ISE Newsletter
Volume 4, Issue 1 December 2012
Ethnozoology of Human Elephant Relations Contributed by Kierin Mackenzie and Dr. Piers Locke Humans and elephants have been similarly coevolved in Africa from characterized as social earlier species. Humans have problems. Therefore, just Inside this issue: always lived alongside these like humans, elephant amazing beings, and we behaviour can be seen as Ethnozoology 1 share much in common with cultural. of Human Ele- them. Both elephant and Elephants and their kin, the phant Relations human young take a long mammoths, have been a time to mature. Both share Ethnobiological 5 successful taxonomic family, complex social networks. studies about covering much of the earth, Both communicate in a triatomines but their numbers declined myriad of ways with fellow as human populations The Sentimiel 7 species members. Both increased, with co-existence Initiative mourn their dead. in some areas, and extinction As with humans, elephant in others. We are the main Shepherding Lakshmi Kali Research 10 and newborn calf behaviour varies through driver pushing them towards Reports from the Field time and space via patterns extinction. We are wiping downwards, as we kill them of behaviour taught from them out, generation by for their tusks, drive them Wild Edible Plants 10 generation to generation. As generation. Elephant out of their homes, and fight in South India with humans, behaviour also numbers plummeted them for our crops th adapts as conditions change, throughout the 20 century, (Choudhury et al. 2008). Wild Edible plants 12 and breaking the flow of and although there are It isn’t all doom and gloom, in Ethiopia information leads to what success stories, the trend is (continued on page 2) The role of cere- 13 monies in pre- From the Editorial Team serving biocultural Ethnozoology, a sub- diversity and domestic animals. Field: on wild edible plants in discipline of ethnobiology, is South India and Ethiopia, the In past issues we have the study of the relationships role of ceremonies in A Note on the 14 included articles about between human cultures preserving biocultural Bribri and ethnoornithology. This issue Cabécar Peoples and the animals in their diversity among the Loita of the ISE Newsletter focuses environment and how Maasai, and reflections on Ethnobiologist’s on this interesting sub- 15 different cultures think the Bribri and Cabecares in Bookshelf discipline, as three ISE about those animals. It Costa Rica. includes classification and members share their We hope you enjoy! naming of zoological forms, research with elephants, understanding cultural triatomines and bees. Natasha Duarte, Sarah-Lan knowledge and documenting Also in this issue are Mathez-Stiefel and Leslie use and management of wild Research Reports from the Main Johnson Page 2 ISE Newsletter
Ethnozoology of Human Elephant Relations (continued) however. Over the successful relations elephants, can not only generations of human- between them and us. bring clarity to the manifold elephant co-existence, Because of the long history ways in which humans there have been many of interaction, and the interact with elephants and examples of humans and complexity of engagement, make them meaningful, but elephants getting along. We a wide range of techniques also make a positive appear to have formed have been used to study contribution to elephant direct working relationships elephants and humans in conservation and elephant with elephants over 5000 the past. From India has welfare. years ago in India (Lahiri- emerged the Gajahshastra, Ethnoecology can be seen Satya Narayan and Choudhury, 1995) and in Paras Gaj a genre of literature of great as “…concerned with the order to maintain their antiquity concerning interaction between numbers for use in warfare, knowledge pertaining to the knowledge, practice, and construction, logging and management of elephants production and is oriented entertainment, we have in dating back to the fifth or toward applied research on the past set aside areas for sixth century BCE (Sukumar conservation and them, passed laws, and 1994), and with other community found other ways for giving Veterinarians, writings on elephants like development” (Martin room to them. the Rig Veda dating back 2001), and the beginnings of biologists, Whilst we have tamed 4000 years (Radhakrishna such work from an elephant elephants, we have never and Sinha, 2010). centric perspective has ecologists, poets, domesticated them (Kurt Veterinarians, biologists, begun. 2006). Friendly and philosophers, ecologists, poets, Ethnozoology, focussing on compliant as they may philosophers, saints, and the interactions between sometimes be, they always saints, and others have long told stories various cultural groups of remain wild, and an adult about elephants, our species with other non- others have long elephant can kill a human investigated their behaviour human animals is a field ripe easily. We take them and morphology, and for further differentiation told stories captive, but we are speculated on the nature of and cross pollination. Our ultimately in their care in their being. There are gaps, own research inaugurates about elephants. any working relationship. however. There always are. this nascent sub-field of We need to find ways of A multidisciplinary approach ethnoelephantology living with them, and one through ethnographic and way is to document would be fruitful. A new approach to the study of historical research into human-primate captive elephant interactions, shared space, management, which can be and co-ecologies has complemented by blossomed in the field incorporating the ecological known as ethnoprimatology and cognitive dimensions of (Fuentes 2010). We argue the human-elephant nexus. that something similar for Currently, the human-elephant relations is documentation of needed, something we call Indigenous knowledge ethnoelephantology. We about elephants is contend that the inadequate, despite perspectives of Indigenous peoples being ethnozoology and highlighted as making the Elephant teams going off to graze ethnoecology, applied to some of the best mahouts Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 3
