Relative Importance Of Culture Research Articles

Ethno-medicinal uses and cultural importance of stingless bees and their hive products in several ethnic communities of Bhutan

BackgroundIndigenous and non-indigenous people in subtropical and temperate areas of Bhutan share an intricate relationship with stingless bees for diverse purposes including ethno-medicinal uses. Stingless bees hold significant importance in the realms of social, economic, cultural, and spiritual aspects. Bhutan's cultural traditions demonstrate a strong bond with the environment, exemplified by the regular use of honey from stingless bees for remedies such as treating the common cold, cough, and sore throat.MethodsEthnographic research was conducted to document the ethno-medicinal uses and cultural importance of stingless bees in Bhutan. We deployed semi-structured interviews with stingless beekeepers and honey collectors including traditional healers who perform religious rituals for curing and preventing physical and mental illness.ResultsWe documented 22 different uses of stingless bee honey in food, medicine, veterinary medicine, crafts, beliefs, and religious purposes. The relative cultural importance (RCI) of stingless bees among Bhutan's ethnic communities was assessed through our calculations. It was determined that these bees hold notably greater significance for the Lhotshampa communities compared to other ethnic groups in Bhutan. This finding demonstrates the dependence of Hindu ethnic communities on natural resources in their everyday life. All participant communities largely exploit these bees through destructive extraction practices. They often find the natural nests in nearby forests, transfer them as a log hive to their backyards, and practice traditional meliponiculture.ConclusionThe ethnic communities of Bhutan use stingless bees for various purposes and the local knowledge are persistent. However, significant efforts should be made to address the ethno-medicinal, ecological, biological, and commercial perspectives of meliponiculture in Bhutan.

The link of socioeconomic importance to the conservation status of the Mediterranean endemic plants in Egypt

Abstract. Shaltout K, Bedair H, El-Khalafy MM, Keshta A, Halmy MWA. 2023. The link of socioeconomic importance to the conservation status of the Mediterranean endemic plants in Egypt. Nusantara Bioscience 15: 189-211. Mediterranean Basin is the second world's richest hotspot and one of the most critical spots on the planet for endemic species. Therefore, the present study aimed at screening the Mediterranean endemics and evaluating the uses of recorded taxa quantitively through developing new indices and updating the existing ones. Indeed, Semi-structured interviews were used with 43 informants. Relative Cultural Importance (RCI), Species Conservation Importance (SCI), and Relative Medicinal Importance (RMI) indices were applied to determine the most valuable taxa. A preliminary list of 65 Mediterranean endemic species belonging to 49 genera and 22 families in Egypt was compiled from the available literature. Fifty-seven (87.7%) species have at least one aspect of the potential or actual economic value. The most represented use category was the medicinal value (39 taxa: 69.6%). Thymbra capitata (L.) Cav. was mentioned in the highest use categories (NU: 5). Veronica syriaca Roem. & Schult. attained the maximum ethnobotanical Relative Importance (RI) index value. It is crucial to shed light on the cultural value of Mediterranean endemics to guide future management planning to support the conservation and sustainable use of these critical species.

The relative importance of culture in urban tourism: implications for segmentation

PurposeThis paper aims to contribute to urban tourism segmentation studies by examining the role of culture as a motivation for city visits, different preferences for activities and the demographic factors that influence activity choices. This study also compares the memorability of the trip across the segments identified based on their undertaken activities.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on questionnaire data that was collected from 614 tourists in Budapest, Hungary. Tourist segmentation was based on a two-step procedure: principal component analysis and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis. Multinomial logistic regression was applied to reveal the effect of different demographic and travel-related characteristics on the segments.FindingsThe research revealed that cultural activities are still the most important motivation for urban tourists and that cultural tourists constitute the biggest segment (43%). They show a preference for heritage sites, museums and galleries rather than performing arts and festivals. Multinomial logistic regression showed that party tourists can be differentiated from cultural tourists and city break tourists predominantly by age and travel status. Older age groups and women are more likely to be interested in heritage sites, museums and galleries. Party tourists found their experience significantly more memorable than any other group and were much more likely to re-visit and recommend.Research limitations/implicationsOverall, this study provides useful information for destination management organisations and city agencies about which activities to promote and how to segment and potentially target tourists. This study did not include lifestyle and personality factors, secondary and complementary attractions or cultural proximity and distance.Originality/valueThere have been relatively few recent studies on urban cultural tourism segmentation, especially in whole destinations rather than at individual attractions, it was therefore considered timely to re-visit this area of research. This paper reinforces the importance of segmentation studies in tourism and analyses the changing motivations and activity preferences of urban cultural tourists over time.

