Abstract
Plant diversity is critical to the functioning of human societies, and evidence shows that plant conservation success is driven by integrative approaches that include social and biological factors. Plants have a unique capacity to reproduce asexually, and propagation practices can yield large numbers of plantlets. These plantlets can be used in several ways to fulfil conservation goals including the repopulation of regions with declining densities of threatened species that hold cultural meaning. However, the potential of in vitro technologies in the conservation of plants that hold cultural meaning is understudied. In this paper we focus upon the roles of in vitro technologies in the conservation of plants relevant to biocultural environments and provide an overview of potential knowledge gaps at the interface of in vitro and plants used traditionally, including those meaningful to Indigenous Peoples. We conclude that in vitro technologies can be powerful tools in biocultural conservation if they are deployed in a manner respectful of the socio-cultural context in which plants play a role, but that further research is needed in this regard. We suggest several epistemological points to facilitate future research.
Highlights
Plants are pivotal to ecosystem resilience and the functioning of human societies, but they are increasingly threatened
Biocultural diversity allows framing the problem of biodiversity loss under socio-cultural and ecosystem components, blurring the human–nature divide
We describe potential knowledge gaps and current challenges in the human-plant-technology relations, concluding that in vitro technologies are potentially useful tools in biocultural conservation if they are deployed in a way respectful of the socio-cultural context in which plants play a role
Summary
Plants are pivotal to ecosystem resilience and the functioning of human societies, but they are increasingly threatened. Biocultural diversity allows framing the problem of biodiversity loss under socio-cultural and ecosystem components, blurring the human–nature divide. This view acknowledges that the degradation of life’s diversity indiscriminately affects humans and other organisms, and that conservation interventions impact human and ecosystem dimensions. We discuss key points of the human dimension at the interface of plant diversity loss, in vitro technologies, and biocultural conservation, focusing on plants meaningful to Indigenous Peoples. We describe potential knowledge gaps and current challenges in the human-plant-technology relations, concluding that in vitro technologies are potentially useful tools in biocultural conservation if they are deployed in a way respectful of the socio-cultural context in which plants play a role. Respectful and just collaboration can facilitate a shared research space among plant biologists, social scientists, and Indigenous Peoples to better understand the role of in vitro technology in the successful conservation of biocultural environments
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