Ethnozoology of Human Elephant Relations (continued) with long and ancient elephant, and on the fluid traditions (Lair 1997, Kurt and multiple status of 2006). Traditional territories elephants as animals, of Indigenous peoples persons, and gods as they continue to be the homes of articulate with the relational some of the healthiest modalities of domination, populations of wild companionship, and elephants. The range of veneration. information that cultures His most recent field with strong connections research has investigated with elephants accumulate the role of foreign NGOs in needs to be brought to the humane elephant training centre of elephant studies. programmes and in the Piers Locke has been treatment of elephant Cutting Narayani Kali's toenails working with elephant tuberculosis. He is currently handlers in the lowland developing a new project on the area. Tarai of Nepal since 2001. historical photography and For this he plans to apply His research has focussed human-elephant relations in the Use and Occupancy on the history of Nepali South Asia. methodology as outlined by captive elephant Kierin Mackenzie, in turn is Tobias (2000, 2009). Such management (Locke 2008, at the beginnings of work in an approach for gathering 2011a), apprenticeship Southern India with detailed traditional learning, professional mahouts in government knowledge of a single identity formation, and the camps where the species has been shown to significance of ritual be effective before in the practitioners are largely Traditional practice and religious belief Adivasi. He is working out work of Ferguson et al. in the occupational fieldwork plans for (2012). territories of subculture of the elephant documenting the The constituents for an stable as an enclaved, total knowledge, practices and ethnoelephantology are Indigenous institution (Locke 2007, Hart belief systems of traditional already present. Raman and Locke 2007, Locke elephant experts at these Sukumar has focussed on peoples continue 2011b). camps, who are known for the history of elephant to be the homes His film Servants of Ganesh their expertise with captive human relations with his (Dugas and Locke 2010), is a elephants and who come book “The Story of Asia's of some of the portrait of the lives of from a cultural milieu Elephants” (2011), and has humans and elephants and familiar with wild elephants spent years analysing healthiest the practice of training and the landscape they live human-elephant conflict, juveniles at the Khorsor in. and Asian Elephant ecology. populations of stable in the Chitwan Jamie Lorimer has looked at His previous work wild elephants. National Park. In relation to documenting traditional the biogeography of human- the developing field of land use of First Nations in elephant relations. Surendra multispecies ethnography Canada has led him to an Varma has looked at the (Kirksey and Helmreich approach that will place welfare of elephants and 2010), he is currently some emphasis on the the correlations with writing on elephant training spatial and temporal different methods of care. at the Khorsor Elephant dynamics of this knowledge, Richard Lair called for the Breeding Centre as a in an effort to add depth to need for more social multispecies rite of passage other elephant studies in scientists to study the skills for both trainer and and knowledge of Page 4 ISE Newsletter
Ethnozoology of Human Elephant Relations (continued) indigenous mahouts take the utmost pains in interactions are more throughout their range finding out under what beneficial than detrimental. Ethnoelephantology (1997). These are but a few conditions elephants are We argue that a of the researchers currently healthiest, and how best can be an effective multidisciplinary approach working in this area. humans can facilitate the through the formulation of strategy to for In order to make sure that maintenance of these an ethnoelephantology can conditions. developing elephants get a fair chance be an effective strategy to of making it to the 22nd What works in one area document previously adaptive forms of century, understanding the may not work in another, workable solutions, and to interrelations between but we have an ethical thereby make human-elephant humans and elephants is obligation to both humans recommendations for interactions in the critical. In order to provide and elephants to find ways adaptive forms of human- the respect and quality of of creating and maintaining elephant interactions in the future. life our fellow beings spaces where both species future. deserve requires that we can thrive, and where
References: Choudhury, A., Lahiri Choudhury, D.K., Desai, A., Duckworth, Lair, R.C. 1997. Gone Astray - The Care and Management of the J.W., Easa, P.S., Johnsingh, A.J.T., Fernando, P., Hedges, S., Asian Elephant in Domesticity). Bangkok, Thailand: FAO Regional Gunawardena, M., Kurt, F., Karanth, U., Lister, A., Menon, Office for Asia and the Pacific. V., Riddle, H., Rübel, A. & Wikramanayake, E. (IUCN SSC Locke, P. 2007. History, Practice, Identity: An Institutional Asian Elephant Specialist Group) 2008. Elephas maximus. In: Ethnography of Elephant Handlers in Chitwan, Nepal: University IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version of Kent PhD Thesis. 2012.1.
