Traditional knowledge of edible wild native and exotic plants in the context of cultural change in human populations of arid Patagonia

LADIO ANA

Bioremedation, Biodiversity and Bioaviability

Global Science Books

Lugar: Japon; Año: 2011 vol. 5 p. 60 - 64

1749-0596

Traditional plant knowledge can be defined as being dynamic and flexible. In this work it is suggested that this body of knowledge assimilates the experience of change in systems involving humans and plants. Taking the case of Mapuche communities in arid Patagonia (Argentina) as a study base, I analysed the effect of maintaining or not practices associated with the use and/or transformation of the environment, such as hunting, transhumance, Pewen seed collection (called piñoneo) and small-scale family horticulture, on traditional knowledge of edible wild plants, both native and exotic. Information from interviews was analysed by means of logistic regression. The maintenance of certain traditional practices, such as hunting and speaking the native language, which on the one hand represent direct experience of the environment, and on the other hand familiarity with the linguistic categories which represent the Mapuche world vision, are associated with a greater diversity of native and exotic plant knowledge. This greater diversity implies greater resilience of the traditional plant knowledge possessed by different populations. In contrast, the practice of piñoneo is differentially linked to greater knowledge of native, but not of exotic species. The role played by horticulture and transhumance in wild plant knowledge is discussed, since conflicting and/or unclear relationships were found. In these communities, the social memory of plants is dynamic, in tune with the dynamics of the Patagonian ecosystem, which has incorporated numerous exotic plants into its natural ecosystems. The importance of studies that show how human communities have the capacity to adjust and adapt their bodies of plant resource knowledge is emphasised.