Article
Horticulture
Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, Nqobile P. Hlophe, Johannes Van Staden, Jeffrey F. Finnie
Summary: This review critically evaluates the ethnobotanical uses, nutritional value, phytochemical profiles, and biological activities of the Brachystelma genus. The potential of micropropagation in ensuring the sustainability of Brachystelma species is also assessed. The study finds that while there is anecdotal evidence of the food and medicinal uses of many Brachystelma species, empirical data on their nutritional and phytochemical profiles, as well as their biological activities, are lacking. Further research and optimization of propagation protocols are necessary to address this gap and ensure the sustainability of Brachystelma species.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carlos A. Molina, David Dudenhoefer, Vivian Polar, Maria Scurrah, Raul C. Ccanto, Bettina Heider
Summary: Crop diversity is important for stable yield and nutrition security, and has potential for breeding improved varieties and adapting to future climates. Women globally contribute to biodiversity conservation, and rural women in the Central Andes region play a vital role in managing native potato diversity. This qualitative study examines how gender roles and traditions influence the agricultural practices of male and female custodians of native potato diversity, highlighting the need for gender-responsive approaches to empower women and contribute to inclusive community-based management of agrobiodiversity.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hanna Sjulgard, Tino Colombi, Thomas Keller
Summary: In Sweden, crop species diversity is strongly influenced by latitude and associated mean annual temperature. Mean annual precipitation and soil texture have no significant relationship with crop diversity. There is no significant change in crop diversity at the national level, but temporal trends vary between counties. Some counties show an increase in crop diversity over time, while others show no change or a decrease. Socioeconomic factors likely play a role in these temporal changes.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Guillermo Benitez, Joaquin Molero-Mesa, M. Reyes Gonzalez-Tejero
Summary: This study reviews ethnobotanical sources of traditionally-used wild food plants in Andalusia, southern Spain, which is known for its high biodiversity. The dataset, consisting of 21 original sources and some unpublished data, reveals a high diversity of traditional resources, comprising 336 species or approximately 7% of the total wild flora. The cultural aspects of plant use are discussed, and the findings are compared with similar studies. The results are discussed in terms of conservation and bromatology, revealing that 24% of the edible plants also have medicinal uses. Additionally, a list of 166 potentially edible species from other Spanish territories is provided based on a data review.
Article
Plant Sciences
Adam G. G. Drucker, Nolipher Khaki Mponya, Francesca Grazioli, Nigel Maxted, Joana Magos Brehm, Ehsan Dulloo
Summary: Despite global threats, crop wild relatives (CWRs) are a crucial source of genes for improving food security and climate change adaptation. The lack of institutions and payment mechanisms to compensate those providing CWR conservation services has hindered conservation efforts. However, a case study in Malawi demonstrates that there is high willingness to participate in conservation activities, with modest costs, indicating significant potential for community engagement in CWR conservation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yun-li Bai, Chao Fu, Balaram Thapa, Ram Balladur Rana, Lin-xiu Zhang
Summary: Combining raising conservation awareness and on-farm conservation measures can effectively promote crop diversity, particularly in terms of the number of varieties for grain and vegetable crops.