Ethnobiological studies about triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), vectors of Chagas disease in Bahia State, northeastern Brazil Submitted byEraldo Medeiros Costa Neto* and Rodrigo Gurgel Gonçalves1
The American trypanosomiasis, and about triatomines in or Chagas disease, is an endemic Mambaí-GO (Bizerra et al., zoonosis in the Americas and its 1981; Silveira et al. 2009), Posse etiologic agent is the -GO (Willians-Blangero et al., haemoflagellate parasite 1999) and Federal District Trypanosoma cruzi, which is (Maeda and Gurgel-Gonçalves transmitted by feces of blood- 2012) showed that the majority sucking insects of the subfamily of the population had a high Triatominae (Hemiptera, degree of knowledge on the Reduviidae). The total subject. prevalence of Chagas disease In a study conducted in was reduced from >16 million to Guatemala, on the other hand, 8 million people, estimated in 11% of the seropositive did not 2005 (Rassi Júnior et al., 2010), recognize both the signs and and numbers of deaths were symptoms of Chagas disease also reduced drastically (Nix et al., 1995). These authors (Moncayo and Silveira, 2009). suggest that the success or In 2006, the Intergovernmental failure of the control of this Initiative of Southern Cone, disease in the Americas OMS, certified Brazil as free of depends on the participation of vectorial transmission by the local population in detecting Triatoma infestans (Schofield at the vectors (blood-sucking bugs) al., 2006; Silveira and Dias, and notify government 2011). In Brazil, the current authorities responsible for the estimate is that 1.9 million application of insecticides. people are infected (Rassi Júnior These cultural representations et al., 2010), much lower than on Chagas disease and its the 6 million estimated in the vectors may have a significant 1980s (WHO 2002). impact on the effectiveness of Nevertheless, acute disease interventions, since local beliefs human cases caused by vectorial about the cause of the disease transmission are still being should be evaluated to registered and triatomines determine whether education continue infesting homes in programs in public health are different states of Brazil (Gurgel- effective to ensure a better Gonçalves et al. 2012). form of control. There are few available studies A recent review indicates that about local perceptions an entomological surveillance concerning Chagas disease in system based on community Brazil. Studies on popular participation requires specific representation of this disease actions for communication and Collecting of triatomines inside the houses and surroundings
*Coordinator of the study; Board member of SOLAE, the Latin America Society of Ethnobiology. ISE and SOLAE members share their research with each other’s societies through website announcements and newsletters. 1Grant by Fundação de Apoio à Pesquisa do Estado da Bahia (FAPESB). The other members of the project are undergraduates Nilmara Saturnino de Souza, Luiz Rodrigo Lima da Motta, and Karine de Cerqueira Silva Oliveira. Page 6 ISE Newsletter
Ethnobiological studies about triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), vectors of Chagas disease in Bahia State, northeastern Brazil (continued) education in long-term who participated in the insect’s seasonality, forms health (Abad-Franch et al., study. The aims of the of reproduction and 2011). research were explained feeding. Although the Actions designed for clearly at the beginning of respondents (64%) report individuals seeking health each interview and those that tritomine bugs come promotion should be involved were asked from the “bush”, few directed to their habits, whether they would like to recognized the chicken behaviors and social participate in the study. coops as artificial habitats of practices. The process of Data were analyzed using triatomine bugs. detecting triatomines with the union model. According Most respondents (91%) the participation of the to this model, all available said that these bugs cause population means information on the surveyed illness and knew some way continued vigilance, subject is to be considered. to prevent home compared to routine Controls were done both infestation. The practices Conducting the activities performed by field through consistency that were cited when ethnobiological survey staff from the Health checking tests and reply someone sees a bug inside Ministry (Falavigna- validity tests, which make his houses were capturing Guilherme et al., 2002). use of repeated inquiries in and sending the insects to For this reason, this project synchronic and diachronic surveillance agents (58%), aimed at recording the conditions, respectively. The and kill the insect (40%). perception of residents of former occurred when the People generally recognize different localities in Bahia same question was put to different types of insects State, Brazil, on the different people soon after that exhibit similar identification, biology, and each other; the latter morphological appearance control of insects, and also occurred when the same to triatomines, thus how they view Chagas question was asked to the eliminating harmless disease. same person at different specimens. Traditional times. resources (medicinal plants Methodology All ethnographic material and prayers) are also used The ethnobiological data (recordings, transcriptions, in the treatment of their were obtained by means of field notes and diseases (Costa Neto, 2004). open-ended interviews photographs) is stored at performed from March The results indicate that the Laboratory of 2011 to July 2012 with both residents of rural areas of Ethnobiology and men and women from rural Bahia have a satisfactory Ethnoecology of areas of 12 municipalities knowledge about the Universidade Estadual de within Bahia States: identification, prevention Feira de Santana, to the Alagoinhas, Vitória da methods and practices in attention of the curator of Conquista, Feira de Santana, relation to the triatomines. the Ethnozoology Section. Specimens of triatomine Barra, Ipirá, São Félix, Santo However, they do not have collected in the Estevão, Cruz das Almas, Main Results an adequate notion of the surroundings of Santa Teresinha, Santo Most of the respondents impact of Chagas disease to domiciles in Bahia. A. Amaro, Conceição do Coité, positively recognized the their lives. Health education Triatoma programs emphasizing this pseudomaculata. B. and Tremedal. insects shown to them as zoonosis could further Nymph (top) and A free and informed kinds of triatomines. encourage population to female (bottom) of consent form was read out However, very few knew prevent themselves and to Triatoma infestans and made available to those characteristics related to control bugs in Bahia. Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 7