The traditional use of wild edible plants in pastoral and agro-pastoral communities of Mieso District, eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundThe populations in Ethiopia have developed their indigenous knowledge to use, manage and conserve wild edible plants (WEPs). In the eastern part of Ethiopia, wild edible plants are used as a means of survival during times of food shortage and as dietary supplements. Documenting the traditional and cultural use of wild food plants is a vital step in obtaining baseline data for investigating nutritional values and possible side effects, preserving indigenous knowledge, and ultimately interesting in wild edible plant conservation. However, their significance, management and utilization have not been documented in Mieso District. Therefore, this study aimed to provide documentation of wild edible plant use associated with ethnobotanical knowledge in Mieso District, eastern Ethiopia.MethodsAn ethnobotanical study of wild edible plant species was conducted from March 2021 to May 2022. A total of 120 (72 males and 48 females) informants were selected using the snowball method. Data collection methods, including semistructured interviews, direct observation and field walks were used. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including independent sample t test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). We calculated use values (UVs) to analyse the relative cultural importance of each plant species.ResultsA total of 41 wild edible plant species belonging to 33 genera in 21 families were documented to be used as food sources both during times of food shortage and as dietary supplements. Family Malvaceae was best-represented with 6 species, followed by Fabaceae and Rhamnaceae (4 species each). The dominant growth form (habit) was shrubs (30 species), followed by trees (11 species). The most widely used plant parts were fruits (covering 39 species, 95%). The largest number (23 species) was collected from forest habitats only, followed by both village and forest habitats (8 species). The majority of wild edible plants (28 species or 68%) were consumed only during famine or in the time of food shortage followed by supplementing staple foods (9 species or 22%). Wild edible plants in Mieso are used for multiple other uses, including for fodder, fuel, medicine, construction, cosmetics and bee keeping. Twenty-three species were mentioned for fodder use, followed by fuel purpose (21 species) and medicinal value (13 species). The species that had the highest use values were Flacourtia indica (Burm.f.) Merr. (1.4), Carissa spinarum L. (1.1), Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. (0.6), Grewia villosa Willd. (0.5), Cordia monoica Roxb. (0.3) and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (L.) (0.2). Most WEPs were collected from March to May (Badheysa) (33 species). The highest mentioned wild edible plant sold in the market was F. indica (Burm.f.) Merr. mentioned by 20 informants, followed by Z. spina-christi (L.) Desf. (14).ConclusionThe people in Mieso use wild plants as supplementary food to cultivated crops, during famine, and many could be utilized for day-to-day human consumption. Some plants in the district provide cash income for local people. However, deforestation (54%), drought (22%) and agricultural expansion (12%) were the highest threats to wild plants in Mieso District. Hence, on-site and off-site conservation would help protect wild plant resources in Mieso, eastern Ethiopia.

Stingless bees: uses and management by meliponiculturist women in the Chaco region of Bolivia

