Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Sayed Taufiq Hussain, Sayed Muhammad, Sheharyar Khan, Wahid Hussain, Andrea Pieroni
Summary: In this study, information about wild food plants and mushrooms consumed by four ethnic groups in Kurram District, NW Pakistan was gathered through interviews and group discussions. A total of 57 wild edible plants and mushrooms were reported, with 23 of them not previously reported in the area. The study found similarities in the use of wild edible plants among different ethnic groups and suggests the promotion and revitalization of wild food plant heritage.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alemayehu Mamo, Debissa Lemessa, Obsu Hirko Diriba, Debela Hunde
Summary: Crop raiding is a major form of human-wildlife interaction in ecotone areas. This study examined the spatial pattern of crop raiding and impacts on farmers' perception of forests at different distances from Yayu Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve. The study found that crop raiders occur less frequently and cause less damage further from the forest edge, and that households living close to forests perceive them as a threat to survival.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Economics
Wondimagegn Mengist, Teshome Soromessa, Gudina Legese Feyisa, G. Darrel Jenerette
Summary: The study examined the impact of socio-environmental variables on the perceived value of FES in Afromontane moist forests, finding that the local community prioritizes provisioning and regulatory services. Age and length of stay were significant determinants of perceived FES value. Cultural, regulatory, and supportive ES showed strong correlation according to CFA. Residents identified freshwater, climate regulation, and air quality regulation as the most important FES.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael Jungmeier, Axel Borsdorf, Valerie Braun, Volker Haering, Thomas Hammer, Christina Pichler-Koban
Summary: The biosphere reserve is a permanent intervention towards sustainable development as conceived by UNESCO, aiming to serve as model regions for implementing the Sustainable Development Goals 2015-2030. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, as European countries with relatively wealthy economies and high political stability, play crucial roles in the development of biosphere reserves.
ECO MONT-JOURNAL ON PROTECTED MOUNTAIN AREAS RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Wyclife Agumba Oluoch, Cory W. Whitney, Celine Termote, Christian Borgemeister, Christine B. Schmitt
Summary: This study investigates the perception of availability of woody wild edible plants (WEPs) in Turkana County, Kenya. An integrated participatory approach was used to identify important factors and themes that influenced this perception, including species, distance, seasonality, price, household consumption needs, culture and tradition, distribution, and climate change. The study emphasizes the importance of using participatory methods when assessing the perception of WEPs' availability by local communities.
Article
Environmental Studies
Stefan Dorondel, Stelu Serban, Marian Tudor
Summary: This article tells the story of possibly the first ecological restoration project in the postsocialist world (1994) and explores the intertwined processes of ecological restoration and the advancement of neoliberal economic ideas through land reform, decollectivization, and land privatization. It highlights the entanglement between ecological restoration processes and institutions, political arrangements, and various forms of land tenure. The theoretical perspective also reveals a tendency in ecological restoration projects towards adopting a neoliberal approach at the expense of local ecological knowledge and the local administration of natural resources.
