Sino-Russian cooperation on the sustainable utilization of Arctic biological resources: modernizing traditional knowledge

Considering the effects of global warming,humans need to face the possibility of an ice-free Arctic during summer.Russia spans Eurasia and occupies more Arctic lands than any other country.This vast area has a great variety of species,and the geography and environment of the Arctic have endowed these species with unique and valuable properties.All the world’s ancient nations have their traditional knowledge.The indigenous traditional knowledge of the Arctic and the knowledge embedded in traditional Chinese medicine are part of the world’s time-honored wisdom.Some of this ancient lore cannot be verified by modern scientific methods,but the methods are effective in practice,triggering further exploration and innovation.Russian Arctic indigenous people have a long history of using the Arctic biological resources.The use of therapeutic materials in traditional Chinese medicine has many similarities with the use of Arctic biological resources by indigenous peoples.Both types of traditional knowledge can inspire new approaches to the development of the Arctic biological resources.China and Russia are among the world’s largest countries,and it is important that they cooperate in developing the Arctic biological resources.The development of sustainable use of these resources,while updating traditional knowledge,is an urgently needed investment that requires an innovative approach.

Agro-biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge on Tunisian Coastal Oases

The Tunisian coastal oases constitute a model of very rich plant biodiversity, organized in different floors of cultivation. The date palm is the highest, the second is the diversified fruit trees and the smallest is composed by various other productions. The present paper is the results of a RAA diagnosis and bibliographic analysis of nearly thirty years of work on oases. The aim of this study is to focus on the plant diversity and the traditions in using different products. The survey revealed the existence of nearly 45 local date palm varieties, about 26 fruit trees, 65 vegetables and divers other species. It also raises nearly 30 uses of dates and date palm by-products. This survey shows also that oases inhabitants keep in possessing, for a long time, a knowledge to make ingenious concerning use and conservation of the products and by products of the date palm. This survey has all as much demonstrated the risks from weakening this balance which has long been maintained. Some recommendations to maintain and conserve this system are also presented in this paper.

Ethnobotany and Indigenous Traditional Knowledge in Brazil: Contributions to Research in Ecopsychology

This paper is the result of an investigation of the flora and traditionalknowledge in the conception of Javaé indigenous people from the Txuirivillage located on Bananal Island, Brazil. The objective is to investigatethe plants used by these indigenous people, their diverse uses and tounderstand how traditional knowledge is passed on to new generations.This is a qualitative, descriptive and interdisciplinary survey, whose datacollection strategies included the application of semi-structured questionnairesand collection of plants for cataloguing according to AngiospermPhylogeny Group or APG III (2009). We identified 26 plant species, usedfor various purposes such as medicinal use, food, construction, craft andcultural, which were deposited in the Herbarium of the Federal Universityof Tocantins. Roots, stem and leaf are the plant parts most used bythe community. The plants mentioned were most frequently found on thebanks of the Javaés River and in the backyard of the residences. Significanttraditional knowledge of these people about the plants are transmittedto new generations, through visual, orality and experimentation. Ethnobotanicalstudies strengthen research in ecopsychology while allowingresearch into the interactions between human populations and plants.

The Categories and Benefit-sharing of Traditional Knowledge Associated with Biodiversity