Ethnobiological studies about triatomines (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), vectors of Chagas disease in Bahia State, northeastern Brazil (continued)
References Moncayo, A. A., Silveira, A. C. Current epidemiological trends for Abad-Franch, F., Vega, M.C., Rolon, M.S., Santos, W.S., Rojas de Chagas disease in Latin America and future challenges in Arias, A. Community participation in Chagas disease vector epidemiology, surveillance and health policy. Memorias do surveillance: systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 5: e1207, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz 104: 17-30, 2009. 2011. Nix, N. A., Hernández, B., Mendoza, C., Klein, R.E. Knowledge, Costa-Neto, E. M.. Os insetos que ofendem: Artropodoses na attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey for Chagas disease in an visão dos moradores da região da Serra da Jibóia, Bahia, Brasil. endemic area of Guatemala. American Journal of Tropical Sitientibus Série Ciências Biológicas 4: 59-68, 2004. Medicine and Hygiene 53, S187, 1995. Gurgel-Gonçalves, R., Galvão, C., Costa, J., Peterson, A. T. Rassi Jr., A., Rassi, A., Marin-Neto, J. A. Chagas disease. The Geographic distribution of Chagas disease vectors in Brazil Lancet, 375: 1388-1402, 2010. based on ecological niche modeling. J Trop Med 2012: 1-15, Schofield, C. J., Jannin, J., Salvatella, R. The future of Chagas 2012. disease control. Trends in Parasitology, v. 22: 583-588, 2006. Falavigna-Guilherme, A. L., Costa, A. L., Batista, O., Pavanelli, G. Silveira, A. C., Dias, J. C. P. O controle da transmissão vetorial. Rev C., Araújo, S. M. Atividades educativas para o controle de Soc Bras Med Trop 44: 52-63, 2011. triatomíneos em área de vigilância epidemiológica do Estado do Silveira, A.C., Rezende, D.F., Nogales, A.M., Cortez-Escalante, J.J., Paraná, Brasil. Cadernos de Saúde Pública 18: 1543-1550, 2002. Castro, C., Macêdo, V. Avaliação do sistema de vigilância Maeda, M. H., Gurgel-Gonçalves, R.. Conhecimentos e práticas entomológica da doença de Chagas com participação de moradores do Distrito Federal, Brasil, em relação à doença comunitária em Mambaí e Buritinópolis, Estado de Goiás. Rev de Chagas e seus vetores. Revista de Patologia Tropical 41: 15- Soc Bras Med Trop 42: 39-46, 2009. 26, 2012.
The Sentimiel Initiative: Linking traditional ecological knowledge on honey harvesting and beekeeping in a changing world Contributed by Edmond Dounias - UMR5175 Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, France Funded by the French the Sentimiel initiative is to Foundation for Biodiversity valorize traditional ecological Research (Fondation pour la knowledge tied to beekeeping Recherche sur la Biodiversité, and honey collecting (including FRB: http:// the ‘hunting’ of honey of wild www.fondationbiodiversite.fr), bees) through a network that Sentimiel — a play of word federates diverse local actors with ‘sentinel’, ‘miel’ being the who possess empirical French term for ‘honey’ — is a knowledge about bees and their citizen science operation with productions and who, by their the twin aims of i) constructing regular observation of the a network of cooperative activity of these insects, can initiatives around traditional monitor the impact of global beekeeping and honey change on their local harvesting at the international environment. Passionate dialogue between Alberto Siabo level and ii) ensuring, via this The functions that bees can play network, the monitoring of Bonomar (honey hunter from Mozambique) as sentinels of the environment and Lahoucine Bounnit (beekeeper from effects of global changes, no longer need to be Morocco) during the Sentimiel workshop in viewed through the prism of demonstrated. Bees alert us to Montpellier (May 2012) when discovering the their impact on bees and on a multitude of changes in our log hives of Cevennes made with chestnut logs. Romain Simenel (anthropologist at IRD) their production of honey and environment, most of these associated products. is helping for the translation between changes being of human origin, Portuguese and Arabian The fundamental challenge of particularly when these changes Page 8 ISE Newsletter
The Sentimiel Initiative: Linking traditional ecological knowledge on honey harvesting and beekeeping in a changing world (continued) knowledge, and to give targeting problems or issues those who hold it the means raised locally by members of to obtain funding from the network. Funding might sources which would also be attracted in support otherwise be inaccessible to of initiatives to preserve them. local cultural heritage Making this knowledge endangered by more visible would permit, globalization. on the one hand, ending the Because the incidence of isolation of cooperative climate change in tropical initiatives that have decided forests is subtle and only to adhere to the project. slightly perceptible, the The prospective objective of Sentimiel initiative Baka Pygmy searching for chitin leftovers from bees the project is to increase investigates deeper into fallen prey to ants, indicating the potential presence of local perceptions, along the an active beehive our understanding of the consequences of global tight frontier between operate below threshold change for the world’s 'feelings' and 'objective All those with a levels that are not directly biodiversity by constituting observation'. In the new perceptible by humans: context of climate change, passion for the an international citizen- bees often warn us about science network, building a the capacity of local world of bees can changes we ourselves may common base of very communities to anticipate not see. precise and very localized on erratic fluctuations of join together in a seasons is vital for their Nevertheless, analysis of the empirical observations by livelihoods. collaborative information delivered by knowledgeable actors. All bees has so far been those with a passion for the The research focuses on action that focused on the domestic world of bees can thus join biotemporal signals that are together in a