Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amir Hasan Khan, Muhammad Adil, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Renata Soukand, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: This study investigated the wild food plant/mushroom foraging practices among Pathans, Kohistanis, and Gujjars living in the highlands of the Hindukush region in North Pakistan. A total of 68 wild food plants were recorded, with fruit being the most commonly used plant part. The study revealed that Pathans have retained rich knowledge on wild food plants, and they exhibit a closer affinity with Kohistanis compared to Gujjars in terms of plant use.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Giulia Mattalia, Felina Graetz, Matthes Harms, Anna Segor, Alessio Tomarelli, Victoria Kieser, Stefan Zerbe, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: Mountain regions, such as Trentino-South Tyrol in the Eastern Alps, are fragile ecosystems with rich biodiversity that are under threat from global changes. This study examined the ethnomedicinal knowledge of the area through interviews with local inhabitants and compared the findings with studies conducted 25 years ago. The comparison revealed that many of the plants currently in use were also used in the past, suggesting a continuity in medicinal plant usage.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sizhao Liu, Xinyi Huang, Zhenjun Bin, Bingning Yu, Zushuang Lu, Renchuan Hu, Chunlin Long
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive ethnobotanical investigation on the wild edible plants consumed by the Zhuang people in Fangchenggang. A total of 163 species of wild edible plants were identified, belonging to 67 families. The study also evaluated the cultural food significance index (CFSI) and identified culturally significant wild edible plants. The research highlights the importance of preserving the culinary culture of wild edible plants to support sustainable tourism and urban development.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Olga Belichenko, Valeria Kolosova, Denis Melnikov, Raivo Kalle, Renata Soukand
Summary: Socio-economic changes have a significant impact on local ethnobotanical knowledge, as shown by a study comparing wild plant use among Setos and Russians in Pskov Oblast. The research revealed a high level of homogeneity in plant use among different ethnic groups, with Seto groups showing closer botanical similarities to neighboring ethnic groups than to Setos across the border. Further investigation into knowledge transmission patterns among minor ethnic groups in a post-Soviet context is recommended.
Article
Plant Sciences
Taskeen Iqbal, Tariq Habib, Karamit Hussain, Arshad Mahmood Khan
Summary: The documentation of wild food plants and traditional ecological knowledge is crucial for biodiversity conservation, food security, and cultural diversity. This study conducted field surveys in the Bagh district of Pakistan to record the uses of wild food plants among different ethnic groups. The findings revealed both similarities and unique cultural markers among the groups, with elevation and transport dynamics playing important roles in wild food gathering and consumption.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mohamed Al-Fatimi
Summary: This study is the first ethnobotanical survey on wild edible plants conducted in Yemen, revealing 58 plant species consumed by local indigenous peoples in southern Yemen. Herbs were the most important source, with most foods consumed raw. Compared to other countries, 12 new WEPs are eaten only in southern Yemen, while 46 species are shared in different countries.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rufino Acosta-Naranjo, Ramon Rodriguez-Franco, Antonio Jesus Guzman-Troncoso, Manuel Pardo-de-Santayana, Laura Aceituno-Mata, Jose Gomez-Melara, Pablo Dominguez, Isabel Diaz-Reviriego, Jessica Gonzalez-Nateras, Victoria Reyes-Garcia
Summary: This study examines the differences in men's and women's relations with wild edible plants in various regions of Spain, showcasing a geographical pattern influenced by the construction and distribution of agrarian spaces. The study suggests that gendered differences in natural resource use can be better understood when contextualized within a larger socioecological framework.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Muhammad Majeed, Khizar Hayat Bhatti, Andrea Pieroni, Renata Soukand, Rainer W. Bussmann, Arshad Mahmood Khan, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
Summary: The study found that different religious groups in Jhelum District, Pakistan use a variety of wild food plants, with some differences but still sharing a common range of species. The cultural knowledge among non-Muslim groups is eroding due to the influence of modern lifestyles.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sandrine Gallois, Thomas Heger, Amanda Georganna Henry, Tinde van Andel
Summary: Access to and availability of natural resources are crucial for the dietary diversity and food security of forest-dwelling societies in tropical rainforests, but increasing exploitation of forests poses challenges. A balanced approach is needed to address the pressures from forest exploitation and the livelihood and dietary behavior of rural communities. Combining in-situ and ex-situ methods in studying wild food plants can provide more comprehensive insights into their knowledge and usage.
Review
Plant Sciences
Stefania Monari, Maura Ferri, Mirko Salinitro, Annalisa Tassoni
Summary: This study analyzed published papers on the traditional medicinal use of wild and cultivated plants in Italy, identifying 1117 different species and categorizing them based on therapeutic applications. The results showed that the most commonly cited species were used for treating digestive and skin-ears-eyes-hair diseases, followed by genito-urinary and respiratory diseases. Thirteen important species were identified as potential sources for plant-based therapeutic remedies.
