Local Traditional Knowledge Research Articles

A Bibliometric Review of the Impacts of Logging in Forests in Semi-Arid Zones

Forest massifs in semi-arid zones play an essential role in maintaining ecological balances and the livelihood of local communities. However, unsustainable logging in these regions can have devastating ecological, and socio-economic consequences. This bibliometric review aims to synthesize the available evidence regarding the impacts of logging in semi-arid ecosystem. Analysis of publication trends reveals a significant increase in research from 2008, reflecting a growing awareness of the issues related to sustainable forest management. The United States, Canada, Australia and China the most prominent countries in this field. The bibliometric analysis of the highlights major concerns related to climate change, clear-cutting, interactions with demographic dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. However, gaps remain, including a lack of data specific to semi-arid areas, limited understanding of the complex interactions between different dimensions of impacts, and insufficient integration of local perspectives and traditional knowledge. This review highlights the need to continue interdisciplinary and collaborative research efforts to ensure sustainable management of semi-arid forests in the face of current and future environmental challenges.

Organic agriculture in Kyrgyzstan: experiences with implementing participatory guarantee systems

Organic farming plays a pivotal role in the recent initiative to develop a sustainable economy in the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan). Key national policy documents support a green agricultural development path and highlight the potential of organic agricultural production and exports. This study therefore elicited perspectives on organic farming from organic farmers and stakeholders in Kyrgyzstan, focusing on the role of Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in its promotion. Interviews held with these two groups revealed that, whereas organic farmers are primarily motivated by personal and family health concerns despite unfair market prices and insufficient governmental support, stakeholders prioritize environmental protection and view the inclusion of PGS in national legislation as a milestone in organic certification. Also, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has influenced farmers’ motivation for organic conversion owing to increased health concerns and food safety. The study’s findings highlight the potential of PGS to foster cooperation within local communities and familiarize farmers with organic principles and methods. PGS can be used as a framework to strengthen social and economic links within local farming communities and preserve traditional local knowledge and farming practices that are crucial for climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture. Moreover, PGS may be applied in business as a model for establishing collaboration with other sectors at both domestic and international levels. The findings underscore the significance of PGS in the sustainable development of organic farming in Kyrgyzstan. However, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure and knowledge need to be addressed through the government’s increased involvement and through cooperation among actors within the organic sector. Overall, the PGS approach may be used by policymakers as a relevant and feasible tool for introducing organic principles within agricultural policies and disseminating organic practices across the country.

Long-term observations in the Ndoki forest resolve enduring questions about truffle foraging by western lowland gorillas.

While there is growing recognition of the importance of traditional knowledge in science, these perspectives remain underrepresented in research publications. However, the synthesis of these approaches has tremendous potential to improve our understanding of wildlife and ecosystems. Toward realizing this aim, we combined local traditional knowledge with molecular classification techniques to investigate "soil scratching" behavior in western lowland gorillas in two localities in Republic of Congo, the Goualougo Triangle and the Djéké Triangle. Daily observations of four gorilla groups for nearly a decade revealed that soil scratching is a foraging strategy to access a deer truffle species, identified here as Elaphomyces labyrinthinus. We also conducted group scans to calculate the time gorillas spent foraging for deer truffles and video focal observations to assess foraging efficiency. There was considerable variation in soil scratching across groups. It was most common in Buka's group, followed by Kingo's group and Mététélé's group. Truffle foraging was rarely observed in the Loya-Makassa group. While the overall distribution of deer truffles seemingly determines the occurrence of this behavior across populations, we found indications of social influences on soil scratching within populations. For example, an adult female transferred from a group in which the behavior was rare to another group where it is common and adjusted her frequencies of soil scratching to that of her new group. Finally, these findings were included in an ecological impact assessment of the Djéké Triangle that prompted conservation managers to shift the location of tourism-associated construction to safeguard this putative cultural behavior.

