In northwestern Madagascar, diverse mango (Mangifera indica) landraces, locally maintained crop varieties not developed through formal breeding, are cultivated outside formal orchard systems. Despite this diversity, few studies have systematically examined local fruit traits and classifications. This study integrated ethnobotanical interviews and fruit trait analyses to explore vernacular naming systems and varietal differentiation in northwestern Madagascar. Interviews with 230 residents documented 124 vernacular names and identified 42 morphologically distinct landraces. Locals classified mangoes into three groups, closely aligning with morphological grouping: international commercial varieties (ICVs) characterized by large reddish fruits; Malagasy seed-propagated landraces (GASY) with small green fruits; and Diego, Hiesy, and Zanzibar (DHZ) with intermediate fruit characteristics. Grafted ICVs remain limited and pose no immediate threat to local varieties. However, DHZ landraces, enabled by polyembryonic seeds to maintain consistent fruit traits under extensive management, play a central role in household consumption and market sales. Although less commercialized, GASY landraces exhibit high varietal variation and serve as potential genetic reservoirs. The findings reveal clear differences among the three groups in fruit traits, propagation practices, and usage patterns. They also establish that vernacular naming systems closely reflect local perceptions and cultural understanding of mango diversity.
Agroforestry systems integrate ancient and modern plant management practices that contribute to the conservation of useful species. Pataxte (Theobroma bicolor, Malvaceae) is a tree planted as a source of shade for coffee and cacao. In this study, we documented traditional knowledge related to the management, use, and conservation of pataxte in southeastern Mexico. We conducted twenty-five semistructured interviews with producers from Chiapas, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Guerrero. We qualitatively analyzed the use of trees and seeds to identify relationships between their uses and their selection. Associations among producers’ conservation concerns were also assessed. Theobroma bicolor seeds are used to prepare traditional drinks and treats, as well as in ritual or ceremonial uses. There is no direct artificial selection of seeds, which we attribute to the coexistence of multiple uses of seeds and trees, although producers mentioned a clear preference for local seed conservation. Knowledge transmission across generations contributes to the preservation of the species, as well as to concerns about the value of the seeds for self-consumption within the nuclear families and the importance of traditional beverages in sociocultural gatherings. This evidence reveals the evolution of the species’ historical and modern uses, which relate to its semidomesticated status.
The hot-cold classification system is widely distributed in Latin America, particularly in traditional medicine and diet, including medicinal and food plants. This scoping review integrates information from academic publications that contain empirical data. It examines the system in Central America, the Antilles, and some migrant populations of the USA. We analyzed the geographical and cultural distribution of the system in these three regions, as well as concepts of health, illness, treatments, and diet. Sixty-seven publications were identified, most from the Antilles (42
Tamarind (Tamarindus indica) is a multipurpose tree that thrives in arid and semi-arid regions worldwide and supports rural livelihoods through its ecological, economic, and cultural importance. Beyond contributing to household subsistence and income generation, tamarind products are used in traditional medicine and culinary practices, and sold in local markets. However, its market potential for small-scale producers remains underexplored. This review synthesizes evidence from 32 empirical studies, limited to those published in English between 2000 and 2024, to examine how Indigenous, traditional, and local knowledge, together with value chain dynamics, shape market opportunities for producers. The findings describe how traditional knowledge underpins the widespread use, management, and conservation of tamarind. Nevertheless, market integration is constrained by low species regeneration rates, limited processing and value-addition capacity, weak market linkages, and producers’ limited access to the end market relative to downstream intermediaries. The reviewed studies suggest that realizing tamarind’s potential as a sustainable income-generating product requires interventions that build on Indigenous, traditional, and local knowledge while improving silvicultural practices, strengthening value addition, and expanding equitable market access. Coordinated efforts among policymakers, researchers, extension services, and producers are essential to ensure that increased market participation translates into sustainable socioeconomic benefits for rural communities while supporting long-term resource management.
Uncaria gambir remains a culturally and economically important species for Minangkabau communities in West Sumatra, Indonesia, where its uses extend beyond medicinal applications to ritual, symbolic, and livelihood domains. This study combined semistructured interviews with 120 respondents, participant observation in five recurrent ritual contexts, and quantitative assessment using the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and cultural importance (CI) indices. The species was cited by 68
Wild edible plants (WEPs) contribute to food security and livelihoods in tropical forest regions. To better understand WEP trade dynamics in Liberia, we interviewed 174 vendors in the capital, three other major cities, and some regional markets. Eighteen species were documented, mostly sold in dried form and primarily utilized as spices or condiments. Xylopia aethiopica and Piper guineense were those most traded across all locations. Six species had not been cited in WEP market studies elsewhere in West Africa before. While some WEPs were sourced from nearby forests, others, particularly in regional markets, were mainly obtained from the capital. Four species were exclusively imported from other countries. Prices varied across species and locations (0.14–69.96 USD/kg). Some species were cheaper in the capital, others in the regional markets. The estimated minimum annual retail value and trade volume were 200,490 USD and 45,380 kg, respectively. Numerous vendors reported decreasing availability in the past ten years for nine species, especially in regional markets surveyed. Given that no vendor harvested WEPs themselves, future work is urgently needed on the ecological status of the most traded species and those perceived as declining.
