Nuosu Horticulturalists' Local Knowledge of Wild Edible Plants and Fungi and Socio-Economic Implications in Yunnan, Southwest China

Abstract

The collection and consumption of wild edible plants (WEPs) and fungi is an important part of the foodways of many populations worldwide. Knowledge of WEPs and fungi is considered a significant component of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), and is greatly impacted by social, economic, political, and cultural contexts and changes. T his study showcases a naturalistic comparison between more traditional villages and villages that were part of a government program to promote walnut production. We document the ethno-species of WEPs and fungi and analyze the corresponding socio-economic implications in an ethnic Nuosu township in the northwest region of Yunnan Province, China. Semi-structured interviews, free lists, household surveys, and cultural consensus analysis were used for data collection and data analysis. We recorded 139 ethno-species of WEPs and fungi, and consensus analysis indicates a good fit of the cultural consensus model with respect to Nuosu people's knowledge on WEPs and fungi. Quantitative analysis shows gender does not have an effect on local knowledge of WEPs and fungi, and different types of villages and travel-time required to collect WEPs and fungi are not correlated with competence scores. However, the correlation between competence scores of WEPs and fungi with gender and travel time show moderate effect-sizes. Age plays an important role in knowledge of WEPs and fungi among Nuosu people in the study township, showing that the older the person, the higher their score. This article illustrates the plight and reality of traditional knowledge about WEPs and fungi of the Nuosu people, revealing a trend that traditional knowledge is gradually changing due to social, economic, and ecological changes.