JOURNAL OF MOUNTAIN SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Colin K. Khoury, Stephen Brush, Denise E. Costich, Helen Anne Curry, Stef Haan, Johannes M. M. Engels, Luigi Guarino, Sean Hoban, Kristin L. Mercer, Allison J. Miller, Gary P. Nabhan, Hugo R. Perales, Chris Richards, Chance Riggins, Imke Thormann
Summary: Crop diversity is crucial for agriculture productivity, resilience, and adaptive capacity. Loss of this diversity, known as crop genetic erosion, is a major concern. Evidence shows that changes in crop diversity have led to significant losses, maintenance, and increases in various contexts, depending on species, scale, region, and analytical approach. Further research and actions are needed to understand and mitigate the impacts of crop genetic erosion.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Daicy Yaneth Galvis-Tarazona, Zaida Zarely Ojeda-Perez, Diana Marcela Arias-Moreno
Summary: This study in Colombia conducted ethnobotanical research on native potatoes, identifying Criollas as the most recognized and used potato variety within the community, with traditional knowledge mainly inherited through vertical transmission.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Aurore Rimlinger, Jerome Duminil, Taina Lemoine, Marie-Louise Avana, Armel Chakocha, Alexis Gakwavu, Franca Mboujda, Melanie Tsogo, Marlene Elias, Stephanie M. Carriere
Summary: This study investigated the perceptions, preferences, and management practices of 441 African plum tree owners from three different ethnic groups in Cameroon. Findings showed that there were over 300 different local varietal names based on morphological and organoleptic traits, with differences in preferences and priorities among ethnic groups and between urban and rural areas. The results provide insights for designing measures to conserve the agrobiodiversity of African plum trees in the context of their domestication.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Juliana Loureiro Almeida Campos, Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque
Summary: Medicinal plants are widely used by local communities, but intensive collection poses conservation challenges. Research suggests that conservation priorities for medicinal plants should consider pharmaceutical industry demand, and endemism is not the only determining factor for identifying priority species.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Consolata Nanjala, Jing Ren, Fredrick Munyao Mutie, Emmanuel Nyongesa Waswa, Elizabeth Syowai Mutinda, Wyclif Ochieng Odago, Moses Mutuse Mutungi, Guang-Wan Hu
Summary: This review provides comprehensive information on the herbal uses, chemical components, pharmacological activities, and conservation of Calanthe, which might be useful in the future development of potent herbal medicines and facilitate the enactment of better conservation strategies.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Martina Ghidoli, Sara Frazzini, Stefano De Benedetti, Stefano Sangiorgio, Michela Landoni, Alessio Scarafoni, Luciana Rossi, Roberto Pilu
Summary: In recent years, there has been increasing interest in sustainable agriculture and finding new cover crops for marginal areas that can be used as protein and oil sources or for biodiesel production. Camelina sativa is an ideal crop to study due to its high oil content and rapid growth. However, the presence of glucosinolates limits its use in feed and food. This study compared different genetic materials of Camelina sativa and found that yields are higher in the autumn-winter period, with a negative correlation between spring and winter yields. Additionally, a synthetic population of Camelina sativa was tested and proved to be adaptable with low glucosinolate content.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Ada Baldi, Piero Bruschi, Stephanie Campeggi, Teresa Egea, Diego Rivera, Concepcion Obon, Anna Lenzi
Summary: This paper provides an overview of wild food plants traditionally used in Tuscany, Italy, including their ecological characteristics, methods of preparation, and recipes. The review highlights the richness of ethnobotanical knowledge in Tuscany and suggests that wild edible flora can contribute to agriculture development and meet consumer demand for functional foods.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Shambhu Charmakar, Ripu Mardhan Kunwar, Hari Prasad Sharma, Bhagawat Rimal, Sony Baral, Nabin Joshi, Kalyan Gauli, Ram Prasad Acharya, Bishwa Nath Oli
Summary: The study revealed significant variations in the distribution and production of Valeriana jatamansi in Nepal, with a potential expansion in mountainous areas towards the north and the highest planting potential in western Nepal. It also highlighted the importance of the plant in household economies, despite only being traded and exported after 1995.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Franklin Cordova-Buiza, Edwin Gabriel-Campos, Lucia Castano-Prieto, Lucia Garcia-Garcia
Summary: This research studied the gastronomic experiences of foreign tourists in Puno, Peru during the festival of the Virgen de la Calendaria, identifying three groups (survivors, enjoyers, experiencers) based on their perceptions of gastronomy. Significant differences were found in the motivation for visiting the city based on gastronomy, leading to varying levels of tourist satisfaction depending on their attitude towards gastronomy as classified by the groupings obtained.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Gaia Luziatelli, Marten Sorensen, Sven-Erik Jacobsen
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GASTRONOMY AND FOOD SCIENCE
(2020)
Article
Biophysics
Per M. Jensen, Marten Sorensen, Jacob Weiner
Summary: Elevated temperatures negatively affect human reproduction, potentially interfering with foetal development and impacting total fertility rates in populations worldwide. The study demonstrates clear and strong effects of temperatures on fertility in both the current and previous generations, with implications for populations exposed to different temperature patterns.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Alvaro Monteros-Altamirano, Cesar Tapia, Nelly Paredes, Valeria Alulema, Marcelo Tacan, Alberto Roura, Luis Lima, Marten Sorensen
Summary: This study characterized 195 accessions of cassava in Ecuador through morphological and ecogeographic descriptors, identifying morphological and ecogeographic variability in the collection and potential resources for improvement.