BackgroundStingless bees have a great value as main pollinators of wild flowering and cultivated plants, thus playing a fundamental role in the maintenance of biodiversity and food security in Latin America. Despite their importance, stingless bees face numerous threats causing alarming population declines. Moreover, stingless bees have a great cultural and traditional value, since most products from the hive are used for a wide variety of purposes. A growing number of initiatives are encouraging the breeding of these bees, through training courses and modern management techniques. This study documents the knowledge on stingless bees and their products that meliponiculturists from the Chaco region of Bolivia have, as well as the influence that meliponiculture initiatives have on the management and general knowledge of the bees.MethodsLocal richness and diversity of stingless bees was calculated using Hill numbers. Structured interviews were conducted with 59 meliponiculturists in order to characterize traditional and formal knowledge on stingless bees and meliponiculture. Generalized linear models were applied to assess the influence of training courses on the management of the bees. Also, a relative cultural importance index was calculated for each species.ResultsTwelve Meliponini species were identified, and 15 local names were reported with morphological, defensiveness behavior, and nest description. There was no significant difference in the knowledge between different ethnical backgrounds or ages. A significant difference was observed in the use of supplementary feeding and assisted division, but none in the success in racking hives or in pest management, regarding the number or courses taken. The relative cultural importance index recorded 30 specific uses for bee products grouped in four categories, from which 29 were attributed (but not exclusively) to Tetragonisca angustula, making it the most versatile species.ConclusionsThe products of the hive, especially honey, are used for a wide variety of purposes, mostly in medicine. These uses are mostly attributed to just one species, T. angustula, in coincidence with what was taught in meliponiculture training courses by NGOs. The influence of formal knowledge is mostly positive, but it is recommended that other meliponini species are taken into account as well.

Assessment of Indigenous Plants Knowledge among Traditional Healers in Eastern Morocco: Quali-Quantitative Approach (Part I)

Background: This is the first ethnobotanical study focused on medicinal plants traditionally recommended by traditional healers (THs) of Eastern Morocco. In this work, we documented the medicinal plants recommended by THs and highlighted the value and importance of medicinal plants recommended by specialist healers. Methods: A quali-quantitative ethnobotanical method has been performed, snowball sampling and structured interviews were used to evaluate the traditional plant knowledge by traditional healers in the study area. Species identification was performed and verified from the African Plant Database and Plant List. Two Relative Cultural Importance indices were used for this analysis “Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Frequency of Citation (FC)”. Results: A total of 135 plants were inventoried in our surveys. These species belong to 64 families and were reported to be used to treat 23 different categories of ailments. The botanical profile of the plants listed is dominated by LAMIACEAE’s Family with 12 species, followed by FABACEAE (11 species) and ASTERACEAE (10 species). In the category of the digestive system, nutrition problems and nervous system problems seem to be the predominant diseases treated. The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) results indicated that cancer and gastrointestinal disorders had a higher concordance among informants (ICF = 0.60 and 0.58 respectively). Conclusion: Our results, showed that the Traditional healers, in Eastern Morocco, hold impressive knowledge related to the use of medicinal plants. This observation is reflected in the high number of medicinal plants recommended for the medication of the population. Furthermore, the consistency of healers in this area of study is justified by the ICF values.

Small regions as key sources of traditional knowledge: a quantitative ethnobotanical survey in the central Balkans

BackgroundStarting from the idea that unexplored areas may yield new and different ethnobotanical information, we performed a survey of traditional uses of plants in two neighboring districts situated in east Serbia (Bor and Aleksinac), both lacking in previous ethnobotanical reports, but characterized by an interesting history and culture, together with some specific features. In this study, we hypothesized that such small and specific areas could be of high ethnobotanical importance.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were used with 155 informants. Relative cultural importance (RCI) indices, such as the frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), relative importance index (RI), informant consensus factor (ICF-FIC), use value (UV), fidelity level (FL) and Jaccard index (JI), were calculated, and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) was performed.ResultsIn this study, 2333 use-reports and 114 plants were recorded. Of the 101 medical herbs, 33 are included in the European Pharmacopoeia Edition 8.0. The most frequently used mode of preparation was as an infusion (50.0%), while leaf (44.7%) was the most used plant part. The highest FC and RFC values were recorded for Hypericum perforatum L. (13.1 and 0.2, respectively), while the highest RI was documented for Urtica dioica L. (1.0). ICF and FL indices showed important differences among selected groups of informants. The PCoA showed three homogeneous plant groups. Plants were mostly used for the treatment of digestive (49.1%), circulatory (41.2%) and respiratory system disorders (35.1%). Thirty-seven (32.5%) herbs were used for human nutrition, 14 (12.3%) in veterinary medicine, 17 (14.9%) in rituals and ethnoculture, while 24 (21.0%) for miscellaneous purposes. The highest degree of similarity was determined with studies conducted in close proximity. Four species are new to Balkan ethnobotany. New uses for some well-known plants are highlighted.ConclusionThe study indicated that small and specific areas in the Balkans may be an important reservoir of ethnobotanical knowledge.