A milestone in the Year of Biodiversity is that the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization to the Convention on Biological Diversity （CBD） was adopted in the 10th Conference of Parties （COP 10） held in Nagoya, Japan, Oct 18- 29, 2010. Traditional knowledge （TK） is a key issue in the Protocol’s text and its negotiating period. This paper aimed to protect TK by defining its concepts and categories and promoting benefit-sharing with TK’s holders. Based on the analysis for the TK concepts of relevant international organizations and conventions, in particularly on the author’s current years’ research work on TK in the ethnic areas of China, this paper proposes the categories and the classification system for the TK associated with biological resources, i.e. （i） the knowledge for traditional use of agricultural bio-species and genetic resources; （ii） the knowledge for traditional use of medicinal bio-species;（iii） traditional technical innovations for bio- resource use and traditional practices for farming and living styles; （iv） traditional cultures such as customary laws and community protocols that are related to conservation and sustainable use of bio-resources; and （v） traditional geographically biological indicators. Furthermore, this paper introduced the provisions for access and benefit-sharing of TK and proposed to share fairly and equitably the benefits produced from use of TK with indigenous people, local communities and other kinds of holders such as a country for the ancient documented TK. In addition, aimed to the existing problems for traditional knowledge protection, the national strategy for TK protection was introduced and measures for TK inheritance, development, utilization and protection measures were put forward, which are significant for TK’s popularization and beneficial to local communities of the ethnic groups in China.

Overview of Taiwan's Indigenous Ethnopharmacology in the Perspective of Traditional Knowledge Protection

Ethnopharmacology, the study of ethnic use of drugs, opens up the crucial gateway to understanding and promoting traditional medicine in the new age. Taiwan is a unique region where traditional medicine and herbal therapeutics have been benefiting its people of multiple races for centuries. This article overviews Taiwan＇s indigenous traditional medicine and the emerging status of ethnopharmacology study, and outlines the globa~ scenario of the inheritance and development of traditional medicine. In such a scope of knowledge protection, this article particularly highlights the challenges with bioprospecting and biopiracy, and summarizes the current measures for protection of traditional knowledge in Taiwan. Finally, based upon these analyses, we propose rational strategies for promoting Taiwan＇s ethnopharmacology, from multiple angles of resource, economy, policy and law. We conclude that four measures, namely （1） protecting the natural environment of biodiversity, （2） avoiding unnecessary conflicts caused by bioprospecting and biopiracy, （3） strengthening the international collaboration, and （4） upgrading the legal system of traditional intelligence, would be the right paths for Taiwan to protect its invaluable heritage of traditional medicine and the knowledge of ethnoDharmacoloov therein.

Traditional knowledge in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention program in northern Uganda

Uganda’s health care sector is choking with various challenges,such as poor physical infrastructure,inadequate professionals to run the few existing health centers,poor culture of adherence to professional ethical standards by some health care practitioners,shortages of medicines in most government hospitals/health centers,and corruption.Most of the challenges are more endemic in rural areas.It is on the above premise that this article discusses some of the challenges that health centers face in provision of care to the increasing number of HIV/AIDS patients in hard-to-reach rural communities in northern Uganda and the implications of such challenges on the economy.Uganda’s success in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the early 1990s was globally applauded because of its aggressive grassroots behavioral change crusades aimed at reducing the number of sexual partners.The success inspired a wave of financial aid programs from the US government to fight the disease across the developing world.However,the success was short-lived as the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in Uganda is currently rising,with the health care system struggling to provide care for the ballooning number of patients.To contribute to the curtailing cases of new infections,this article discuses the integration of the traditional authority and knowledge system in the national HIV/AIDS care and prevention program along with the biomedical approach currently being used.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Community-based Natural Resource Management in Northeast India

Community-based natural resource management in northeast India has a long history. Indigenous knowledge and adaptation are the collective information, with improvement from generation to generation. The expectation is that under community control, local expertise on biodiversity will play a significant role in natural resource management through traditional practices. This paper discusses the characteristics and application of the traditional ecological knowledge of aboriginal peoples in northeast India and its role in natural resource management. Examples are provided in two different eco-cultural landscapes, i.e., Demazong (the Buddhist eco-cultural landscape in Sikkim Himalaya) and the Apatani eco-cultural landscape in Arunachal Pradesh, which illustrate the utility value of traditional ecological knowledge in sustainable natural resource management. Both eco-cultural landscapes are indeed very complex and highly evolved systems with high levels of economic and ecological efficiencies. The paper concludes that traditional ecological knowledge systems and institutions could serve as entry points into the sustainable utilization and management of natural resources. This could be achieved through the exploration of the cultural practices of the local people and integrating useful aspects into the modern natural resource management expertise. With rapidly depleting biodiversity in the developing tropic regions, there is a greater utilization today than ever before of the value of respecting the "Sacred" as a tool towards better conservation of natural resources.