Agroecosystem-based agricultural genetic resources for balanced and diversified food, nutrition, health, business, geographical indication and environment

ABSTRACT Nepal has 15 distinct agroecosystems spread across three major agroecozones: Tarai, Mid Hill, and High Hill. These regions support a rich variety of agrobiodiversity. This paper examines the significance of native agrobiodiversity within each of these agroecosystems for diversified food, nutrition, health, business and environment. The information presented is derived from various literature sources, discussions with key experts, and the authors’ own experiences. Each of these agroecosystems has cultivated and preserved numerous unique species, landraces, and genotypes of agrobiodiversity, including crops, forages, livestock, agro-insects, agro-microorganisms, and aquatic genetic resources. This agrobiodiversity is deeply connected with local cultures, traditional knowledge, and skills. The high diversity of agricultural genetic resources (AGRs) within Nepal’s relatively small area is a crucial factor for ensuring food security, nutrition, health, business opportunities, and environmental sustainability. Many niche products, prized for their purity, quality, taste, health benefits, and nutritional value, are sold at premium prices. However, the focus on production-centric agricultural programs over the years has led to the replacement of many niche-specific varieties by more uniform and limited ones. Introducing new genotypes into a particular agroecosystem may undermine the principles of ecological agriculture. Therefore, it is essential to enhance the competitiveness of native AGRs and associated indigenous technologies within each agroecosystem.

Commodity chain as a negotiated process: Empirical analysis of benefit allocation, governance, and powers of upstream and downstream actors in matsutake mushroom trade in Shangri-La, Yunnan Province

The commercialization of non-timber forest products beyond in-house consumption is a strategy for alleviating rural poverty and forest degradation. With the implementation of the ecological civilization program, the Chinese government has explored the value realization mechanism of sustainable ecological products, and many successful cases of agricultural product commercialization have emerged. Focusing on the matsutake of Shangri-La as an example, this study applies both qualitative and quantitative analysis of semi-structured interviews, participatory observation, secondary data collection, and statistical analysis for the dynamics of the matsutake commodity chain construction in the southwest plateau of China to obtain unique insights into contemporary rural China. Specifically, the interrelationships and functional logic of diverse participants in the core process of commodity management were analyzed. We found that the upstream and downstream participants in the matsutake commodity chain are subject to institutional constraints, such as land tenure and non-unified standards, and that markets are crucial to matsutake's trading in Shangri-La. Certain participants along the commodity chain have inefficient information sources, while middlemen have greater autonomy in the matsutake transaction process and a larger profit margin. Additionally, the involvement of the government and non-governmental organizations impacts the preservation of natural resources and the creation of a stable market order, but policies and funds tend to be short-lived. To improve the commodity chain sustainability of non-timber forest products in plateau areas, it is necessary to consider social and cultural factors, ensure the equity of different participants in the commodity chain, and protect traditional local knowledge related to natural resource management.

Assessment of the impact of woody species encroachment on plant species diversity and the livelihood of pastoralists in southeastern Ethiopia

The study aimed to assess the encroachment of woody plants on the rangelands of the Dallo Manna district of Bale Zone, and their impact on plant species diversity and pastoral livelihoods. Plant data were collected from 45 plots at encroaching sites and 4 plots at non-encroached sites, with a size of 20 m × 20 m for comparison. Data on pastoral perceptions were collected through questionnaires, interviews with key informants, and focus group discussions. A total of 62 woody species were recorded at both non-encroached and encroached sites, of which 58 species (93.5%) were recorded at non-encroached sites and 24 (38.7%) at encroached sites. Dichrostachys cinerea (L.) Wight and Arn. was the most abundant and dominant invasive woody species, followed by Senegalia mellifera (Vahl) Siegler and Ebinger, and Dalbergia microphylla Chiov. Overall, our results indicated that the effects of woody species encroachment significantly affected rangeland vegetation conditions and livelihoods. The major drivers for the encroachment were found to be fire suppression, overgrazing, and dispersal syndromes. However, in order to understand the exact causes of the woody plant encroachment, multiple variables should be considered in future research. For the successful control of encroachment, insights from an integrated approach will benefit from both local traditional and scientific knowledge of the ecology.

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL: GEOGRAPHICAL BRANDING AS A POSSIBLE FACTOR OF REVITALIZATION OF SERBIAN VILLAGES – A CASE STUDY OF THE VISOK MICROREGION

The objective of this paper is to emphasize, branding as one of the possible ways to take concrete steps towards reaffirming the local values and traditional knowledge of rural populations in Serbia. Based on information gathered in the field, as well as from existing literature sources, the main goal of this study is to promote products from the Visok microregion. Due to very alarming demographic data, this may be the last chance for revitalizing this region. In this study, we highlighted the following products: Pirot kilim (Pirot rug), Pirot/Stara Planina lamb, Pirot Kachkaval cheese, Stara Planina honey, and Stara Planina potato. Besides agriculture, micr oregion Visok also has exceptional tourist potential. The conclusion of this paper emphasizes that the only viable path to revitalization is through planned investment. Such investment would facilitate the development of local infrastructure and help restore the population, thus enabling the creation of sustainable development.