Article
Plant Sciences
A. T. M. Rafiqul Islam, Md Mahadiy Hasan, Md Tahidul Islam, Nobukazu Tanaka
Summary: Indigenous knowledge of medicinal plants is important in primary health care. This study aims to document the therapeutic use of plants by the Munda ethnic group in Bangladesh and identify important medicinal plants and related diseases.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Noor Khalid, Lal Badshah, Adnan Ali Shah, Arman Ullah, Naushad Khan, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Renata Soukand, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: The foraging of wild food plants is important in peripheral rural and mountain areas. This study explored the wild food plant use among cultural groups in North Waziristan, NW Pakistan. The study found that only 11 species were commonly used by the four studied groups, with high overlap between the Mehsood and Ormur peoples, and the Mehsood and Wazir communities. It also reported some new or rarely used food and herbal ingredients in the NW Pakistani ethnobotanical literature.
GENETIC RESOURCES AND CROP EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ridwane Ghanimi, Ahmed Ouhammou, Abdellah Ahouach, Mohamed Cherkaoui
Summary: This study aims to investigate the knowledge of wild edible plants among the Messiwa people and assess the relationship between their traditional knowledge and socio-economic status. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to survey 149 informants, and the relative importance of the plants was calculated. The results showed that many Messiwa people have a considerable understanding of wild edible plants, particularly among women, the elderly, illiterate, married people, and those engaged in agricultural occupations. This research could contribute to the promotion and valorization of these wild edible plants, and can potentially be replicated in other regions in Morocco.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Piotr Kohler, Aleksandra Bystry, Lukasz Luczaj
Summary: Traditional dyeing methods have been forgotten in Poland. The study identified 74 plant taxa commonly used for dyeing, including onion, brazilwood, winter corn, black alder, safflower, apple, birch, oak, and violet flowering spring flowers. This paper provides additional details on dyeing traditions in Eastern Europe.
Review
Plant Sciences
Riccardo Motti
Summary: This review documented the traditional knowledge of using wild herbs and spices in Italy, identified the most frequently used wild plants, analyzed their distribution at a national scale, and described the common phytochemical compounds present in these wild species. The studies included in the review showed that wild herbs and spices enrich Italian cuisine and can be a valuable resource for local small-scale activities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
N. Stryamets, G. Mattalia, A. Pieroni, R. Soukand
Summary: Sustainable forest management emphasizes the multipurpose use of forest resources, including wild mushrooms. A comparison between Ukrainian Hutsuls and Romanian Hutsuls living in similar ecological environments revealed that the former primarily rely on forest products, including wild mushrooms, as their main source of income, while the latter use them solely as additional income. Local residents expressed concerns about their right to collect wild mushrooms being restricted by forest management and protected areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Noor Khalid, Lal Badshah, Adnan Ali Shah, Arman Ullah, Naushad Khan, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Renata Soukand, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: The foraging of wild food plants is important in peripheral rural and mountain areas. This study explored the wild food plant use among cultural groups in North Waziristan, NW Pakistan. The study found that only 11 species were commonly used by the four studied groups, with high overlap between the Mehsood and Ormur peoples, and the Mehsood and Wazir communities. It also reported some new or rarely used food and herbal ingredients in the NW Pakistani ethnobotanical literature.
