Environmental science investigations of folk taxonomy and other forms of indigenous knowledge

Fortunate M Phaka

doi:10.17159/sajs.2020/6538

Abstract

Environmental science investigations of folk taxonomy and other forms of indigenous knowledge

Highlights

Other investigations have shown that some traditional medicinal and gastronomic uses of organisms purported in South African indigenous knowledge systems have scientific validity.[5,6] overexploitation of natural resources under the guise of indigenous knowledge systems has been reported.[7,8] Cross-disciplinary research that investigates the scientific merit of indigenous knowledge systems is not meant to justify culturally motivated overexploitation
A comparison with other indigenous taxonomy research shows that similarities exist between Zululand’s taxonomy and indigenous taxonomies of other parts of the world
There is merit in researching how South African cultures interact with local biodiversity

Summary

Introduction

Other investigations have shown that some traditional medicinal and gastronomic uses of organisms purported in South African indigenous knowledge systems have scientific validity.[5,6] overexploitation of natural resources under the guise of indigenous knowledge systems has been reported.[7,8] Cross-disciplinary research that investigates the scientific merit of indigenous knowledge systems is not meant to justify culturally motivated overexploitation. A recent study was able to show that indigenous amphibian taxonomy from the Zululand region of South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal Province has scientific merit.[1] the investigated indigenous naming and classification guidelines have similarities to those used when formulating Afrikaans, English and scientific names.

Results

Conclusion