Coastal Indigenous Peoples worldwide have relied on fish and other marine resources for millennia, and continue to do so despite recent degradation of ocean systems. Their traditional ecological knowledge, comprised of experiences, observations, beliefs, and lifeways, is relevant for modern marine management and conservation. This thesis explores the utility of traditional and local ecological knowledge for extending an understanding of changes over time for places or periods in which scientific data are unavailable. This thesis had three goals: 1) undertake research that is collaborative and inclusive, and that addresses priorities established by participating First Nations; 2) contribute to fisheries management and conservation recommendations by focusing on a species of cultural importance and exploring the applications of traditional and local ecological knowledge to species-level understandings; and 3) contribute a marine social-ecological case study that investigates the use of traditional and local ecological knowledge to understand change over time and provides appropriate context. Two main objectives allowed me to accomplish my goals: 1) demonstrate the application of traditional and local ecological knowledge to establish historical baselines that extend farther back in time than scientific surveys, and investigate reasons for changes, and 2) investigate the utility of a social-ecological trap framework in assessing impacts to a social-ecological system and identifying ways to escape such a trap. My case study occurred in collaboration with four First Nations (as many Indigenous Peoples of Canada are called) on the Central Coast of British Columbia, Canada. My methods included semi-structured interviews with knowledge holders to examine traditional and local ecological knowledge of a culturally and economically important species, Yelloweye rockfish (Sebastes ruberrimus). In this study, I interviewed First Nations fishers and Elders (n=43), asking about: observed changes to the body sizes (length) and abundance of this species over the last ~60 years, the factors driving these changes, stewardship principles or traditional management strategies, concerns for marine resources, and perceived opportunities for cultural revitalization. I then quantified the interview participants’ current and historical estimates of size and abundance, compared interview data to current biological survey data, and qualitatively analyzed responses regarding stewardship, culture, perceived threats, and cultural solutions. I utilized the framework of a social-ecological trap to analyze responses about stewardship, traditional stories or management, and threats to culture, selecting illustrative quotes to contextualize the lived experiences of participants. Overwhelmingly, respondents had observed a decrease in Yelloweye rockfish body sizes since the 1980s. Median historical length observed by participants was nearly twice the modern length. Participants reported substantial decrease in Yelloweye rockfish abundance since the 1980s, and most stated that this change was evident in the early 2000s. Sizes of modern Yelloweye rockfish estimated by participants resembled measurements from ecological data recorded concurrently at the study region. Thus, my study extends baseline historical data of Yelloweye rockfish reliably by about 50 years. Questions about traditional stories and culture revealed the presence of a social-ecological trap created and reinforced by the interplay between species decline and colonization (e.g. the residential schooling system). When asked about traditional management or stewardship practices, only one participant could remember specific traditional stories about Yelloweye rockfish, though all participants expressed adherence to the stewardship principles of taking only what is needed and respecting all life. Though participants expressed concern about the muting of traditional ecological knowledge, culture, and language, they also highlighted key ways towards revitalization and Indigenous resurgence. The ubiquitous presence of stewardship principles suggests there are ways beyond the social trap: participants described on-going cultural revitalization efforts, recovery of depleted species and ecosystems, and the reassertion of Indigenous management rights as ways to overcome problems inherent to the social-ecological trap. My research adds to a growing body of literature that supports the use of traditional and local ecological knowledge in marine management and conservation science. Adding to this literature, my work suggests the significant value of traditional and local ecological knowledge for filling gaps in historical scientific data or in data-poor regions, and highlights the importance of appropriately contextualizing Indigenous knowledge. To overcome the social-ecological trap of knowledge loss and to achieve informed marine management, reassertion of Indigenous management rights and application of traditional management strategies to modern fisheries management is vital. / Graduate / 0326 / 0768 / 0416 / eckertleckert@gmail.com

This research was aimed at determining the ethno-ornithological knowledge of three Mushere villages close to the Dulu Forest, Nigeria to determine whether this might hold potential for developing a local conservation programme to protect the forest. The conservation objective of the research was aimed at determining the drivers of forest degradation, and possible means of mitigation. Using a mixed method approach, quantitative/qualitative data were collected in two years from different demographics (men, women, children, age differentials, occupation, urbanization). Oral interviews, semi-structured interviews, picture elicitation tasks, free-listing exercises and focus group discussions were employed in the data collection process. The findings revealed a relatively low ethno-ornithological knowledge, and a general indifference (ornitho-apatheia) towards birds. Knowledge transmission was predominantly through oral means while TEK acquisition was mainly through vertical and horizontal methods. While adults perceived birds as not valuable, children generally perceived birds as valuable. Cultural utilization and ecological salience were the main drivers of bird naming and knowledge. However, there was a high valuing of the Dulu forest, with the main drivers of the forest degradation being timber extraction. Overall, I concluded that the indifference of the Mushere towards birds revealed a lack of cultural appreciation of birds, leading to little TEK of birds, insufficient to encourage the use of TEK of birds in the conservation of the Dulu forest, and the use of birds as flagship domain for promoting conservation. However, a sustained approach towards encouraging birding activities could improve the perception of birds. I therefore suggest using an ecosystem approach in the conservation of the Dulu forest. Engaging the locals in dialogue, establishing a leadership structure for the management of the Dulu forest, providing alternative means of livelihoods are suggested as ways of mitigating the degradation of the Dulu forest.