Traditional knowledge of wild plants on traditional tools, materials, products and economic practices in southern Yemen

BackgroundThe traditional knowledge in southern Yemen is rich in wild medicinal and food plants, which has been documented in our previous studies. In addition, other significant and general traditional usage for the daily livelihood requirements of local people (beyond medicinal and food plant uses) has not been studied before and needs urgent documentation.MethodsEthnobotanical data on of wild plants used by local people in southern Yemen were collected by oral questionnaire interviews. Most informants (n = 1020) were local elderly from 15 different localities in southern Yemen. The local names and non-medicinal and non-food uses of plants were identified and analyzed.ResultsThe ethnobotanical data resulted various traditional uses of 73 plant species distributed in 28 families. The most represented families were Fabaceae, Asteraceae and Malvaceae. The most growth forms were trees and shrubs. Seven main and common categories of traditional uses were determined and classified as handicraft, health aids, livestock husbandry and beekeeping, economic and commercial plant products, agriculture tools, construction timber and fuel. The most cited species were identified for Ziziphus spina-christi, Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia nilotica, Anisotes trisulcus, Dracaena hanningtonii (Sansevieria ehrenbergii) and Aerva javanica, which have multi-purpose values of traditional usage. Nine major traditional uses of local wild plants were recorded: handicraft, agriculture tools, products aid general health, economic products, construction timber, livestock husbandry, bee keeping, fuel and ornamental.ConclusionsDespite the challenges on local traditional knowledge of wild plants, it still requested vital to many usages of traditional life and still have an economic value and heritage required of develop the daily livelihood level of the local people especially in rural areas. This includes the traditional uses of wild plants in handicraft skills, tools of agriculture, constructions. The importance of the continuity of traditional industries and their transmission to generations lies in the local population’s reliance on local natural resources without relying on external resources in situations such as wars. This is the first study that contributes to documenting and analyzing the indigenous knowledge on traditional general usage of wild plants in southern Yemen.

Strengthening Training in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage Through Academic Collaboration

ABSTRACT Conservation training is more sustainable if we join forces to utilise our resources efficiently and effectively. One such academic collaboration is discussed, which gains from the expertise of two institutions. Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management (CHCM) is an advanced master’s degree programme offered by the Institute of Conservation, University of Applied Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria and Silpakorn University International College, Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Launched in 2021, this programme is designed for conservators who already hold a master’s degree in conservation, enabling professionals to apply their skills globally and benefit from mutual learning. The programme allows students to gain experience in Europe and Asia, through the study in specialised conservation studios in Vienna and Bangkok, as well as through international projects in other cities. Local traditional knowledge plays a vital role in introducing sustainable approaches to both preventive and remedial conservation. However, to make sure that ethics and standards in conservation are not compromised in the process, critical thinking based on scientific reasoning is indispensable. This concept has been applied in practice by including in the curriculum aspects of transcultural communication and collaboration, presentation techniques and media, project and site management, as well as legislation and the function of UNESCO. This paper focusses on the planning of the CHCM programme through to its successful first implementation.

The traditional ecological knowledge of the local people of Cijambu Village, Sumedang, Indonesia, on the diversity, utilization, management, and conservation of bamboo

Abstract. Ihsan M, Irawan B, Iskandar J. 2024. The traditional ecological knowledge of the local people of Cijambu Village, Sumedang, Indonesia, on the diversity, utilization, management, and conservation of bamboo. Biodiversitas 25: 1754-1770. Bamboos have been known to play an important role in the socio-economic, cultural, and ecological benefits of rural people in West Java. However, many bamboo gardens have been converted to other land-use types, including commercial vegetable gardens. The study aimed to record local people's Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in Cijambu, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia, regarding the diversity, utilization, management, and conservation of ethnobotany and bamboo. The mixed method, combining approaches with an ethnobotanical perspective, was employed in this study through semi-structured and structured interviews with informants. The study results showed a diversity of bamboo landraces with six types of bamboo identified by the community: Awi Tali (Gigantochloa apus), Awi Gombong/Awi Surat (Gigantochloa verticillata), Awi Temen (Gigantochloa atter), Awi Bitung (Dendrocalamus asper), Haur Héjo (Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris), and Haur Konéng (Bambusa vulgaris var. striata). Bamboo has 41 uses: 3 ecological uses, 32 economic uses, and 6 socio-cultural uses. Bamboo management involves maintaining and transforming bamboo gardens into mixed gardens, combining vegetables and coffee plants to increase income. Community conservation efforts involve selective logging to ensure the sustainability and regeneration of bamboo. The conservation process is influenced by cultural beliefs and myths, such as refraining from cutting or taking bamboo on Fridays. Bamboo people believe in Tolak Bala, which uses Haur Konéng bamboo.