GENETIC RESOURCES AND CROP EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Khalid Javed Iqbal, Muhammad Umair, Muhammad Altaf, Tanveer Hussain, Rana Manzoor Ahmad, Sayed Muhammad Zain Ul Abdeen, Andrea Pieroni, Arshad Mahmood Abbasi, Shahzad Ali, Sana Ashraf, Naila Amjad, Abdul Majid Khan, Rainer W. W. Bussmann
Summary: This study aimed to document and conserve the knowledge about the uses of freshwater fish species among residents in South Punjab, Pakistan. It found that a total of 43 fish species were utilized, with 26 species used ethnomedicinally to treat various illnesses. The most commonly used fish species was the spotted snakehead, while the karail fish had the lowest usage.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Adnan Ali Shah, Lal Badshah, Noor Khalid, Muhammad Ali Shah, Ajmal Khan Manduzai, Abdullah Faiz, Matteo De Chiara, Giulia Mattalia, Renata Soukand, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: The study of migrants' ethnobotany can help to address the socio-ecological factors affecting changes in local ecological knowledge. Through conversations with local Pathans and Afghan refugees in NW Pakistan, 145 wild plant and mushroom folk taxa were recorded. The findings suggest that there are significant differences in plant knowledge between Afghan refugees and local Pathans, which may be influenced by stricter border policies and economic conditions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Muhammad Amin, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Andrea Pieroni, Abdul Nazir, Abdullah Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Aleyna Kangal, Khalid Ahmad, Arshad Mehmood Abbasi
Summary: This study aimed to protect local knowledge and understand food cultural adaptations among the Gujjar, Kohistani, and Shina groups by recording and comparing their local plant knowledge. The findings revealed that Kohistan is an important hotspot of biocultural diversity and wild food plants play a significant role in local food systems. The highest overlap of traditional knowledge on wild food plants was observed between the Kohistani and Shinaki groups, while the Gujjar group had a greater understanding of wild food plants compared to the other groups.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Amir Hasan Khan, Muhammad Adil, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Renata Soukand, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: This study investigated the wild food plant/mushroom foraging practices among Pathans, Kohistanis, and Gujjars living in the highlands of the Hindukush region in North Pakistan. A total of 68 wild food plants were recorded, with fruit being the most commonly used plant part. The study revealed that Pathans have retained rich knowledge on wild food plants, and they exhibit a closer affinity with Kohistanis compared to Gujjars in terms of plant use.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Michele F. Fontefrancesco, Dauro M. Zocchi, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: In recent decades, scholars have used the foodscape as a concept and framework to study the intersection of landscape, people, and food culture. This article uses comparative case-study analysis to demonstrate the application of a foodscape lens in investigating cultural landscapes affected by socio-economic and ecological changes in mountain areas. Three approaches to analyzing cultural landscapes are discussed, and the research highlights the potential of the foodscape lens in assessing, protecting, and promoting local food-related resources.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Andrea Pieroni, Gabriella Morini, Maria Piochi, Naji Sulaiman, Raivo Kalle, Shiekh Marifatul Haq, Andrea Devecchi, Cinzia Franceschini, Dauro M. Zocchi, Riccardo Migliavada, Julia Prakofjewa, Matteo Sartori, Nikos Krigas, Mushtaq Ahmad, Luisa Torri, Renata Soukand
Summary: This study documents the ethnobotanical knowledge of wild greens in Ikaria Isle, Greece, through interviews and provides insight into their culinary uses and tastes. The findings show a similarity between the wild greens in Ikaria and those in other areas of the central-eastern Mediterranean, particularly in terms of bitter-tasting botanical genera. The study emphasizes the importance of preserving and documenting the bio-cultural gastronomic heritage of Chorta as part of the Mediterranean diet, and recommends further attention from nutritionists, food scientists, historians, policymakers, and practitioners.
Editorial Material
Plant Sciences
Raivo Kalle, Renata Soukand
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Renata Soukand, Raivo Kalle, Julia Prakofjewa, Matteo Sartori, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: Local knowledge is highly endangered in the modern world, and understanding the factors contributing to its preservation is crucial. This study identified three major factors: continuity of practice, ritual support, and external acknowledgment. It also found that current local knowledge is strongly centralized in institutionalized domains, limiting the circulation of unacknowledged or officially unapproved knowledge. The inclusion of local ecological knowledge in school curricula and the highlighting of local historical uses are recommended.
PLANTS PEOPLE PLANET
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
G. Mattalia, J. Prakofjewa, R. Kalle, B. Pruse, M. Marozzi, N. Stryamets, N. Kuznetsova, O. Belichenko, M. A. Aziz, A. Pieroni, R. Soukand
Summary: This study investigates the impact of Soviet centralization on local gastronomic knowledge of wild food plants. Through 581 semi-structured interviews conducted with four ethnic communities divided by political borders, the research finds a high similarity in the use of wild food plants between communities in Russia and Finland. The study also reveals a higher proportion of simple preparations with wild food plants in Soviet contexts, which is not observed in adjacent non-Soviet countries. Moreover, non-Soviet countries retain a lower number of distinct wild plant-based foods, with post-Soviet contexts referring more to past uses. The erosion of this local knowledge poses a serious risk to local food security.
NJAS-IMPACT IN AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Naji Sulaiman, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Nataliya Stryamets, Giulia Mattalia, Dauro Mattia Zocchi, Hiwa M. Ahmed, Ajmal Khan Manduzai, Adnan Ali Shah, Abdullah Faiz, Renata Soukand, Zbynek Polesny, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: Domestication of new plants is vital for agriculture as wild plants are the ancestors of future crops and a crucial source of genetic diversity. In regions affected by wars and socio-political turbulence, ethnobotanical field studies have identified culturally significant plant species that can serve as novel crops, aiding local communities in post-war livelihoods and food security. Further research is needed to assess the agronomic feasibility of these highlighted species within their respective ecosystems.
