A greater theoretical awareness is growing in recent years more and more researchers lave turned to ethnobiology. In this essay the author provides a background to ethnobiology as a scientific field, which traditionally investigates local knowledge, use, beliefs, folk taxonomies and names of...

Local knowledge is making important contributions to environmental management. Improving understanding of local knowledge that is in the early stages of development may be useful towards management of novel species or understanding other contemporary events. In this study we interviewed Nova...

Non-timber forest resources (NTFRs) are the non-woody part of the forest vegetation susceptible to be used by rural populations. This study researched the main NTFRs -specifically plants- used in the towns of Capulálpam and Jaltianguis, in the state of Oaxaca. 40 key informants selected using the...

Recognizing the connections between a culture and its environment provides an important perspective on a neglected aspect of coupled natural and social systems. Based on the history of grassland degradation in Northern China, we found that cultural invasions (the replacement of an indigenous...

Background: The Caribbean Basin has complex biogeographical and cultural histories that have shaped its highly diverse botanical and cultural landscapes. As a result, the current ethnic composition of the Basin is a heterogeneous mixture including Amerindian, Afrocaribbean and a wide range of...

Any plant growing out of place, non useful, unwanted, harmful, often prolific and persistent, or interfering with agricultural operation reducing crop yield is called a weed or floral invasive species. These species grow and flourish in any area, like croplands, roadsides, railway tracks,...

Invasions of bracken fern, Pteridium aquilinum, are an important source of agricultural degradation in many tropical areas. We present a case study of apparent historical degradation of agricultural land which, combined with recent conservation measures, may have created new pressures on food...

A survey was conducted in 31 fringe villages of Pocharam wildlife sanctuary, Telangana, India, during 2010 to 2012, in order to explore and document the ethnobotanical knowledge of Yerukulas and Lambadis communities. There was revealed the use of 173 Angiosperm species. The pattern of the plant use ...

Invasive alien trees impact the environment and human livelihoods. The human dimensions of such invasions are less well understood than the ecological aspects, and this is hindering the development of effective management strategies. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to investigate the...

Quilombolas, or Maroons, are traditional groups of people of African-Brazilian descent, who self-identify as such, with their own historical background, which includes black ancestors and an identity related to the historical resistance to oppression. Studying three Quilombola communities as a case ...