The role and interplay of institutions in water governance in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.

Institutions can play a key role in coordinating how natural resources are effectively managed and used without over-exploitation. Institutions are laws, policies, and organizational arrangements that permit, forbid or regulate human action. This study aimed to look into the roles of formal and informal institutions, and their interactions in water resources governance in the Central Rift Valley (CRV), Ethiopia. Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and secondary data sources were employed to collect relevant data. The result of the study indicated that the influence of informal institutions on formal institutions or vice versa was insignificant, and unable to change the actions of water users in the CRV. Other limitations observed in water resources governance in the CRV include a lack of actors' clear roles and responsibilities, absence of meaningful decentralization, limited engagement of key actors in policy development, lack of synergy between the institutions, and absence of enforcement mechanisms. Considering the local contexts and community's traditional knowledge of water governance in water-related policy, rules, and regulations, and enhancing the capacity of local-level institutions, strong interplay among all institutions involved in water governance, and meaningful actors' engagement were recommended to advance the role of institutions in water resources governance in the CRV and in the country. Hence, a mechanism that enables to harmonize formal and informal institutions in water management system can enhance the governance of water resources in the study area and elsewhere in the country.

Local knowledge of homegarden plants in Miao ethnic communities in Laershan region, Xiangxi area, China

BackgroundHomegardens are small-scale land use systems with significant implications for local livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development due to their diverse flora and fauna. Conducting homegarden surveys enables researchers to gain insights into the traditional ecological knowledge of indigenous communities, preserve homegarden biodiversity, and promote sustainable livelihoods. This study has two objectives: first, to collect, record, and organize data on homegarden plants and related traditional knowledge from three communities in the Laershan Plateau, and second, to analyze the species and functional diversity of homegarden plants in the region while exploring the factors that contribute to the heterogeneous distribution of these plants among the communities of three townships.MethodsThis research employed field surveys in the Laershan Miao Autonomous Region in Xiangxi, China, from September 2021 to August 2023. Data were collected through observation and semi-structured interviews. The study utilized descriptive statistics and quantitative analysis, including the Relative Importance Value (RI), Use Value Index (UV), Jaccard Index (JI), and Comprehensive Index of Land Use Degree (La), to examine the diversity of local homegarden plants and related traditional knowledge, as well as community heterogeneity.ResultsThe study area exhibited rich biodiversity, with 152 plant species recorded belonging to 62 families and 124 genera. These findings highlight the importance of homegarden plants in maintaining ecological balance and enhancing system resilience against disturbances. Homegarden plants serve multiple functions such as food, ornamental, medicinal, and fodder purposes, with edible and trade plants having the most abundant knowledge. Furthermore, this research revealed that communities with similar forest resource compositions may have similar homegarden plant compositions, demonstrating the connection between cultural exchange among different communities and patterns of plant species distribution.ConclusionsThe Laershan region boasts diverse homegarden plant species crucial for ecological balance and resilience. Their multifunctionality reflects human impact. Plant diversity varies with residents' lifestyles, needs, and cultural exchanges. The close connection between plants and local life is clear. Factors like resource distribution, cultural exchange, and lifestyle influence plant distribution. Further research is needed for conservation and sustainable development. Future research should focus on culturally valuable plant species and traditional knowledge applications.

Different divergence processes of isoglosses of folk nomenclature between wild trees and rice landraces imply the need for different conservation planning based on the type of plant resources