collaborative determining events upon valorizes their honeybee in the context of professional or semi- action that valorizes their which forest dwellers have knowledge and professional beekeeping. knowledge and acquired the capacity to Knowledge based on contributions, at the anticipate on climate contributions to subsistence honey international level, to fluctuations, to organize the management collecting, which concerns management practices that calendar of their activities an incredible diversity of are more respectful of and to take their decisions practices that are honey-producing bees, has nature. to invest in some activities so far been ignored. In addition, this network and not in others (Dounias more respectful of 2011). Sentimiel’s ambition is to longs for facilitating access nature. gain international to funding by large Biotemporal signals are recognition for this international agencies that from different kinds: visual, widespread but neglected may finance participatory sonorous, olfactory, tactile… research-action projects Since signals never occur in
Sentimiel Initiative UMR5175 CEFE - Campus CNRS 1919, route de Mende 34293 Montpellier cedex 5, France (+33) 988662963 / (+33) 467613336 [email protected] http://www.cefe.cnrs.fr/sentimiel Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 9
The Sentimiel Initiative: Linking traditional ecological knowledge on honey harvesting and beekeeping in a changing world (continued) isolation, forest peoples use sentinels by providing first- Thematic discussions focussed successively on i) a beam of converging hand and accurate individual experience of beekeeping or honey signals. This combination of observations and supplying harvesting practices, ii) detailed descriptions of the determining events databases that dramatically biocultural context, iii) perceived emerging threats, iv) mitigates the risks of fail at incorporating adaptive responses to these threats, and v) misinterpretation. anthropological data into intergenerational transmission processes. Among the different types the elaboration of predictive Besides building on an open access database online, of biotemporal signals, models on climate change the network will go on expanding, taking advantage of insects — and more (Salick and Byg 2007). various major events to come like the 10th Conference significantly bees — are On the margins of the 13th on Hunting and Gathering Societies (Liverpool, UK, probably the most accurate edition of the ISE Congress June 2013) and the 43rd International Apimondia and the most fascinating. (20-25 May 2012 in Congress (Kiev, Ukrainia, September 2013). Insects are sensitive to very Montpellier, France), the subtle fluctuations of Sentimiel initiative held a Further readings climatic conditions not two-day ‘by invitation only’ Dounias E. 2011. Escuchando a los insectos : acercamiento perceptible to humans. Such pre-congress workshop. etnoentomológico al cambio climático entre pueblos indígenas africanos de bosques húmedos tropicales. In Ulloa indicators of changes in This workshop was hosted seasons are completely A. ed. Perspectivas culturales del clima. Bogotá, Universidad in the Darwin’s house National de Colombia, ILSA: pp 223-245. neglected by formal land located at the Montpellier Salick J., Byg A. eds. 2007. Indigenous peoples and climate managers or, at best, simply zoo, and included a fieldtrip considered as 'folklore' and change. Oxford, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change in the Cévennes National Research, 32 p. informative only to Park. The goal of this anthropologists. workshop was to initiate a Even if local interpretations dialogue between of such signals often refer to researchers in ethnobiology, mystic and symbolic traditional beekeepers and considerations or invoke honey hunters, and supernatural forces, the representatives of NGOs. basic ecological 32 participants attended the observations of the expert workshop, including 13 eyes of local communities beekeepers from remains a fundamental Cameroon, Mozambique, source of information for Morocco, Indonesia, biologists. Colombia, two regions of The Sentimiel initiative India, and three regions of advocates in favor of a France. greater involvement of local Each beekeeper communities into the participating in the process of assessing the workshop actively poorly visible impact of contributed to the climate change on tropical development of 5 thematic forests. Through their discussions. Each discussion Drawings say a lot about how children perceive the world extensive traditional was organized as a round around them. The combs hanging under the branches of a ecological knowledge and table, and the workshop Koompassia majestic tree (that culminates up to 75 m know-how, local was concluded by a debate high in the canopy) is a recurrent theme in the drawings of the Punan children of Borneo. The giant bees (Apis communities could play a on the dynamics and future determining role as dorsata) nest exclusively on Koompassia trees, where they of traditional beekeeping. feel safe from predators. Page 10 ISE Newsletter
Research Reports from the Field Present scenario of user knowledge and availability of Wild Edible Plants in Male Mahadehswara Hills, South India Contributed by Harisha Ranganahalli Puttahariyappa
I have been chronicling the use of Plants from the Amaranthus, Wild Edible Plants (WEPs) species in Cleome, Solanum and Dioscoria the Male Mahadeshwara (MM) Hills genera: annesoppu (Celosia Reserve Forest region since 2009. argentea L.), kaddisoppu (Jasminum The motivation for this study came pubescens Willd.), sundekai Caption describing through interactions with the (Solanum species), sodlihannu picture or graphic. community, which time and again (Scutia myrtina(N. Burman) Kurz, J.), returned to the subject of murkihannu (Buchanania lanzan disappearing useful species. Sprengel, J.) and noregenasu MM Hills communities , being in a (Dioscorea pentaphylla L.) are A group of people belongs to reserve forest area, have always particularly popular. Lingayath community harvesting tuber had access to forest land. This too These plants are collected from (Dioscorea pentaphylla) in the forest was useful in ATREE’s (Ashoka Trust surrounding areas of natural forest, for Research in Ecology and the farm lands (where farmers often Environment) continuing perusal of classify these plants as weeds), the role of forests in the lives and fallow lands, grazing