Abstract Background The use of plants in rituals is a little explored corner biocultural diversity which has developed through time within complex socio-ecological system. Indeed, are interactions between humans and biodiversity shaped by history, culture, ethnic belonging. Yet, Western Ukraine, such were forbidden for over 50 years (1939–1991). current revival rural inhabitants an untapped reservoir local ecological knowledge. aim the present study was to identify ritual wild cultivated two...

This study examined the use of wild plants in food, medicinal and veterinary areas within a small territory limited to one village council Liubań district Belarus. The objectives research were document current past uses this region for food human/animal medication; analyse context plants; qualitatively compare results with relevant publications concerning Belarus.Fieldwork was carried out as practical part development cooperation project May 2016 11 villages district. One hundred thirty-four...

Abstract Household responses to COVID-19 in different corners of the world represent primary health care that communities have relied on for preventing and mitigating symptoms. During a very complex confusing time, which public services multiple countries been completely overwhelmed, some cases even collapsed, these first-line household quintessential building physical, mental, social resilience, improving individual community health. This editorial discusses outcomes rapid-response...

The current study reports an ethnobotanical field investigation of traditionally gathered and consumed wild greens (Chorta) in one the five so-called Blue Zones world: Ikaria Isle, Greece. Through 31 semi-structured interviews, a total 56 green plants were documented along with their culinary uses, linguistic labels, locally perceived tastes. Most described as bitter associated members Asteraceae Brassicaceae botanical families (31%), while among top-quoted greens, species belonging to these...

Plant foraging is a millennia-old activity still practiced by many people in the Middle East, particularly Fertile Crescent region, where several socioeconomic, ecological, and cultural factors shape this practice. This study seeks to understand drivers of plant complex region characterized highly diverse linguistic, religious, groups. Our aims document wild plants used Kurds Western Iran, identify similarities differences among Hawraman Mukriyan Kurdish groups compare our findings with...

Societal Impact Statement Local knowledge is highly endangered in the modern world, and therefore, it important to understand factors contributing preservation of biocultural diversity. Three major aspects were identified: continuity practice, support for ritual related use, external acknowledgment local use by an authoritative source. Moreover, strong centralization current institutionalized domains (ethnomedicine) was identified, which has excluded unacknowledged or officially unapproved...

Currently various scientific and popular sources provide a wide spectrum of ethnopharmacological information on many plants, yet the that information, as well itself, are often not clear, potentially resulting in erroneous use plants among lay people or even official medicine. Our field studies seven countries Eastern edge Europe have revealed an unusual increase medicinal Epilobium angustifolium L., especially Estonia, where majority uses were specifically related to "men's problems". THE...

A growing number of studies have acknowledged that food and ethnobotanical heritage traditionally played a crucial role in the resilience local communities, their potentially addressing future challenges posed by turbulent changes affecting systems worldwide. However, issue how why across cultures within same or similar foodscapes is still largely under-investigated. To partially contribute to this debate, we conducted exploratory fieldwork research 15 villages Bessarabia region southern...

Abstract Background Understanding how Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) evolves over time is crucial for fostering social and environmental responsibility. This study aims to develop a conceptual model of plant knowledge circulation, providing insights into the temporal dynamics LEK in Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian border region. It explores key patterns driving forces behind changes use wild plants food. Methods Field research was conducted 60 rural settlements across Podlasie Voivodeship...

Fungi have been used for medicinal purposes many centuries. This study, based on 35 historical written sources and 581 in-depth semi-structured interviews from eight countries in the western borderlands of former Soviet Union, investigates use fungi by local communities. We compared taxa uses obtained fieldwork with works that advocated within herbals, representing centralised medical system. During fieldwork, we identified locally one lichen. The highest numbers were documented Russia,...

Finnish North Karelia is a region with rich cultural history of ethnomedicinal plant use, shaped by centuries interactions among various ethnic groups. This study identified both similarities and divergences between local Finns, Karelians war refugees, individuals mixed origin compared to historical records. Based on 67 semi-structured interviews, we documented the use 43 medicinal taxa from 25 families, which 31 remain in use. Notably, number plants continuously used considerably lower than...

Abstract Background Bees have been important to people in Europe many ways. Honey was the only sweetener available for a long time. The introduction of frame hives allowed collection various hive products and better production honey wax. Only few ethnomedicinal studies on apitherapy published Europe, highlighting that are collected, sold, or used by beekeepers. aim this article is provide general overview practiced beekeepers different corners namely Estonia, Ukraine, Italy. Methods We...

