Ayisso

Avohou²,

Omorou³

et al. 2012

Ethnobot. Res. App.

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“…Research has shown that when people migrate, community knowledge and practices change (Volpato et al 2009). Migration may change the process of knowledge transmission from ''long-term'', intergenerational passing to short-term learning, such as being told or taught in courses (Nesheim et al 2006).…”

Section: Sources Of Knowledgementioning

confidence: 99%

The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

et al. 2015

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Citation: Valencia, V., P. West, E. Sterling, L. García-Barrios, and S. Naeem. 2015. The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity. Ecosphere 6(7):122. http://dx.doi.org/10. 1890/ES14-00428.1Abstract. In agroforestry systems, the survival of shade trees is often the result of farmers' deliberate selection. Therefore, how communities generate knowledge and apply it to resource management practices influence the potential for biodiversity conservation of agroforestry systems. In this study, we investigated the use of knowledge by farmers to manage coffee (Coffea arabica) agroforests and the consequences for the conservation of tree biodiversity and composition of surrounding forests. We interviewed 50 coffee farmers to investigate their shade tree preferences and sources of knowledge of the properties of shade trees and coffee management practices; we also conducted tree inventories in 31 coffee farms and 10 forest sites in La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve in Chiapas, Mexico. Our results showed that farmers are modifying agroforests according to their knowledge and tree preferences, and that the resulting agroforest is lower in tree diversity and dominated by pioneer and farmers' preferred tree species as compared to forests. The principal sources of knowledge of management practices are external sources, such as governmental and non-governmental organizations, whereas the primary source of tree specific knowledge is empirical knowledge. We found that the higher proportion of pioneer trees relative to forest is mostly explained by farmers' tree selection decisions (63%) rather than as a byproduct of management practices (37%) that disturb the soil and open the canopy, altering light penetration and microclimate conditions. Based on interviews and tree inventories, we found that farmers gradually replace canopy trees of neutral and disliked species by preferred species, in particular Inga spp. We found that external sources continue to promote the idea that Inga spp. trees bring significant benefits to coffee production in spite of a lack of scientific evidence to support this claim. This indicates that farmers are receptive to incorporate outside knowledge into their knowledge systems and adapt their resource management practices accordingly. Our findings highlight the importance of disseminating sound and clear scientific information to practitioners who work directly with farming communities to ensure that accurate and up-to-date information is being contributed to local knowledge systems.

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“…In myriad cases, salient and often useful plants left behind during human migration are rediscovered in the disturbed habitats of their new lands. Thus, whereas Guatemalan exiles in southern Mexico lost much of their subsistence plant knowledge, they retained understanding of medicinal plants due to the presence of weedy exotics (Nesheim et al 2006). Among Mexican migrants to USA (Waldstein 2006) and Sikhs to UK (Sandhu & Heinrich 2005), traditional use of medicinal species perseveres in part owing to the presence of introduced kitchen garden plants and weeds.…”

Section: Cultural Enrichment and Facilitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological invasions and biocultural diversity: linking ecological and cultural systems

2008

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SUMMARYStudy of the ecological and economic effects of invasive species has paralleled their progressively pervasive influence worldwide, yet their cultural impacts remain largely unexamined and therefore unrecognized. Unlike biological systems, where the ecological consequences of biological invasions are primarily negative, from an ethnoscientific standpoint, invasive species' impacts on cultural systems span a range of effects. Biological invasions affect cultural groups in myriad, often unpredictable and at times contradictory ways. This review groups case studies into a conceptual matrix suggesting three categorically different cultural impacts of invasive species. Culturally impoverishing invasive species precipitate the loss or replacement of culturally important native species and their associated cultural practices. Culturally enriching invasive species augment cultural traditions, through their inclusion in lexicons, narratives, foods, pharmacopoeias and other tangible and intangible ends. Culturally facilitating invasive species can provide continuity and reformulation of traditional ethnobiological practices. An understanding of the processes by which invasive biota become culturally enriching, facilitating, or impoverishing can contribute to articulating interdisciplinary programmes aimed at simultaneously conserving biological and cultural diversity.

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What Happens to Traditional Knowledge and Use of Natural Resources When People Migrate?

Cited by 89 publications

References 26 publications

Ethnobotany of Pentadesma butyracea in Benin: A quantitative approach

Ethnobotany of Pentadesma butyracea in Benin: A quantitative approach

The use of farmers' knowledge in coffee agroforestry management: implications for the conservation of tree biodiversity

Biological invasions and biocultural diversity: linking ecological and cultural systems

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