Current status of meliponiculture and its cultural importance in the Western Ghats, India

Literature records indicate that ethnic people from different areas of the Western Ghats practice meliponiculture. However, ethnobiological knowledge and beekeeping practices remain poorly documented. We conducted ethnographic surveys in 6 districts of Karnataka and recorded traditional uses and current practices of meliponiculture from the region. We also offer a quantitative analysis to explore the relative cultural importance of stingless bees among these ethnic groups. Bees and bee products are primarily used for food, medicines, crafts, and cultural beliefs. Bamboo poles, clay pots, and traditional log hives are used to keep stingless bees in the front and backyards. Among the five ethnic communities, the Brahmins are practicing the most sustainable meliponiculture using some innovative hives built from locally available materials. Moreover, they explore safe honey extraction techniques for minimal damage to the colonies. The Kunbis tribe, who lives primarily inside the Kali Tiger Forest Reserve, utilizes the bees and bee products maximally compared to the other four ethnic communities. However, the Kunbis people largely exploit bees through destructive extractive practices and pose threats to the colony’s survival. Herein, we report traditional knowledge and current status of meliponiculture practices among five ethnic communities (the Brahmins, the Gowdas, the Naiks, the Marathas and the Kunbis) of the Western Ghats region in the state of Karnataka. We also gather biological information such as nesting substrates, nesting characteristics, and behavior of bees from the area, which will be crucial for the local conservation and sustainable meliponiculture in the Western Ghats region of India.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Medicinal Plants against Cancer in Southeastern Morocco

Darâa-Tafilalet is considered as one of the charming Moroccan areas concerning the knowledge connected to the traditional use of plants for a therapeutic purpose. This work aims to collect, analyze and evaluate the ethnobotanical knowledge about medicinal plants used in the management of diverse forms of cancer in the Darâa-Tafilalet region. The total number of informants interviewed in this study was 1026 (944 were ordinary local inhabitants and 82 were herbalists). Information was obtained by means of structured and semi-structured interviews with local people. Then, data obtained from interviewees were analyzed by calculating some relative cultural importance (RCI) indices (UV, FUV, ROP and FL). Principal component analysis (PCA) was also involved in this study for comparing some characteristics of species. 101 plants used in folk medicine and belonging to 47 families were identified in this study. The highest UV was attributed to Suaeda vermiculata (0.06897); while, the optimal FUV has been given to Ranunculaceae (0.05956). Concerning the FL values, Nigella sativa, Allium sativum, Allium cepa, Calotropis procera, Foeniculum vulgare and Olea europaea were classified in first with a value cited 100% all for general cancer; whereas Nigella sativa had the highest ROP value (86%). The present enquiry highlighted interesting botanical and cultural findings related to the anticancer ethnomedical knowledge adapted by the local population of Darâa-Tafilalet. However, several experimental and fieldwork studies are needed to give more validity and reliability to such investigation.

Traditional uses and relative cultural importance of <i>Tetragonula iridipennis</i> (Smith) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Meliponini) in Nepal

Indigenous and non-indigenous peoples in tropical and subtropical areas of the world use stingless bees for diverse purposes. Literature records indicate that people from different regions in Nepal use Tetragonula iridipennis (Smith), the only stingless bee species that occurs in the country. However, ethnobiological knowledge on this bee remains poorly documented. Herein we report for the first time on the local indigenous nomenclature, traditional knowledge, and management practices among four ethnic communities (Chhetri, Brahmin, Tharu, and Kirat) in Nepal. We also offer a preliminary quantitative analysis of the relative cultural importance of this species among these ethnic groups. We conducted ethnographic research across the Terai and Pahad regions (8 districts and 6 zones) of Nepal and recorded 18 specific uses in food, medicine, crafts, and religious beliefs. Based on the relative importance index, T. iridipennis is most culturally important for the Tharu people, a finding that supports the reliance of this ethnic group on local natural resources in their everyday life. All participant communities largely exploit this bee through extractive management practice of wild populations. We discuss the conservation status and future directions for the sustainable use of this stingless bee in the country.