BackgroundThe intensification of production and socio-economic changes have accelerated the loss of local traditional knowledge and plant resources. Understanding the distribution and determinants of such biocultural diversity is essential in planning efficient surveys and conservation efforts. Because the concept of biocultural diversity in socio-ecological adaptive systems comprises biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity, linguistic information should serve as a surrogate for the distribution of local biological and cultural diversity. In this study, we spatio-linguistically evaluated the names of local trees and rice landraces recorded in Ehime Prefecture, southwestern Japan.MethodsHierarchical clustering was performed separately for the names of local trees and rice landraces. By considering innate flora differences and species having multiple local names, a novel distance index was adopted for local tree names. For the names of rice landraces, Jaccard distance was adopted. V-measure and factor detector analysis were used to evaluate the spatial association between the isogloss maps of the folk nomenclature derived from the clustering and multiple thematic maps.ResultsLocal tree names showed stronger spatial association with geographical factors than rice landrace names. One folk nomenclature group of trees overlapped well with the slash-and-burn cultivation area, suggesting a link between the naming of trees and the traditional production system. In contrast, rice landraces exhibited stronger associations with folklore practices. Moreover, influences of road networks and pilgrimages on rice landraces indicated the importance of human mobility and traditional rituals on rice seed transfer. High homogeneity and low completeness in the V-measure analysis indicated that the names of local trees and rice landraces were mostly homogenous within current municipalities and were shared with a couple of adjacent municipalities. The isogloss maps help to illustrate how the biological and cultural diversity of wild trees and rice landraces are distributed. They also help to identify units for inter-municipal collaboration for effective conservation of traditional knowledge related to those plant resources and traditional rice varieties themselves.ConclusionsOur spatio-linguistic evaluation indicated that complex geographical and sociological processes influence the formation of plant folk nomenclature groups and implies a promising approach using quantitative lexico-statistical analysis to help to identify areas for biocultural diversity conservation.

Traditional knowledge and socioeconomic aspects of small-scale bivalve fishing on the Amazon coast: A case study of Iphigenia brasiliensis on the Island of Maranhão

The bivalve mollusk Iphigenia brasiliensis, locally known as tarioba, is an important fishing resource exploited along the coast of Maranhão. Despite its socioeconomic relevance to numerous shellfish communities on the Amazon coast, little information is available on this species. This study aimed to evaluate the socioeconomic profiles and traditional local knowledge of I. brasiliensis fishermen working on Maranhão Island. For this purpose, 106 guided interviews were conducted with workers selected using the snowball method in the four municipalities of the region: São Luís, Raposa, Paço do Lumiar, and São José de Ribamar. The results showed that shellfish gatherers are predominantly young men with reasonable education and low income who start practicing the activity early, are influenced by family and friends, and have traditional knowledge verticalized between generations. In the region, three methods of capturing mollusks were identified: diving, using hands and feet, and with the support of a stick, with subsistence being the main demand for the activity. Dozens of mollusks are marketed in natura, with prices varying between municipalities, and processing is conducted only by the final consumer.

Cultural Ecosystem Services and Farmer’s Willingness to Pay. A case study in Agricultural Communities in South Tapanuli

The study focuses on valuing Cultural Ecosystem Services (CES) in the Sibual-buali area of South Tapanuli, North Sumatera, Indonesia, and its implications for agricultural development and conservation. The research aims to characterize CES and determine their economic value by assessing farmers' willingness to pay (WTP). Using a descriptive and quantitative research design, a household survey with 71 respondents was conducted using the contingent valuation method (CVM). The study reveals the cultural heritage values and community involvement in conserving CES, demonstrating a deep understanding of the forest's protection and the interconnectedness between the forest, agriculture, and community well-being. The findings emphasize the importance of local wisdom, traditional knowledge, and community engagement in agriculture and CES preservation. Additionally, the study identifies education and income as influential factors in respondents' WTP for CES, indicating their positive impact on environmental valuation and conservation efforts. Gender, marriage status, and age were found to have no significant influence on WTP. These findings contribute to comprehending the economic significance of CES and its relationship to sustainable agricultural practices.

Ethnobotanical investigation of wild edible food plants in central Malnad region of Karnataka, India

The present study clearly gives the relationship between the local people and traditional knowledge about wild food plants in Central Western Ghats. The community peoples of this region have good traditional knowledge about varieties of wild food plants which were used in their daily life for food and medicine. This study aims to explore the relationship and traditional knowledge between the local inhabiting people and wild edible plants by using interview method from 2016–2019. A total of 107 species, belonging to 91 genera and 49 families were documented from the study site.