Traditional agroecological knowledge and practices:The drivers and opportunities for adaptation actions in the northern region of Ghana

Agroecological practices are promoted as a more proactive approach than conventional agriculture to achieving a collective global response to climate change and variability while building robust and resilient agricultural systems to meet food needs and protect the integrity of ecosystems.There is relatively limited evidence on the key traditional agroecological knowledge and practices adopted by smallholder farmers,the factors that influence smallholder farmers’decision to adopt these practices,and the opportunities it presents for building resilient agricultural systems.Using a multi-scale mixed method approach,we conducted key informant interviews(n=12),focus group discussions(n=5),and questionnaire surveys(N=220)to explore the traditional agroecological knowledge and practices,the influencing factors,and the opportunities smallholder farmers presented for achieving resilient agricultural systems.Our findings suggest that smallholder farmers employ a suite of traditional agroecological knowledge and practices to enhance food security,combat climate change,and build resilient agricultural systems.The most important traditional agroecological knowledge and practices in the study area comprise cultivating leguminous crops,mixed crop-livestock systems,and crop rotation,with Relative Importance Index(RII)values of 0.710,0.708,and 0.695,respectively.It is reported that the choice of these practices by smallholder farmers is influenced by their own farming experience,access to market,access to local resources,information,and expertise,and the perceived risk of climate change.Moreover,the results further show that improving household food security and nutrition,improving soil quality,control of pest and disease infestation,and support from NonGovernmental Organizations(NGOs)and local authorities are opportunities for smallholder farmers in adopting traditional agroecological knowledge and practices for achieving resilient agricultural systems.The findings call into question the need for stakeholders and policy-makers at all levels to develop capacity and increase the awareness of traditional agroecological knowledge and practices as mechanisms to ensure resilient agricultural systems for sustainable food security.

Application of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Food and Water Security in the Semi-Arid Turkana County, Kenya

Weather extremes negatively affect socioeconomic developments in arid and semi-arid areas (ASALs) and increase vulnerability of residents to food and water insecurity. Thus, communities adapt to such extremes of weather using Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and/or Modern Technologies. Modern farming technologies and land resource developments in ASALs have in past ignored TEK, and in most cases led to undesired outcomes. It’s against this backdrop that this study was conceived to assess TEK among the Turkana people, its application and contribution to food and water security. The research adopted a cross-sectional social survey in collecting data from Central Turkana Sub-County residents. The study revealed that the Turkana people possess vast knowledge related to their environment;that this TEK plays a significant role in food production, preservation and in natural resource management. For instance, in 82% of the respondents use TEK in enhancing livestock production through the selection of livestock species that are suitable and drought tolerant;over 70% of them use TEK in reducing risk associated with livestock losses due to prolonged droughts. Further, TEK influenced the development and conservation of the water resources (r = 0.631;p < 0.01) including siting boreholes and wells. There was a strong correlation (r = 0.755;p < 0.01) between TEK and food security. TEK should be incorporated into the decision-making processes involving development projects within the ASALs.

Expression model for multiple relationships in the ontology of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge

Objective:To explore multiple relationships in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)knowledge by comparing binary and multiple relationships during knowledge organization.Methods:Characteristics of binary and multiple semantic relationships as well as their associations are described.A method to classify multiple relationships based on the involvement of time is proposed and theoretically validated using examples from the ancient TCM classic Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces.The classification includes parallel multiple relationships,restricted multiple relationships,multiple relationships that involve time,and multiple relationships that involve time restriction.Next,construction of multiple semantic relationships for TCM concepts in each classification using Protege,an ontology editing tool is described.Results:Protege is superior to a binary relationship and less than ideal with multiple relationships during the constitution of concept relationships.Conclusion:When applied in TCM,the semantic relationships constructed by Protege are superior than those constructed by correlation and/or attribute relationships,but less ideal than those constructed by the human cognitive process.

Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Practices of Ethnic Kyrgyz of the Eastem Pamir in Ethnotoponyms

The author analyzes ethnotoponyms, the local place names of Kyrgyz people living in the Murgab region of Tajikistan＇s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous region. The author conducted field research in the region in 2010-2015. The article also builds on data from the works of pre-Soviet Russian and western travelers, who studied the region at middle 19th early 20th centuries. The author concludes that local place names given by Kyrgyz people to the mountains, rivers, lakes, and valleys reflect the unique features of natural landscapes of Eastern Pamir as well as Kyrgyz nomads＇ empirical observations of natural phenomena and processes, livelihoods and nomadic values.

Coping with Pressures of Modernization by Traditional Farmers: a Strategy for Sustainable Rural Development in Yunnan, China

Traditional farming practices conform to sustainable rural livelihoods, while agricultural modernisation tends to undermine these practices through various perturbations. A case study in Tengchong County (western Yunnan, China) shows that transformation of traditional alder (Alnus nepalensis) and dry rice (upland rice) rotational farming to introduced Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook.) plantations leads to localised water scarcity and soil fertility decline. While farmers are aware of ecological sustainability of traditional farming, they prefer Chinese fir forestry because it is less labour-intensive, has a high market value, and releases time for profitable off-farm work. Farmers adapt to economic liberalization by planting high value crops and trees. However, alternatives to make local agricultural production more profitable through competitive business strategies, cooperative approaches, innovations in integrating high value crops and 'downstream' processingfor sustainable rural livelihoods have been overlooked largely due to poor information availability and lack of organisational framework.

Ethnobotanical survey of plants traditionally used against hematophagous invertebrates by ethnic groups in the mountainous area of Xishuangbanna, Southwest China

Hematophagous invertebrates such as mosquitoes,leeches,mites,ticks,lice and bugs cause various problems for humans.Considering reports on insecticide resistance and requirements for improved environmental and toxicological profiles,there is a continuing need to discover and develop new insecticides and repellents.Ethnobotanical surveys of traditional plant-based repellents provide a direct method of identifying plants for potential use.During five field surveys in Bulang,Jinuo and Lahu villages between August 2018 and July 2019,semi-structured interviews were conducted with 237 informants(151 male,86 female;mean age 63).Frequency of citation,use value,informant consensus factor and Jaccard index were employed to statistically analyze the collected data.A total of 709 use reports relating to 32 plant species and 71 remedies were collected.Similarities and differences between the three groups,as well as the Dai and Hani of Xishuangbanna,who were studied earlier,were shown through network analysis.These five ethnic groups living in the same area have a common understanding of traditional botanical knowledge against hematophagous invertebrates,but each group also possesses unique knowledge.Recording and protecting this traditional knowledge is potentially useful for protecting this cultural diversity and related biodiversity and can also have important practical applications.In this study,traditional knowledge provided us with many new potential plants for follow-up research for the development of new insecticides and repellents,among which Artemisia indica,Nicotiana tabacum and Clausena excavata are the most promising.

Ethnobotanical and Indigenous Knowledge of Important Plants in East Hararghe, Eastern Ethiopia