An ethnobotanical survey of wild edible plants used by the Yi people of Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China

BackgroundDue to historical perceptions of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture (Sichuan Province, China) as being a violent place, and due to its rugged terrain, cultural differences, and relative inaccessibility, few researchers have conducted in-depth ethnobotanical investigations in Liangshan. But wild edible plants (WEPs) are widely consumed by the Yi people of Liangshan, and their associated ethnobotanical knowledge remains relatively unknown, especially outside of China. This study aimed to (1) investigate the WEPs used by the Liangshan Yi, (2) document the traditional knowledge held about these plants, (3) analyze their special preparation methods and consumption habits, and (4) identify species with important cultural significance to the Liangshan Yi.MethodsDuring 2016–2017, 396 Yi individuals were interviewed in 1 county-level city and 6 counties across Liangshan. Prior informed consent was obtained, and multiple ethnographic methods were utilized, including direct observation, semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, informal discussions, and field visits. Market surveys were conducted in April, July, and August 2017 by interviewing 38 Yi merchants selling WEPs in 6 Liangshan traditional markets. We collected information about the parts consumed, preparation methods, consumption habits, growth pattern of species, collection months, market prices, and other uses of WEPs. Use values (UVs) were calculated to analyze the relative cultural importance of each WEP.ResultsIn total, 105 plant species belonging to 97 genera and 62 families were recorded. Rosaceae was the family with the largest number of species (14), and herbs (58 species) were the dominant growth form reported. Fruits (34 species), roots (21 species), and tender shoots (20 species) were the primary plant parts used for snacking and cooking. There were 6 main preparation and consumption methods of WEPs reported, ranging from primary food, famine food, snack, spice, culinary coagulant, and medicine, among a few other uses. The Liangshan Yi mainly collect WEPs from March to October, seldom collecting from November to February. There were 35 species of WEPs sold in the markets we visited in Liangshan. The price of medicinal plants was much higher than the price of food and fruits. In total, we documented 49 species of edible medicinal plants in Liangshan, accounting for 44.7% of all WEPs. They can be used for treating 27 medical conditions, including cough, diarrhea, injury, and headaches. The plants with the highest UVs were Berberis jamesiana (1.92), Pyracantha fortuneana (1.87), and Artemisia capillaris (1.44) indicating that these species are the most commonly used and important to the Liangshan Yi’s traditional life and culture.ConclusionsThe traditional knowledge of WEPs from the accumulated experience of the Yi people’s long period residing in Liangshan reflects the cultural richness of the Yi and the plant diversity of the region. Future research on the nutrition, chemical composition, and bioactivity of the WEPs are needed. Some species with high medicinal value but with sharp wild population decline should be surveyed for resource assessment, conservation, and domestication potential.

Traditional medicinal animal use by Xhosa and Sotho communities in the Western Cape Province, South Africa

BackgroundThe use of animals and animal-derived materials in traditional medicine constitutes an important part of the belief systems of indigenous African cultures. It is believed to be rapidly expanding in South Africa, where traditional healers are estimated to outnumber western doctors by 2000:1 in some areas, with an overall clientele consisting of 60–80% of South African citizens. Despite concerns about the impact of the trade in traditional medicine on biodiversity, there has been only limited research on this topic in South Africa.MethodsTraditional Xhosa and Sotho healers operating from impoverished, rural communities in the Boland Region of the Western Cape Province were consulted to provide a comprehensive inventory of the number and frequency of animals used and sold. Species richness estimators, diversity indices, and a relative cultural importance (RCI) index were used to highlight species of concern and assess market dynamics.ResultsA total of 26 broad use categories for 12 types of animal parts or products from 71 species or morphospecies were recorded. The most commonly sold items were skin pieces, oil or fat, and bones. Results showed that leopard, chacma baboon, Cape porcupine, monitor lizard species, puff adder, African rock python, and black-backed jackal were the species most used in the traditional medicinal trade.ConclusionsThis study extends existing knowledge on the trade of animals in South African healing practices and provides the first attempt in the Western Cape to quantify wildlife use for cultural traditions. The results have relevance for setting conservation priorities and may assist in effective policy development inclusive of ecological sustainability priorities, as well as cultural demands.