The game as a pedagogical mediator in the dialogue of local-traditional knowledge in science education: The case of two culturally diverse schools in Colombia

Resumo A diversidade e a diferença cultural na escola revelam a necessidade de implementar novas estratégias nas quais os diversos saberes possam dialogar. Este artigo revela parte dos resultados da pesquisa correspondente à construção e adaptação de jogos por parte de estudantes e docentes da área de Ciências do Ensino Médio de duas escolas colombianas, rural e urbana, em busca dos diálogos de Conhecimentos Locais Tradicionais (CLT) e Conhecimentos Científicos Escolares (CCE). O objetivo foi estabelecer o jogo como mediador pedagógico mediante a metodologia investigação, ação, participante (IAP). Os resultados mostraram que as/os estudantes têm CLT herdadas de suas famílias pela oralidade. As duas comunidades educativas têm semelhanças nos CLT, entre elas, o conhecimento e o uso das plantas com fins medicinais, e alguns jogos vivenciados pelos sujeitos nesses territórios. A partir dos resultados, foram identificados processos de mediação entre os jogos, enquanto artefatos culturais.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge of the Tengger Tribe and its Influencing Factors in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

An understanding of the local traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of a region is crucial to understand the interactions between indigenous societies and their ecosystems. To understand the TEK of Indonesian indigenous people and its influencing factors, we evaluated the Tengger people’s knowledge and conservation awareness regarding culturally important plants (Javanese edelweiss). We interviewed 641 people from seven Tengger villages located adjacent to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (BTS), Indonesia. We developed 31 models to examine factors affecting edelweiss knowledge and calculated the Akaike information criterion values to select the best model. Sex, education, and residency duration were significant predictors of edelweiss knowledge. Men, individuals with higher levels of education, and those who had lived in the area for a longer period of time had higher levels of edelweiss knowledge. Our findings confirm that communication within the community and external information sources, such as media and formal education, are involved in knowledge transmission related to edelweiss. Educational activities for local people can be used to disseminate TEK through formal education in schools and informal education programs conducted by the national park managers.

Climate change, traditional ecological knowledge, and riverine biodiversity conservation: a case in Aklan, Central Philippines

AbstractWe framed climate change (CC) discourse through its disruptions to local culture and livelihood in a subsistence riverine fishing community in Central Philippines. Our main goal was contextualizing how local communities' traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) related to climate, fisheries, and taboos can strengthen freshwater fisheries management and biodiversity conservation. We adopted a mixed-method purposive sampling of the 126 fishing households in the Nabaoy River Watershed in the municipality of Malay in Aklan province. The high CC awareness was associated with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme climatological events and erratic weather patterns. These CC-driven perturbations were primarily attributed to the ballooning human population and deforestation. These threats, in turn, were linked to the diminishing state of the Nabaoy River, heralded by the perceived marked decline of frog and dragonfly populations believed to be indicators of river health. Riverine biodiversity was also perceived as dwindling, with fish catch and their sizes shrinking. Furthermore, the observed fishing taboos guiding local informal (de facto) institutions corroborated formal (de jure) temporal and spatial fisheries management measures. Indeed, local communities have relevant long-term knowledge of management (e.g., TEK) and development-oriented structures and systems (e.g., informal institutions). These invaluable social capital assets are crucial in building resilient governance systems to address local conservation issues and concerns, particularly in data-deficient areas or lacking formal management contexts. Hence, formal management interventions should integrate TEK and the informal institution in which it is embedded and engage local TEK holders as partners in freshwater conservation efforts.

Discovering change in agrosilvopastoral landscapes with toponymy in the Mediterranean Region

Agrosilvopastoralism is characterised by the combination of cultivation, grazing, and forestry. The biocultural equilibrium in agrosilvopastoral landscapes in the Mediterranean Region has been under constant transformation by either abandonment or intensification. Representing explicit layers of landscape memory, field names reveal how landscape has been temporally perceived, valued, and used. As there are multiple ways to understand landscape evolution, in this collaborative work, local field names are interpreted to trace the changes of agrosilvopastoral landscapes in two parts of the Mediterranean Region; in the village of Vila Chã de Braciosa in Miranda do Douro County, Portugal and the village of Çandır in Serik district, Turkey. Through the Participatory Mapping of traditional local spatial knowledge, field names were categorized by agricultural, silvicultural, and pastoral activities were compared with contemporary land cover classification. Toponymic interpretation results demonstrated that in both Portuguese and Turkish cases, agrosilvopastoralism has played a significant role in the historic anthropic interaction with the environment and reflects the past landscape management that is today marked by either land abandonment or commercial agriculture. Aspects of Mediterranean Region nations’ rural histories can be found in the local field and place names. They function not only as an indicator of past uses, but also have the potential of fostering a better understanding of more sustainable uses of the landscape as markers of traditional ecological knowledge.