Ethnographic collections in Europe and the Americas hold numerous Indigenous body ornaments from the Amazon, often with little associated data on their geographical and cultural origin. Several of these objects contain plant seeds and fruits. Identification of the botanical material in those body ornaments could be a helpful tool in provenance research, also serving as reference for archaeobotanical and museum studies. A literature review on seed and fruit species documented as used as beads in body ornaments in the Amazon was conducted. Although the information was scattered among ethnobotanical, taxonomical, and anthropological sources, at least 224 species within 42 plant families were successfully retrieved from 54 publications. Fabaceae and Arecaceae were the most species-rich families, with 58 species supplying seed beads for the production of necklaces, bracelets, aprons, rosaries, etc. While the genera Astrocaryum, Attalea, and Ormosia yielded the highest number of species used, seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi and Cascabela thevetia were most often mentioned in the literature, probably because they are easily identifiable. We hope that our list of seed and fruit species will help to identify museum objects and archeological vestiges, and serve community projects engaged in producing material culture from seeds and fruits, while revitalizing and revaluing Indigenous knowledge.
Mangrove ecosystems are vital to coastal communities, providing essential resources that support livelihoods. This study examines the ethnoecological importance of mangroves in Andrevo and Ambondrolava, southwestern Madagascar, by assessing patterns of resource use and analyzing community-based management strategies, together with their ecological outcomes and associated challenges. A mixed-methods approach, combining questionnaire surveys, focus group discussions, and forest inventory assessments, was applied. The results show that mangroves are key resources for house construction, traditional medicine, fishing materials, and fuelwood in both study areas. The implementation of community-based mangrove management (CBMM) appears to have contributed to forest recovery, as evidenced by higher stem density and natural regeneration. Most households also reported an expansion of mangrove cover over the past decade, largely attributed to local conservation and restoration efforts. However, the effectiveness of CBMM is constrained by insufficient institutional support, weak enforcement of regulations at the community level, inconsistencies between statutory laws and customary governance systems, and restoration practices that often rely on one or two species planted in ecologically unsuitable locations. These findings highlight the close relationship between local communities and mangroves in southwestern Madagascar and underscore the key challenges facing local mangrove management and governance.
Wild food plants play a vital role in food sources in many rural communities. This study examines the diversity, species richness, and seasonal availability of wild food plants and edible fungi sold in two markets in Cambodia. The Stung Treng market is located in the provincial center, whereas the Siem Pang market is situated near protected areas. Fieldwork was conducted from March to December 2024, and from January to March 2025. Species richness and asymptotic richness analyses were used to compare market composition and sampling completeness. A total of 100 wild food plants were recorded. Species richness was significantly higher in the Stung Treng market than in the Siem Pang market. This demonstrates that proximity to protected areas does not necessarily result in higher wild food plant diversity in local markets. Instead, markets located farther away—particularly those in central provincial capitals—can exhibit greater species richness. Seasonal patterns were evident, although several species remained available year-round. These seasonal fluctuations suggest that local markets help buffer food systems by maintaining access to diverse wild foods. Species accumulation analyses indicated that additional survey days may reveal a few rare species; however, this study likely captured the majority of the commonly traded species.
The commerce of decorative dried plants from the Brazilian Cerrado Biome provides cultural transmission, and essential revenue for low-income families. We investigated this production value chain over the past decade, assessing its economic and social relevance and mapping the main actors involved, and characterizing the interviewed participants, as well as the foreign trade trends over 50 years. Data was gathered through interviews with 67 actors across six municipalities and from official trade databases (AliceWeb and ComEx Stat). Our results show an active value chain encompassing diverse actors, products, and importing countries. Despite long-term engagement in the trade (20–50 years for most participants) and its role as the primary income source for 38.5
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Mangrove Marine Park, due to an apparent lack of mangrove research focus and global uncertainty of the future of mangrove forests, there is a strong need to explore uses and perceptions of local mangrove stakeholders in relation to forest management. Therefore, we investigated local ecological mangrove knowledge, household use of mangrove resources and perceptions of change, a first in the Congo River Delta. Using a semi-structured questionnaire in 187 face-to-face interviews in eight villages, located along three axes with different distance and accessibility levels, we identified variations in the utilization and perceptions of mangroves among communities. We found that 42
Ancient herbaria are invaluable archives for botany and ethnobotany, offering unique historical baselines on plant diversity, distribution, and human–plant relationships that are sometimes absent from modern datasets. We studied a rediscovered, century-old herbarium collected by Austrian ethnologist Martin Gusinde in southern Patagonia. Preserved at the Missiemuseum in Steyl, the Netherlands, the collection comprises 105 specimens representing 90 species, 71 genera, and 43 families, with approximately 35
Unregulated and illegal wild orchid harvest is a serious threat to the conservation of many orchid species, but it is also important to rural livelihoods. Yet there is little data on harvest dynamics and limited effort to regulate it sustainably. We conducted a study of commercial harvest and trade of wild plants, including orchids and non-orchids, in Gandaki province of Nepal, in a sub-alpine village where over 90
Long-term monitoring of mangrove ecosystem changes and their impact on local communities is challenging due to the need for decades of fieldwork. Gazi Bay, Kenya, has become a model site for studying long-term mangrove dynamics and social-ecological transitions, thanks to ongoing scientific research since the 1980s. This study analyzes mangrove use in the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s through 262 semi-structured ethnobiological interviews covering mangrove utilization, fisheries, and environmental perceptions. Findings reveal a local ecological taxonomy based on mangrove species traits, with usage patterns evolving over time. While some species remained constant or increased in use for construction and fuelwood, others declined significantly in applications such as construction, medicine, material treatment, and food/fodder (including fisheries). These shifts, along with changing gender roles, signal a loss of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). Community members reported perceived increases in mangrove cover, attributing them to natural regeneration, planting efforts, cutting bans, and conservation awareness. Continued research is essential to inform sustainable management, understand evolving human–mangrove relationships, and navigate the trade-offs between conservation and TEK erosion.