Nesting ecology and the cultural importance of stingless bees to speakers of Yolox\xf3chitl Mixtec, an endangered language in Guerrero, Mexico

Stingless bees (Apidae: Meliponini) are major pollinators of many wild and cultivated plants, and both indigenous and non-indigenous populations use their products for diverse purposes including food, crafts, and medicine. However, many aspects of both stingless bee nesting ecology and traditional knowledge of these culturally significant bees by diverse human populations remain unknown or poorly documented. We report on the nest architecture, nesting substrate, host plants, and local abundance of stingless bees occurring in Yoloxóchitl, one of several indigenous villages that speak Yoloxóchitl Mixtec, an endangered language on the Pacific Coast of the state of Guerrero. We also document local Indigenous nomenclature, classification, and use of these bees as well as traditional management practices and knowledge of their behavior. Lastly, we offer a preliminary quantitative analysis of the relative cultural importance of each bee species and explore the relationship of traditional ecological knowledge to these species.

Palmas útiles en tres comunidades indígenas de La Pedrera, Amazonia colombiana

Se estudió el conocimiento y el uso de las palmas por parte de las comunidades indígenas Angostura, Curare y Yukuna, cercanas a la cabecera del corregimiento de La Pedrera, Amazonia colombiana. Entre junio y julio de 2010 se registró información etnobotánica mediante entrevistas estructuradas realizadas a 53 personas informantes de dichas comunidades. Los datos se analizaron aplicando los índices de importancia relativa de categoría de uso (IR(c)), importancia cultural relativa (IC(s)) e importancia relativa de cada especie (IR(s)). Se encontraron 34 especies de palmas útiles y nueve categorías de uso. Según el IR(c) las categorías de uso más importantes fueron Alimentación humana, Construcción y Utensilios y herramientas. Dentro de estas se destaca el consumo directo de los frutos, la elaboración de bebidas, la utilización de la palma entera o de las hojas para la construcción de viviendas y la elaboración de instrumentos de caza y utensilios para el uso cotidiano. Según el IR(s) e IC(s) las especies más importantes fueron el chontaduro (Bactris gasipaes), el canangucho (Mauritia flexuosa), el milpesos (Oenocarpus bataua) y el asaí (Euterpe precatoria). Se confirma que las palmas juegan un papel importante en las tres comunidades y se evidencia una disminución del conocimiento en los usos asociados a la cultura y a las ceremonias rituales. Por otra parte, según los índices de importancia relativa y cultural coinciden las mismas especies de palmas registradas en otras comunidades amazónicas colombianas.

Identifying the relative importance of culture in Indigenous tourism experiences: netnographic evidence from Australia

ABSTRACTPrevious studies exploring demand for Indigenous tourism have addressed a variety of aspects including market segmentation and clustering, as well as motivations, interest and visitor satisfaction with Indigenous tourism experiences. Less researched is the importance visitors place on the cultural elements of an Indigenous tourism experience. A qualitative netnographic approach was adopted to explore international visitors’ post-consumption narratives of their Indigenous tourism experiences in Australia. Four thousand six hundred and eighty-four TripAdvisor reviews of 38 Indigenous tourism products and experiences in Australia were analysed. The analysis showed that visitors placed most importance on the servicescape, that is, the physical elements and ambient environment of the experience, ahead of the cultural elements of the experience. Although culture or the Indigenous content per se was not the most important factor identified post-experience, visitors did focus on the service-oriented nature and professionalism of the guide. The findings of this study expand the existing literature on Indigenous tourism and recommendations for Indigenous tourism businesses are made regarding the importance of the servicescape to the Indigenous tourism experience.