Article
Horticulture
Eduviges G. Borroto Fernandez, Azar Mokhber, Maria Zeiser, Margit Laimer
Summary: Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) is an underused fruit and nut species in Europe, but has been recognized as a potential regional superfood and a source of valuable bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the nutraceutical potential of 30 accessions of Austrian wildtype C. mas through phenotyping and biochemical analyses. The results identified individuals with high economic value and provided insights for breeding alternative fruits with interesting nutritional values.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antonina Ivanova Boncheva, Pablo Hernandez-Morales
Summary: The impacts of climate change increase vulnerability of ecosystems and human communities, making social participation essential for biodiversity conservation. This article explores the community perceptions of climate change adaptation in a natural protected area in Mexico, and concludes that a combination of ecosystem-based adaptation and community-based adaptation is the most suitable approach to address the adverse impacts of climate change. Therefore, a socioecological approach for land and biodiversity use planning should be implemented, with active participation of local residents.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Christoph Schunko, Christian R. Vogl
FOOD QUALITY AND PREFERENCE
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dimitrios Papageorgiou, Penelope J. Bebeli, Maria Panitsa, Christoph Schunko
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Sonja Kaufmann, Nikolaus Hruschka, Christian R. Vogl
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Nikolaus Hruschka, Sonja Kaufmann, Christian R. Vogl
Summary: Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in Chile have seen rapid development, but struggle to meet wide-ranging administrative procedures and lack resources to impact the national discourse post- formalization. Despite the central benefit of interaction and knowledge exchange among PGS members, regular participation is hindered by time investment, travel distance, and perceived lack of expertise.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Christoph Schunko, Anna-Sophie Wild, Anjoulie Brandner
Summary: Foraging for wild food plants in urban areas can have significant benefits, but it also raises concerns about potential negative ecological impacts. Experts recommend measures such as population studies, clear legal frameworks, and the revitalization of local ecological knowledge transmission to reduce damage to urban plant populations.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anna Poncet, Christoph Schunko, Christian R. Vogl, Caroline S. Weckerle
Summary: In the Napf region, there is a diversity of plant knowledge within farmers' families, with adults having broader knowledge than children and adolescents. Women and men share a common body of plant knowledge, especially in herbaceous grassland species and woody species. Due to professional specialization, men have specialized knowledge in cattle fodder and wood processing, while women focus on edible, medicinal, and ornamental plants.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Christoph Schunko, Anjoulie Brandner
Summary: The study found that many urban residents have experience with foraging wild foods, with frequency of foraging related to plant species and forms. Those who foraged more frequently had greater nature relatedness, more childhood foraging experiences, and lived on the outskirts of the city.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Thomas Daum, Alysha Vehre, Carolin Schweizerhof, Christoph Schunko
Summary: Herbicides are becoming more prevalent in the developing world. This study examines the role of edible weeds in rural diets in Zambia and how herbicides affect their consumption. The results suggest that edible weeds are an important part of rural diets, but the use of herbicides has not had a significant impact on their consumption.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexander Hollaus, Christoph Schunko, Rainer Weisshaidinger, Poline Bala, Christian R. Vogl
Summary: This research explores indigenous farmers' perceptions of problems in traditional rice field agroecosystems, including environmental, social, and agricultural technology system issues, as well as how they relate these problems to surrounding landscape elements and microzones in their fields. The study reveals that indigenous farmers use a combination of traditional and scientific knowledge to address these problems, resulting in a hybridization of knowledge systems. By considering different dimensions of issues at various spatial scales, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of how indigenous farmers perceive and cope with problems in rice field agroecosystems, which is crucial for landscape management.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOBIOLOGY AND ETHNOMEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Christoph Schunko, Xiaoyue Li, Benjamin Klappoth, Francesca Lesi, Vincent Porcher, Anna Porcuna-Ferrer, Victoria Reyes-Garcia
Summary: The perceived decrease in abundance of wild edible plants mainly involves fruits, vegetables, and crop wild relatives, with the main drivers being land use change and direct exploitation.
GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY-AGRICULTURE POLICY ECONOMICS AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Anjoulie Brandner, Christoph Schunko
Summary: Urban wild food foraging is gaining attention as it encourages interaction between urban residents and natural environment in urban green spaces. Research reveals diverse and subjective criteria influencing urban foragers' choice of foraging locations. Supporting biodiversity and wilderness-friendly green space management is crucial for promoting urban foraging.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Alexander Hollaus, Christoph Schunko, Rainer Weisshaidinger, Poline Bala, Christian R. Vogl
Summary: This study examines the contributions of traditional rice agroecosystems to indigenous farmers in a changing landscape. The results show that besides rice production, these agroecosystems also provide non-rice food supply, habitat creation, and support for farmers' identity. However, recent changes in land use and management towards wet rice agroecosystems and plantations pose challenges to the diverse contributions available to farmers.
GEOGRAFISK TIDSSKRIFT-DANISH JOURNAL OF GEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Birgit Habermann, Christian R. Vogl, Kindu Mekonnen, Kassahun Bekele, Ulrike Felt
Summary: This study examines the interaction between scientists and farmers in Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) and analyzes the role of scientific culture in this process. Using a theoretical framework based on Science and Technology Studies (STS) helps to highlight issues of power and access in AR4D. Findings show how the re-inscription of technology in AR4D projects impacts power dynamics among different actors.
NJAS-IMPACT IN AGRICULTURAL AND LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Carolin Leitner, Christian R. Vogl