An ethnobotanical study was conducted in East Hararghe, Ethiopia to identify and investigate the use of various plants by the traditional healers and communities engaged in domestic, pesticide and medicinal use. A total of 78 species were observed to be used by the local inhabitants in the region for the treatments of various ailments. Out of these, herbs constitute 49% followed by trees(36%) and shrubs only 15%. However, most frequently used plant parts were leaf and aerial parts(20) followed by seed(13), fruit(12), other parts(10), rhizome(7) and bark(1). Most of the plants were found to be used for medicinal, aromatic and food flavouring(spices, condiments) purposes. Out of 78 species recorded in the present study, 11 were reported to cure stomachache, seven for cold, cough and respiratory problem, six for diarrhoea and five species were found capable of curing fever. Fabaceae was the largest family contributing to medicinal plant use with seven species followed by Solanaceae, Myrtaceae,(5 spp.), and Zingiberaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae(4 spp. each). Some of the important plants utilized for taking care of variety of ailments are Azadirachta indica, Brassica nigra, Balanites aegyptiaca, Maytenus ovatus, Rosmarinus officinalis and Trigonella foenum graecum. Most of these medicinal and aromatic plants(MAPs) play a significant role in the household economy and were observed to be very popular among the people. Unpopular plants were left out of the study. This study provides useful and basic information on usage of different plants for conducting further studies aimed at conservation and documentation of traditional medicine system and economic welfare of rural peoples of the East Hararghe, Ethiopia. It also revealed that indigenous practices contributed to sustainable management of plants.

Indigenous Knowledge of Natural Resource Management and Population Control for Dong Ethnic Group in Guizhou Province

Dong ethnic people have rich indigenous knowledge in terms of their daily life and production, which plays an important role in the sustainable development of their village. This paper aims to understand traditional knowledge of Dong ethnic people in resource management and population control, including traditional resource management, traditional medicinal knowledge and village regulations in Zhanli Village in Southeast Guizhou Province. The research methods include key informant interview, group discussion, participant observation and secondary data collect- ing. The results show that Zhanli villagers try their best to utilize indigenous knowledge to manage the natural resources and keep the stable population to make themselves live in a sustainable way. Indigenous knowledge plays an important role in managing their limited natural resources and keeping the population stable under an excellent condition. Zhanli villagers employ indigenous knowledge to manage natural resources and use local herbs to control the population. Village regulation terms significantly influence villagers’ awareness in resource management and birth control. Women play the chief role in employing indigenous knowledge in weaving as well as medicinal knowledge in birth control, and these kinds of knowledge are passed down through the female line. However, the inheritance style of traditional knowledge is decreasing. Indig- enous knowledge plays an important role in the sustainable development of this village, which gives implications for development practices to involve indigenous knowledge to achieve sustainable development.

Reviewing the medicinal potential of Valeriana jatamansi Jones:its traditional uses,phytochemistry,and pharmacological activities

Objectives:To gather updated information on the traditional uses,phytochemistry,and pharmacological activities of Valeriana jatamansi Jones.Background:V.jatamansi is indigenous to the Himalayas immensely used as traditional folk remedy.It contains a variety of secondary metabolites that give it a high medicinal and therapeutic values.For the purpose of collecting relevant information on V.jatamansi,a comprehensive literature search was conducted.Based on ethnobotanical sources and historical records,traditional uses were compiled.Scientific articles and databases were consulted for phytochemical data.In order to assess the plant’s therapeutic properties,pharmacological studies were reviewed.Summary:The botanical is known for its ethnobotanical uses ranging from sedative and anxiolytic effects to treating insomnia,epilepsy,and gastrointestinal disorders.Indigenous healing practices rely heavily on its traditional uses.Based on the phytochemical analysis,it contains a diverse array of bioactive compounds,including sesquiterpenoids and iridoids.Valerenic acid and jatamansinol,among other compounds,contribute to its therapeutic potential.A broad spectrum of pharmacological activities is found including anxiety-relieving,sedative,anti-inflammatory,neuroprotective,and antimicrobial effects.Outlook:Based on the evidence supporting ethnomedicinal uses of V.jatamansi,its immense biopotential and multiple pharmacological roles,standard clinical trials are required to evaluate its therapeutic potential.