Homegardens of the Cao Lan, a Tai-Speaking Ethnic Minority in Vietnam's Northern Mountains

(ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.)(ProQuest: ... denotes formulae omitted.)IntroductionAfter Terra's pioneering descriptions of the different types of homegardens associated with different ethnic groups in the Indo-Malayan region (Terra 1952-53; 1954; 1958), few additional studies were published about Southeast Asian homegardens until the 1980s when homegardens emerged as a major focus of agroforestry research. Much of this research was concerned with describing the architecture, species composition, and functions of homegardens of different ethnic groups in the tropics. Since that time, a considerable number of studies have been published describing the structure, species diversity, and functions of homegardens of ethnic groups in different Southeast Asian countries, including Burma (Terra 1954), Indonesia (Soemarwoto and Soemarwoto 1984; Wiersum 2006), Laos (Kou et al. 1990; The SUAN Secretariat 1990; Dyg and Saleumsy 2004; Nawata et al. 2009), Thailand (Moreno-Black et al. 1996; Jiragorn and Nantana 1999; Nawata et al. 2009; Thanakorn et al. 2010; Kamonnate et al. 2012), and the Philippines (Snelder 2008). There has also been considerable research on homegardens in Vietnam (Le Trong Cuc et al. 1990; Karyono et al. 1993; Hodel et al. 1999; Dao Trong Hung et al. 2001; Luu Ngoc Trinh et al. 2003; Vlkova et al. 2011) but it has mostly been focused on the Kinh (ethnic Vietnamese), the majority ethnic group. Only a very few studies have been done on the homegardens of ethnic minorities. In the case of the Cao Lan, a Tai speaking minority group living in the Northern Mountain region, there are only 2 brief reports (Gillogly and Nghiem Phuong Tuyen 1992; Le Trong Cuc and Rambo 2001) which describe the species composition of their homegardens but not their ecological structure or the functions of the different species.It was in order to obtain information about the structure and species composition and functions of Cao Lan homegardens, that we carried out a short field study in a Cao Lan community in Tuyen Quang province in Northern Vietnam. This case study was done as part of a larger comparative study of the ecological structures of homegardens of different ethnic groups in Northeast Thailand and Vietnam which was designed to assess the relative importance of culture and environment as determinants of agroecosystem structure (Pijika 2014). The aims of this paper are to describe the modal ecological structure of the Cao Lan homegardens, identify all of the plant species grown in these gardens and categorize their functions, and compare the modal structure of the Cao Lan gardens with those of their Kinh neighbors and ethnically related Tai minority groups in Northeast Thailand.BackgroundThe Cao Lan Ethnic GroupThe Cao Lan speak a language belonging to the Tai family of languages. They are one of 54 officially recognized ethnic groups in Vietnam. They are known officially as San Chay (also often called Cao Lan-San Chi). They first immigrated to Vietnam from China beginning in the 1600s. The Cao Lan numbered about 169,000 people in 2009. They are mainly settled in Tuyen Quang, Bac Can, and Thai Nguyen provinces. Settlements of this ethnic group are also scattered in Yen Bai, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, and Quang Ninh provinces (Dang Nghiem Van et al. 2000; Sumitre et al. 2003; Ethnologue: Languages of the World 2013). According to the 1999 census, a few thousand San Chay live in the Central Highlands, mostly in Dac Lac with smaller numbers in Binh Phuoc, Dong Nai, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum provinces (General Statistical Office 2001). It is likely that these people migrated south to the New Economic Zones in the 1980s.According to Gregerson and Edmondson (1998), the Cao Lan-San Chay ethnic group is actually a composite of two groups with two different languages and two nonoverlapping cultures. The Cao Lan language has been classified as a Central Tai language of the Kam-Tai sub-branch of the Tai-Kadai language family, while the San Chay language is Han Chinese. …