Article
Agronomy
Nete Kodahl, Marten Sorensen
Summary: Plukenetia volubilis, an underutilized oilseed crop from the Amazon basin, is gaining attention for its exceptional nutritional composition and good agronomic properties. It has the potential to become an important crop in addressing global challenges such as food security, climate change mitigation, and alleviation of malnutrition.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hannes Gaisberger, Tobias Fremout, Chris J. Kettle, Barbara Vinceti, Della Kemalasari, Tania Kanchanarak, Evert Thomas, Josep M. Serra-Diaz, Jens-Christian Svenning, Ferry Slik, Wichan Eiadthong, Kandasamy Palanisamy, Gudasalamani Ravikanth, Vilma Bodos, Julia Sang, Rekha R. Warrier, Alison K. S. Wee, Christian Elloran, Lawrence Tolentino Ramos, Matieu Henry, Md Akhter Hossain, Ida Theilade, Simon Laegaard, K. M. A. Bandara, Dimantha Panduka Weerasinghe, Suchitra Changtragoon, Vivi Yuskianti, Peter Wilkie, Nguyen Hoang Nghia, Stephen Elliott, Greuk Pakkad, Pimonrat Tiansawat, Colin Maycock, Chaloun Bounithiphonh, Rozi Mohamed, M. Nazre, Baktiar Nur Siddiqui, Soon-Leong Lee, Chai-Ting Lee, Nurul Farhanah Zakaria, Ida Hartvig, Lutz Lehmann, Dzaeman B. Dzulkifli David, Jens-Peter Barnekow Lilleso, Chhang Phourin, Zheng Yongqi, Huang Ping, Hugo A. Volkaert, Lars Graudal, Arief Hamidi, So Thea, Sineath Sreng, David Boshier, Enrique Tolentino Jr, Wickneswari Ratnam, Mu Mu Aung, Michael Galante, Siti Fatimah Md Isa, Nguyen Quoc Dung, Tran Thi Hoa, Tran Chan Le, Md Danesh Miah, Abdul Lateef Mohd Zuhry, Deepani Alawathugoda, Amelia Azman, Gamini Pushpakumara, Nur Sumedi, Iskandar Z. Siregar, Hong Kyung Nak, Jean Linsky, Megan Barstow, Lian Pin Koh, Riina Jalonen
Summary: This study assessed the vulnerability of 63 socioeconomically important tree species in Asia's tropical and subtropical forests to various threats. The findings revealed that the majority of priority areas for conserving these trees are located outside protected areas, and all species are severely threatened across an average of 47% of their native ranges. The study also identified specific areas for conservation and restoration efforts, as well as potential options for agroforestry.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Eduardo O. Leidi, Youssef Ech-Chliah, Sabina Rossini-Oliva, Marten Sorensen
Summary: Tuberous Andean root crops, like the ahipas, have the potential to increase nutrient diversity and food security at a regional level. Interspecific hybrids of ahipa and P. tuberosus have shown higher dry matter content in roots, but still have deficiencies in providing sufficient protein and essential amino acids.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hannes Gaisberger, Tobias Fremout, Thea So, Bansa Thammavong, Chaloun Bounithiphonh, Tran Thi Hoa, Zheng Yongqi, Tania Kanchanarak, Suchitra Changtragoon, Sineath Sreng, Huang Ping, Tin Hang Hung, Pyae Pyae Win, Ida Hartvig, Ida Theilade, David Boshier, John MacKay, Chris Kettle, Riina Jalonen
Summary: Understanding the impact of multiple anthropogenic threats is crucial for estimating population decline and implementing effective conservation actions. A study on three Asian rosewood species found that these species face significant threats, with overexploitation being the most important threat followed by habitat conversion and fire. The study proposes priority areas for conservation and suggests specific actions to improve the effectiveness of current conservation measures.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nete Kodahl, Heidi Blok Frandsen, Henrik Lutken, Iben Lykke Petersen, Nelly Judith Paredes Andrade, Carmen Garcia-Davila, Marten Sorensen
Summary: Several species of Plukenetia in the Amazon region are rich sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly alpha-linolenic acid. The newly described 'Mountain Sacha Inchi' Plukenetia carolis-vegae has a high content of alpha-linolenic acid, suggesting its potential as a valuable dietary source and for commercialization.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ida Theilade, Chhang Phourin, Lars Schmidt, Henrik Meilby, Martin van de Bult, Katrine Gro Friborg
Summary: Current vegetation maps depict evergreen forests in Cambodia as a single homogeneous forest type. However, field studies have revealed a heterogeneous mosaic of different evergreen forest types in the central plains, each with unique species composition and ecological characteristics. Based on botanical expeditions, four lowland evergreen forest types were identified, with riverine forest having the highest species diversity and the Sralao forest having the lowest. These findings highlight the importance of botanical fieldwork and knowledge of species composition in conserving the disappearing evergreen forest biodiversity in Indochina.
NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Finn Danielsen, Hajo Eicken, Mikkel Funder, Noor Johnson, Olivia Lee, Ida Theilade, Dimitrios Argyriou, Neil D. Burgess
Summary: Community monitoring is an important way to track environmental phenomena, resource use, and natural resource management, contributing to community planning and decision-making, and empowering community members in resource management. However, some community monitoring programs face challenges such as limited collective action and community participation, insufficient state responsiveness to data and proposals, and lack of sustainability over time.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENT AND RESOURCES
(2022)
Review
Environmental Studies
Zoe Ogahara, Kristjan Jespersen, Ida Theilade, Martin Reinhard Nielsen
Summary: Smallholder palm oil production faces various challenges, and the existing sustainability certification standards are insufficient to address these issues. It is necessary to broaden the research scope and explore sustainable practices that meet the needs of smallholder farmers.
Article
Anthropology
Courtney Work, Ida Theilade, Try Thuon
Summary: This paper documents the history of Cambodia's Shadow State and its involvement in the timber trade, particularly in relation to modern-day timber extraction syndicates, government officials, and USAID. The study explores how infrastructures for Shadow State extraction adapt to policy changes and persist over time, as well as the connection between climate change politics and a long history of violent resource extraction. The hidden nature of the 'shadow' state within the modern state is also highlighted.
JOURNAL OF PEASANT STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ronald Boniphace Ndesanjo, Rasmus Fensholt, Martin Reinhardt Nielsen, Ida Theilade
Summary: Seasonality of rainfall affects pasture availability, herd productivity, and pastoral livelihoods. Increased rainfall variability has implications on pasture production and livelihoods. Using remote sensing and household surveys, our study examines the relationship between climate, pasture availability, livestock mortality, and livelihoods in Tanzania. We found that extreme climatic events are associated with higher livestock mortality, and food insecurity is linked to pasture scarcity and livestock mortality. Policy interventions to enhance pastoralists' capacity to manage activities in the context of climate change are recommended.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tin Hang Hung, Thea So, Bansa Thammavong, Voradol Chamchumroon, Ida Theilade, Chhang Phourin, Somsanith Bouamanivong, Ida Hartvig, Hannes Gaisberger, Riina Jalonen, David H. Boshier, John J. MacKay
Summary: Rosewoods have been highly trafficked in the illegal wildlife trade since 2005. The two most sought-after species, Dalbergia cochinchinensis and Dalbergia oliveri, face significant genetic risks and limited adaptability knowledge, hindering conservation efforts. This study found differential adaptive genomic variation in response to temperature and precipitation-related variables between the two species, suggesting the need for species-specific conservation actions. The research also developed a seed source matching application to aid restoration efforts. Overall, this ecological genomic research is important for global tropical tree conservation and mitigating climate change risks.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Doris Chalampuente-Flores, Maria Rosa Mosquera-Losada, Antonio M. De Ron, Cesar Tapia Bastidas, Marten Sorensen
Summary: Promoting food security is an important sustainable development goal set by the UN, with a target date of 2030. Legumes play a crucial role in human nutrition and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Preserving legume biodiversity is also vital for enhancing agricultural resilience to climate change.