lands, livelihoods of forest dwelling roadsides and backyards. A communities. household typically uses 12 to 130 I tried to contextualize what this kg of wild plants in its diet per While wild edible plants do resource of wild edible plants annum, using as many as 25 species (WEPS) means for poor rural collected from the wild per not bridge the existing gaps in households of the Soliga and household (Harisha et al 2011). Lingayat communities. How the Grazers, away from home for the nutrition, without them, this knowledge concerning WEPs entire day, used to live off the land, on WEPs only. gap would be much wider. availability, seasonality, phenology, use and recipes is now part of Key findings are: traditional knowledge. And also 1. Less intensively cultivated areas how agriculture intensification and harbor more WEP species; usage of economic development are wild edibles is also higher in such undermining the importance of wild areas. edible plants in food culture and nutritional security of these 2. Certain wild species are more communities. Research shows that preferred than others. Households while WEPs do not bridge the switch to other species in times of existing gaps in nutrition, without species scarcity. Collection behavior them, this gap would be much favors proximate availability: wider. species found closer are preferred. The continued consumption of An inventory of WEPs that these WEPs food that are not particularly communities have traditionally palatable and that are used Lingayath old women cleaning fruits used lists a diverse 92 wild plant primarily as drought foods may also of Tamaindus indica collected from species, belonging to 68 genera, the forest have important implications for spread across 38 families. These availability. include leaves, fruits and tubers. Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 11
Present scenario of user knowledge and availability of Wild Edible Plants in Male Mahadehswara Hills, South India (continued)
3. The relative importance of time and effort in economically WEPs species was higher for rewarding activities instead of poorer households than richer subsistence level activities. A well one. The poorer the family, the -established public distribution greater the dependency system has also provided an (unpublished data). alternative buffer against loss in nutrition and food security. 4. More WEPs are consumed in times of agriculture production Changes in agricultural and land decline. use policy, infrastructure development and better access to 5. Knowledge regarding use of markets has been a driver of land WEPs is decided usually by use change in this region. Shift to gender, age or social role. market driven commercial crops Soliga man collecting Cissus quadrangularis (maize, tapioca, sunflower, etc.) plant shoot for preparing food in 6. Both communities reported a Kombudukki village MM Hills has significantly affected wild decline in the use of WEPs. The edible plants’ diversity, availability reasons vary: and use. Reliance on store-bought In addition, natural forest, foods and a moving away from grazing land, fallows and land-based livelihoods (like roadsides, which were a rich grazing, farming etc.). School source of wild edible plants, are education has replaced now filled with invasive such as traditional apprenticeships, Lantana (Lantana camara L.) and displacing knowledge about Eupatorium (Chromolaena indigenous food plants. 80% of odoratum L.) Lantana cover is younger generation are very high in natural forest and migrating to cities and fallow land— 60% and 58% neighboring states in search of respectively— when compared to jobs. Knowledge of WEPs is other land use categories confined to elders (above 35 School education has (Aravind et al 2010). years of age); especially replaced traditional women who have been A resource mapping exercise with residents of forest fringe areas Soliga and Lingayaths participants apprenticeships, displacing throughout their lives. revealed that in the course of a decade, more than a dozen Post Veerapan, the forest knowledge about collection locations have been brigand who terrorized the abandoned due to inaccessibility region, women’s earnings from indigenous food plants. and loss of wild edible plants in NTFP sales (e.g. firewood) have these locations. Research studies increased, NTFP collection reveal that allopathic property of itself is now driven by an Lantana impact growth of native established local market, plants. women and men receive equal wage in the Rural Employment 7. One hedging mechanism to Guarantee Scheme. So women preserve dietary diversity has been are now spending fewer hours in the form of attempts to cooking or gathering wild transplant select wild species that plants, and choose to invest are disappearing, particularly Page 12 ISE Newsletter
Present scenario of user knowledge and availability of Wild Edible Plants in Male Mahadehswara Hills, South India (continued)
perennial shrubs and climber fallow lands and forests, both of species, despite issues which are open accessed and regarding water availability. poorly managed (except farm WEPs play an important role lands), these wild plants are during droughts and food underestimated and not captured shortages for rural agricultural in national economic households. Such plants are assessments. innately resistant and adaptive WEPs use is more like a living link to micro climatic change such with the surrounding habitat and as low rainfall, high a keystone of culture, but not just temperature etc., especially in food and income. Therefore, the comparison to introduce or decline of traditional ways of life exotic plant species. This has and decreased use of WEPs are Women carrying fire wood to sell in the been proven in several interlinked. This is vital when we market ecology, conservation and talk about households that work restoration studies. However in near- subsistence since wild plants fulfill a circumstances. subsistence need and occupy
References Aravind N.A, Dinesh Rao, K.N Ganeshaiah, R. Uma Shaankar, & Johng Pulsen 2010. Impact of the invasive plant, Lantana camara, on bird assemblages at Male Mahadeshwara Reserve Forest, South India. Tropical Ecology 51(2S): 325-338, 2010 Harisha R.P., Ramesh Knnan, N.A. Aravind N.A & G. Ravikanth 2011. Ethnobotanical studies of the two forest dwelling communities in Southern As Special Publication of Society of Earth Scientists by ‘Springer’ is under peer review.
Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity Contributed by Ermias Lulekal1; Co-authors: Zemede Asfaw2, Ensermu Kelbessa2, Patrick Van Damme1,3 Shared with permission from Afrika Focus (Volume 24, Nr. 2, 2011. pp. 71-121)
This work reviews literature Tiliaceae (20) and which indicates the need for on ethnobotanical Capparidaceae (19) were more ethnobotanical knowledge of wild edible found to be represented by research addressing all plants and their potential the highest number of districts. There is substantial role in combating food edible species. About 56% Although there have been evidence that wild insecurity in Ethiopia. (233) of species have some attempts to conduct Information on a total of edibility reports from more nutritional analyses of wild edibles contribute 413 wild edible plants than one community in edible plants, available belonging to 224 genera Ethiopia. results were found to be significantly to the and 77 families was Fruits were reported as the insignificant when global food basket. compiled in this review. commonly utilized edible compared to the wild edible Shrubs represented 31% of part in 51% of species. It plant wealth of the country. species followed by trees was found that studies on Results also show that wild (30%), herbs (29%) and wild edible plants of edible plants of Ethiopia are climbers (9%). Families Ethiopia cover only about used as supplementary, Fabaceae (35 species), 5% of the country’s districts seasonal or survival food Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 13
Wild edible plants in Ethiopia: a review on their potential to combat food insecurity (continued) sources in many cultural wealth of the country calls groups, and hence play a for immediate action so as role in combating food to effectively document, insecurity. The presence of produce a development The fruit and leaves anthropogenic and plan and utilize the plants. of Syzygium environmental factors Read the full paper here. guineense (Willd.) DC. affecting the wild plant are used in many parts of Ethiopia 1Department of Plant Production, Ghent University, Belgium 2 Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia 3 ICRAF, Nairobi, Kenya
The role of ceremonies in preserving cultural diversity and conserving biodiversity for sustainable livelihoods Contributed by Henri ole Saitabau1 Exploring cultural diversity factors they share in diversity and biodiversity and related indigenous common with other conservation at local level. knowledge among the Loita indigenous community It is these systems that Maasai community: around the world. intertwine indigenous Emanyatta oo Lorikan The Loita Maasai regard societies with the Cultural diversity is an their culture and traditions promotion of mutually Only by respecting ethnobiological aspect with high esteem and beneficial interaction enshrined within the respect and value their between humans and their and nurturing their indigenous knowledge indigenous knowledge, environment. relationship with systems. Such systems have kinship and way of life. The Loita Maasai have remained impeccable in Indigenous knowledge unique ways of interacting the diversity found practice and have ensured systems play a significant with their environment in nature can preservation of culture and role in enhancing which create considerable community distinctiveness community values, forming possibilities for consistently Loita Maasai among the Loita Maasai, a benchmark for cultural transmitting their culture and indigenous knowledge communities systems over generations. promote harmony These practices reinforce the concept that the earth and good health to itself is a living being, in both humans and need of protection from the sometimes negatively their natural impacts that “modernization” has on environment. human survival and the health of the environment. Indigenous people realize that the true meaning of life The Loita landscape Page 14 ISE Newsletter
The role of ceremonies in preserving cultural diversity and conserving biodiversity for sustainable livelihoods (continued)
is living through a sacred preserve their ways of life. and lead customary relationship with nature. activities in the community. Their customs are Only by respecting and characterized by specific This documentation will be nurturing their relationship social organization and vital information for their with the diversity found in cyclical ceremonial patterns posterity and creates a base nature can communities that begin at child birth and from which the plight of the promote harmony and good continue to old age, Loita Maasai and other health to both humans and ensuring consistency and indigenous populations can their natural environment. observance of their be used to entrench their Various research activities fundamental processes. rights and dignity as valued carried out among Maasai Each ceremonial event has a practices, deserving of communities reveal that the specified time within which recognition and respect Loita Maasai are more it must be undertaken, with from civil societies and traditional in lifestyle than distinct characteristics, governments. many other Maasai sub- target age groups and with Read the full paper here. tribes. Despite pressure clear leadership from within from external influences to their social organization. this relationship, Loita This paper explores one Maasai communities strive among the highly valued to maintain their practices, cultural ceremonies, the preserving their cultural Emanyatta oo Lorikan heritage through traditional during which the junior ceremonies and are, in fact, elders becomes members of often considered aggressive the senior elder group and in their commitment to gain capacity to participate
A Note on the Bribri and Cabécar Peoples Contributed by Ali Garcia Abstract in English by ISE face multiple challenges doctors, and Student Representative, when attempting to achieve 4) problems accessing Olivia Sylvester this autonomy; one example state-provided medical Written by Bribri scholar Alí is the failure of state services. García, this note in Spanish institutions to recognize Indigeous peoples’ rights Read the full article in provides a background on Spanish. the history and the current and perspectives. situation of the Bribri and In addition, Alí García Cabécar peoples in summarizes Talamanca, Costa Rica. 1) Bribri and Cabécar He explains how the cultural traditional medicine, identity of Indigenous 2) Indigenous land-use, peoples is linked to their autonomy and how the 3) obstacles to achieving Bribri and Cabécar peoples recognition for traditional Volume 4, Issue 1 Page 15
Ethnobiologist’s Bookshelf
The Living Convention on Biocultural Diversity Contributed by Harry Jonas and Holly Shrumm