Social consequences of increased reliance on fishing in middle Holocene Cis-Baikal: Relating fishing gear, axes, and social status at the Shamanka II cemetery, Lake Baikal, Siberia

Dietary isotopic research, coupled with zooarchaeological and bioarchaeological analyses have indicated that fishing was an important element of Early Neolithic subsistence, contributing more to the diet through time, and may have contributed to social differentiation. In order to assess the relative cultural importance of fishing to Neolithic populations, multiple classes of grave goods and radiocarbon dates from the Shamanka II cemetery are analyzed for principal components. Specific relationships between prestige goods, fishing gear, and functional axes are hypothesized to exist if fishing are an important socioeconomic activity. Results suggest that there was no intensification of fishing by the Shamanka II population during two phases of use in the Early Neolithic, and indicate a lack of correlation between fishing gear, axes, and some prestige goods. There appears to be a relationship between the frequency of fishing and hunting gear and radiocarbon dates, and modest relationships between dietary isotopes, radiocarbon dates, and prestige goods. This suggests that while fishing specialists are present in Early Neolithic society and evidence suggests increasing importance of fishing during two separate phases of cemetery use, their role in providing important food resources did not translate to apparent prestige or wealth in certain grave goods during all periods of use at Shamanka II. During two phases of use, fishing, hunting, and non-wearable prestige goods became markedly more important towards the end of the first phase and dominant during a second phase of cemetery use. The role of Shamanka II as a cemetery indicate a biased cultural system if reflective of a community population, and appears to have shifted to a special use cemetery with specific demographic and spatial patterning after a hiatus of a century or more during the Early Neolithic.

Cohabitation in Europe: a revenge of history?

Unmarried cohabitation is often seen as a radically ‘new’ phenomenon, originating in the 1960s, but in fact it has long historical antecedents. The question is, however, whether traditional and modern cohabitation are comparable and whether we can speak of persistence. This article offers a literature review on cohabitation in Europe, with the focus on persistence over time, integrating the results of a 2013 conference on this topic. What sources are available to confirm or reject such persistence? How should we understand persistence? In terms of the motivations of unmarried cohabitants? Or in terms of the acceptance of the community at large? And if no real persistence is found, does this mean that European cohabitation since the 1970s truly represents ‘new’ behaviour? We show that, on the regional level, the legacy of the past is still visible in factors affecting the timing and frequency of marriage of cohabiting couples. These factors are a mixture of regional socio-economic constraints, the relative cultural importance attached to marriage, the religious history, and the level of secularization.

Importance Indices in Ethnobotany

Measuring the “importance” of plants and vegetation to people is a central concern in quantitative ethnobotany. A common tool to quantify otherwise qualitative data in the biological and social sciences is an index. Relative cultural importance (RCI) indices such as the “use values” developed by Prance et al. (1987) and Phillips and Gentry (1993a, 1993b) are applied in ethnobotany to calculate a value per folk or biological plant taxon. These approaches can provide data amenable to hypothesis-testing, statistical validation, and comparative analysis. The use of RCI indices is a growing trend in ethnobotanical research, yet there have been few attempts to compile or standardize divergent methods. In this review, we compare RCI indices in four broad categories and present a step-by-step guide to some specific methods. Important background topics are addressed, including ethnographic methods, use categorization, sampling, and statistical analysis. We are concerned here only with “value” as a non-monetary concept. The aspiring and veteran researcher alike should find this paper a useful guide to the development and application of RCI indices.

Lessons from Democratic Transitions: Case Studies from Asia

In an era when democratization is stalled or in retreat in many parts of the world, it is important to highlight the successful democratic experience of East and Southeast Asia in recent decades. Five consolidated democracies have emerged since the mid-1980s; only Thailand has seen some backsliding with the 2006 coup. The Asian cases provide insights into several major debates in the democratization literature, including the relative importance of culture, history, economic structure, and the optimal sequencing of political and economic reform. This article reviews these issues, with particular attention to the role of outside powers in underpinning democratization. Ultimately, the Asian cases offer evidence for optimism about the prospects of a Fourth Wave of democratization.