Exploring the medicinal heritage: traditional applications of vertebrates and their by-products in human and veterinary remedies in India

Indigenous peoples are the custodians of traditional knowledge,encompassing their ideas,innovations,and methods.Throughout history,both plants and animals have served as valuable sources for medicinal remedies,capable of treating or preventing illnesses.This article aims to offer a concise overview of the traditional medical uses of vertebrates and the derived products in both human and veterinary medicine.Animal species are utilized as raw materials,and the resulting products are employed to cure a wide array of ailments.In different regions of India,indigenous peoples have diverse traditional applications for vertebrates and their by-products,which are utilized to treat human and animal illnesses.In various parts of India,medical practices involve the use of forty percent mammals,seven percent birds,eleven percent reptiles,eight percent fish,and two percent amphibians.Kerala employs around 69 different animal species and their by-products for the treatment of human and veterinary ailments.Similarly,the Theni district of Tamil Nadu utilizes 69 animals,the state of Madhya Pradesh employs 18 animals,the state of Tripura utilizes 25 animals,and the state of Assam employs 44 animals for the treatment of human and veterinary illnesses.Consequently,the main objective of this review is to provide a summary of the traditional therapeutic applications of animals and the resulting products.

Historical Timber-Framed Buildings： Typology and Knowledge

This paperprovides a historical overview intending to clarify the methods of interpretation of timber-framed buildings by different authors of construction treatises, and structural intentions of the carpentry designers and master builders, throughout the centuries, until the period when it became scientific structural theory. It describes the ＂box-frame＂ construction that appeared in Lisbon, after the earthquake of 1755, characterized by its good seismic resistance. This knowledge is important to determine a strategy of an efficient restoration practice in historical constructions which require an intervention subordinated to its raised patrimonial and artistic value, minimum, which respects the authenticity of its structural and construction conception and which is reversible and compatible, in physical, chemical, mechanic and aesthetic terms. Empirical understanding of the most important properties of wood to structure purposes, the defects of structural timbers, the framing and the preliminary survey followed by the structural survey were some of the difficulties which can be overcame in practice.

Effects of Traditional Ecological Knowledge on the Droughtresistant Mechanisms of the Hani Rice Terraces System

The Hani Rice Terraces System is one of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems（GIAHS） sites which can successfully resist extreme droughts.The reason is not only that the forests and terraces have the important function of water conservation,which provide and conserve adequate water resources for this complex ecosystem,but also that Hani traditional ecological knowledge plays an important role in the drought-resistance process.In this paper,drought-resistant mechanisms of the Hani Rice Terraces System have been analyzed first,then Hani traditional ecological knowledge has been analyzed based on a comprehensive literature review,a questionnaire survey and key informant interviews.The results show that the Hani nationality has developed knowledge of water management techniques,including water conserving construction,water allocation and ditch management.The Hani people are also highly conscious of water resources protection.There is a good deal of forest resource management knowledge and worship of forests,which have effectively helped in protecting the forest ecological system.In the reclamation and maintenance of Hani terraced fields,the Hani people have developed a series of farming systems,which have effectively protected the terrace ecosystem.Through analyzing this knowledge of water management,forest resource management and Hani terraced fields management,our paper confirms the important role that traditional ecological knowledge plays in maintaining stability of the system and realizing the efficient use of water resource.This is not only helpful for preserving cultural heritage,but is vital for protecting the Hani Rice Terraces System as a whole.

The Value of the Miao People’s Traditional Ecological Knowledge for a Solution to Rocky Desertification in Mashan

There are many branches of the Miao people in China, one of which is the Mashan Miao, who have been living in karst mountainous areas in southwest Guizhou Province. The Mashan Miao have adopted various measures for the conservation and effective utilization of the local ecological system and have made great achievements in this area. From the 1950s, their social environment has changed a lot due to political and economic movements. The rocky desertification in the Mashan area has gradually expanded. After the 1990s, relief work was carried out to address the desertification problem, but it was not very effective. We have been doing fieldwork in this area for more than 20 years and from our fieldwork records, we have found that the local Miao people have traditional ecological knowledge and skills that are of irreplaceable valuable for finding a solution for rocky desertification. Using the Miao knowledge we think a feasible way to control this disaster can be found.