This study investigates the long-term relationships between humans and two South American Araucaria species, Araucaria araucana and Araucaria angustifolia, using relational models. This framework facilitated the analysis of dynamic spatiotemporal patterns of human interaction with Araucaria forests, incorporating cultural preferences, guiding principles, and responsibilities toward nature. This qualitative systematic review integrates archaeological, historical-ecological, ethnohistorical, and ethnobotanical sources to examine how diverse social groups have interacted with these trees over time. The analysis identified six relational models, which often coexist and do not strictly represent sequential historical phases. Initially, Indigenous Peoples established utilization practices based on stewardship, ritualized exchange, and devotion. European colonization introduced exploitation and domination, although Indigenous stewardship persisted. Today, local communities often continue these stewardship traditions, while businesses frequently engage in exploitation, and governments enact protective custody policies to counter Araucaria overexploitation. Overall, the study highlights a transition from models characterized by mutual nurturing to those of domination and exploitation. Ultimately, this research emphasizes the importance of reciprocity in fostering the resilience and well-being of both Araucaria forests and their inhabitants.
Diospyros mespiliformis is a culturally and economically significant wild tree species in Burkina Faso, yet its trade and local value remain poorly documented. This study explores traditional knowledge and assesses the economic contribution of its fruit across fifteen villages and four urban markets. Ethnobotanical surveys with 514 participants revealed eight use categories, with food being the most frequently cited, followed by medicinal, fuelwood, and cultural uses. Traditional knowledge varied significantly with ethnicity and age but not with gender. Market data showed that 98
This ethnobiological study examines how local ecological knowledge (LEK) of mangrove aquatic fauna is shaped by gender and age in two Diola villages (Elia and Elalab) in northern Guinea-Bissau. We challenge the common assumption that local ecological knowledge grows linearly with age and mainly belongs to adult men by using ethnographic (participant observation) and ethnobiological (photo-based species identification) methods to explore if girls, boys, women, and men know local species names. Adults showed higher overall accuracy than children, but village- and gender-specific patterns emerged. In Elia, women named more species correctly, and children (especially girls) demonstrated high accuracy from an early age. In Elalab, knowledge was more strongly male-dominated, with boys and men outperforming females. These contrasts reflect local fishing strategies: in Elia, both genders engage in fishing and shellfish collection across river, rice paddies, and intertidal habitats, while in Elalab, fishing is more concentrated among males. The results demonstrate that LEK is not simply a product of age or gender but develops through situated practice. This article underscores the importance of inclusive conservation and resource management that account for intra-cultural and intra-community diversity in ecological knowledge.
Cola nitida (Malvaceae), widely used in rituals, medicine, and social exchanges, holds significant cultural and economic importance in Benin, especially within the traditional religion Thron. However, increasing environmental pressures are compromising the availability of this species and the sustainability of its traditional practices. This study used six key biocultural criteria to examine the connection between Cola nitida and the continuity of traditional practices and beliefs among Thron communities in southern Benin. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics, and multivariate analysis were used to assess the contribution of each criterion to the cultural keystone status. The findings highlight the symbolic connection between Cola nitida and the vodun Thron in southern Benin. They also emphasize the importance of the species’ nuts in the five steps of members’ initiation in the Thron religion. Furthermore, the results indicate that the availability of Cola nitida nuts for the Thron religion in Benin is significantly based on the kola nut import market, due to the decline of the species' populations in Benin. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers and conservationists regarding how biocultural frameworks can enhance the understanding of priority species for reforestation programs in Benin. The results also underscore the urgent need for conservation and cultivation strategies.