The Living Convention on The Problem customary laws, will have to Biocultural Diversity: A Hard fought UN consult a number of Compendium of Indigenous negotiations are resulting in different international Peoples’ and Local an ever-increasing amount instruments to determine Communities’ Rights of international law that is the substance and context Relevant to Maintaining the supportive of Indigenous of that right. Integrity and Resilience of peoples’ and local Local Effects Territories and other communities’ rights to self- The diffuse nature of Biocultural Systems contains determination and, among Indigenous peoples’ and a comprehensive other things: local communities’ rights in compilation of international Traditional governance international law legal provisions organized systems and customary constitutes an injustice in into categories of rights that laws, itself, as it inhibits support the stewards of communities from A first draft of biocultural diversity. Knowledge, innovations and practices, ascertaining and The Living Convention is subsequently asserting the Living Education and languages, dedicated to all Indigenous those rights. Countries that Convention has peoples and local Development, agree to minimum communities striving to standards at the Non-removal from lands been completed realize the right to self- international level but do or territories, determination and to not uphold them at the and we Governance of territories, maintain the integrity of national and local levels welcome its their territories, areas and lands and natural resources, should be held accountable. ways of life. It is also in Local agricultural systems, Yet the often widespread rigorous peer memory of Dr. Darrell Free, prior and informed lack of knowledge about Addison Posey, one of the review. consent relating to lands, international law by founders of the ISE, whose waters and natural communities and their collaborative work on resources, and supporting organisations traditional resource rights means that these issues are Information, decision inspired the methodological either not raised at all, or making and access to approach to this are raised imprecisely and justice. publication. ineffectively. Despite an It is intended to serve as a However, these rights are increasingly number of useful resource for constituted from individual provisions, the Indigenous Peoples, local provisions that appear inaccessibility of communities, NGOs and across the full range of international law itself others who want to international law, including further enables the reference and use from human rights, cultural, marginalisation, international law at the environmental, and discrimination, evictions, national and local levels. A agricultural instruments. and other forms of abuses first draft of the publication Community members who of power that Indigenous has been completed and we want to know what their peoples and local welcome its rigorous peer international right to, for communities continue to review. example, respect for their face. Page 16 ISE Newsletter
The Living Convention on Biocultural Diversity (continued)
Reimagining International The Living Convention on international instruments, The Living Law Biocultural Diversity landmark regional and While we cannot at this A review of the full spectrum national judgments, Convention stage change the deep of relevant international law declarations of Indigenous structure of the was undertaken, and the peoples and local constitutes a international legal relevant provisions were communities, and legal new reading of framework, we can reordered under a number of empowerment methodologies reimagine the organisation core rights, including self- and tools to enable the the legal of those laws and the determination, land tenure, realisation of Indigenous relationships between non-removal from land, peoples’ and local landscape – one provisions that address custodianship, customary communities’ rights in similar issues, albeit in uses of natural resources, practice. that sets us on a different ways and in control of traditional Looking Ahead separate international knowledge, and free, prior new course of The Living Convention seeks instruments. and informed consent. to begin to address the law-making and Developing a new reading of A community wanting to injustice of the complexity the current legal landscape know about the right to and inaccessibility of lawyering. fundamentally changes our customary uses of natural international law. Simplifying perceptions of the law and resources, for example, can and demystifying the opens up new legal and now find all of the provisions otherwise important rights political possibilities. that exist in international law contained in international law – including from human will better position Indigenous rights, environmental, peoples and local cultural, and land tenure- communities to understand related instruments – in one and use them. Legal place. empowerment will lead to In addition to a published social and environmental version of the Living justice. Convention, we are In the long term, the Living developing a website Convention constitutes one dedicated to providing part of a broader effort to Indigenous peoples, local highlight the fact that the communities and other fragmented way in which laws interested parties a range of are currently being developed resources for better using (i.e. separate laws for land, international law and wildlife, traditional supportive jurisprudence for knowledge, etc.) is further constructive engagement at damaging the integrity and the local level. resilience of social-ecological It will consist of an online and landscapes. interactive version of the The Living Convention Living Convention, with links constitutes a new reading of to every relevant the legal landscape – one that international instrument. It sets us on a new course of law will also contain a range of -making and lawyering. This illustration of the legal landscape helps other relevant resources such people to see how laws and institutional The Living Convention on frameworks operate at the local level. as lists of which countries Biocultural Diversity is have ratified each available for download. The ISE - An alliance for Biocultural Diversity
The International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) is a global network of individuals and organizations working to preserve vital links between human societies and the natural world. For over two decades we have brought together people interested in preserving the planet’s biocultural diversity by providing a unique platform for meaningful and respectful dialogue. The ISE community includes researchers, academics, students, lawyers, policy INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY makers, community leaders and others who come together to share their of ETHNOBILOGY diverse perspectives on the fields of ethnobiology, biocultural diversity, conservation, resilience, resource rights and applied ethics. 14 School Street As a (USA) 501(c)3 scientific and educational association we rely on your PO Box 303 Bristol, Vermont 05443 support to remain a thriving resource for biocultural diversity. USA Phone: +1-802-453-6996 Fax: +1-802-453-3420 E-mail: [email protected]
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The 2012-2014 ISE Board
Executive Board: ISE Programs: President: Jack Miller Global Coalition Co-Directors: Vice President: Alain Cuerrier Alejandro Argumedo and Krystyna Swiderska Secretary: Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel Darrell Posey Fellowship Program Co-Chairs: Treasurer: Jon Corbett Mary Stockdale and Miguel Alexiades Regional Representatives: ISE Ethics Committee Co-Chairs: Africa: Abderrahim Ouarghidi Kelly Bannister and Gleb Raygorodetsky Central and South Americas and the Caribbean: Armando Medinaceli Student Representatives: North Americas: Jessica Dolan Olivia Sylvester and Anna Varga Asia: Yasuaki Sato Congress Organizers: Europe: Bernard Moizo 2014 Congress Chair: Thinley Wangdi Oceania and Pacific Islands: Bob Gosford 2012 Congress Chair: Edmond Dounias