The issue of foraging for wild food plants among migrants and relocated communities is an important one in environmental studies, especially order to understand how human societies rearrange their practices linked nature they adapt new socioecological systems. This paper addresses the complexity Traditional/Local Environmental Knowledge (LEK) changes associated vegetables herbs across four different groups Afghan refugees living Mansehra District, NW Pakistan, since 1985. Via interviews with...

To use any domestic remedy, specific knowledge and skills are required. Simple logic dictates that the of wild plants in context limited interaction with nature requires prior identification, while case non-plant remedies cultivated this step can be omitted. This paper aims to document current past uses study region for human/animal medication; analyze human medicinal veterinary areas remedy groups; qualitatively compare results relevant historical publications; intensity purpose between...

Wild greens (WGs) play a significant role in Mediterranean diets (MDs), reflecting botanical and cultural diversities, mainly influenced by complex conglomerate of local human ecologies. This study investigates ecological knowledge (LEK) linked to traditional gathering consumption WGs the Lasithi Plateau eastern Crete, where genetic studies one decade ago showed very peculiar patterns, hypothesising that Minoan civilisation took refuge there before it disappeared. A field ethnobotanical was...

Works on historical ethnobotany can help shed light past plant uses and humankind's relationships with the environment. We analyzed medicinal from regions of Livonia Courland in Northeast Europe based three studies published within 19th century by medical doctors researching local ethnomedicine. The sources were manually searched, information extracted entered into a database. In total, there 603 detailed reports use, which refer to 219 taxa belonging 69 families one unidentified taxon....

The circulation of local ecological knowledge (LEK) is a promising avenue research for wild plant studies. To encourage the acceptance, celebration, and appreciation biocultural diversity, which rapidly disappearing nowadays, we need to estimate assess multifaceted knowledge. It has direct application communities in informing effective policies improving food security building community-specific responses environmental social transitions. present study draws on data collected among two...

Local ecological knowledge (LEK), including but not limited to the use of wild food plants, plays a large role in sustainable natural resource management schemes, primarily due synergy between plants and people. There are calls for study LEK culturally diverse areas loss knowledge, active practice utilizing various parts world, decline biodiversity. An ethnobotanical border region Latvia, characterised by landscapes people with deep spiritual attachments nature, provided an opportunity such...

In the Soviet Union, wild food played a secondary role in diet (as cultivated species dominated). Yet authorities eventually acknowledged their importance as diversifiers and safety reservoir, started to promote use through various means, including publishing books on of plants. These government publications appeared during specific time, therefore, we mapped all centralized order understand dynamics promotion wild-plant-related knowledge. For deeper analysis, selected sample 12 promoting...

Abstract Due to global change and the migration crisis both needing rapid attention, there has been growing debate about drivers of in diet migrants. Our study aimed evaluate consequences forced resettlement on local ecological knowledge related wild food plants among forcefully resettled Yaghnobi people Tajikistan. We conducted 49 semi-structured in-depth interviews recorded 27 taxa five unidentified folk used by Yaghnobis Tajiks villages surrounding Yaghnob Valley (including families...

Over the last century in European context, animal production has been transformed by dynamics of centralization and decentralization due to political economic factors. These processes have influenced knowledge related healing ensuring welfare domestic animals. Therefore, our study aimed document compare current past ethnoveterinary practices, identify trajectories regions from both northern southern Eastern Europe. In summers 2018 2019, we conducted 476 interviews, recording use 94 plant...

Centralization is one mechanism of authoritative control, where citizens receive operation guidelines from a single source. This can impact various spheres life including local gastronomic knowledge, cornerstone biocultural diversity. We explored how to evaluate the effects Soviet centralization on wild food plant knowledge. considered four case studies ethnic communities that are divided by political borders. In total, we conducted 581 semi-structured interviews. Our results suggest three...

Abstract Local knowledge is an essential dimension of humanity's relationship with the environment. Investigating interdependence between humans and wild birds holds value in fostering a mutually beneficial avian populations. Gathering bird eggs significant practice for Kihnu islanders Estonia. There are very few studies this age‐old, complex that assess topic from perspective local community. This paper investigates reciprocity relationality people position commons community...

Like many Mediterranean areas, the Italian island of Sicily faces multiple environmental pressures such as soil loss, fire hazards, and extreme meteorological events, all which negatively impact local food systems. In response to these threats, a re-thinking agriculture natural resource management is increasingly needed. Agroecology recognized robust proposal for building more resilient systems grounded in farmers’ knowledge practices. However, agroecological farming experiences struggle...