The term Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is generally interpreted as the knowledge held by Indigenous communities about their environment and the cultural frameworks in which such knowledge is transmitted. There is no universally accepted definition of TEK and interpretations can vary between Western and Indigenous lenses. TEK as an academic field has gained a vast literature base; however, there is a dearth of literature in the wildlife field that expresses TEK through an Indigenous lens. There has been growing attention on TEK in the wildlife profession, warranting further exploration of how Indigenous and Western scientific paradigms may be used together in natural resources conservation. Herein, I present my doctoral research, where I focused on a culturally sensitive approach in the pursuit of TEK studies. I conducted interdisciplinary research with the Yurok Tribe of northwestern California in two parts: (1) a human dimensions study where I interviewed Yurok people regarding TEK and their relationship with wildlife and (2) a wildlife survey on Yurok ancestral lands where I used genetic analyses of scats as a noninvasive method for determining species presence and diet. In addition, I developed a synthesis document regarding historical aspects of Indian Country in the United States and philosophical contexts of TEK as science to facilitate dialogue regarding cultural sensitivity in wildlife research with a TEK component. During an internship with the National Park Service (NPS), I developed a guidance document to provide resources regarding TEK in wildlife conservation and a case study detailing how I navigated my doctoral research. My dissertation consists of five manuscripts, each formatted for a specific journal or the NPS.

<p>Livestock keeping has been the essential source of livelihood in Babati District for many hundreds of years. The traditional ecological knowledge about this semi-arid environment has influenced the general view on livestock management. This essay discusses the measures that are, or could be taken in Babati District to prevent overstocking and overgrazing in the woodlands. With the continuing population density increase also the livestock population grows. More houses and roads are built and the grazing lands diminish. To avoid overgrazing forest management programmes restrict grazing in forests. This additionally decreases availability of grazing land. My conclusion is that minimizing number of livestock is necessary to not exceed carrying capacity of pasture during drought. Hence this is not free from problems since it is traditionally rooted to have a large number of livestock as a buffer of energy and wealth. One solution for both how to prevent overstocking and how to survive with small number of livestock is to practise zero-grazing. Zero-grazing is to keep a small number of healthy big cattle e.g. exotic cows or crossbreeds in stables or tied up. However, when tying cattle on the spot the fact that cattle have four legs is disregarded.</p>

<p>The aim of this study was to investigate indigenous knowledge of vegetation resource utilisation, in particular the use of traditional medicinal plants in the provision of health care in the community of Khayelitsha and to determine traditional resource management approaches.</p>

Typically small in number and poorly resourced, Canadian non-status First Nations often find themselves in conflict with more powerful private interests pursuing intensive resource development activities on their traditional lands. In the face of these threats, some non-status First Nations are using a combination of traditional environmental knowledge, a renewed commitment to traditional subsistence activities, and self-developed spiritual ecologies to reassert their sovereignty over ancestral territories. Eastern Ontario’s Ardoch Algonquin First Nation (AAFN) is one such group. AAFN members carry out cultural activities such as canoe building, hunting, trapping and harvesting wild rice on their traditional lands at the headwaters of the (Canadian) Mississippi, Madawaska, and Rideau rivers, lands that are part of a larger unresolved land claim made by Ontario’s Algonquin peoples. This research reports findings from a multi-year participatory research project that sought to understand AAFN’s traditional spiritual ecology (miyo-pimaadiziwin), to describe how it is understood and practiced by community members, and to use these insights as a lens to better understand the current and future trajectory of relations between AAFN members, governments, and outside interests engaged in resource development in this region. While AAFN members hope their miyo-pimaadiziwin-based values will foster mutual respect with non-aboriginal neighbours, the results are yet uncertain. However, what is plainly clear is that miyo-pimaadiziwin has traditionally been fundamentally at odds with rural and resource development strategies being promoted by the provincial government, meaning the potential for future and ongoing conflict is great. Although the two land strategies in contention are in many ways different, this analysis identifies some possible future areas of reconciliation in which the two approaches share common goals. The findings from the study contribute to broader scholarly efforts that seek to better understand the challenges faced by non-status First Nations in preserving cultural knowledge and traditional land-based activities more generally. / Les Premières nations canadiennes non-statuées sont typiquement petites, et elles disposent de peu de moyens financiers. Ces Premières nations se retrouvent souvent dans des situations conflictuelles avec des intérêts privés qui visent à réaliser des projets de développement de ressources naturelles intensifs sur des territoires autochtones traditionnels. Face à cette menace, certaines Premières nations non-statuées ont commencé à élaborer des stratégies de gestion territoriale ancrées dans le savoir écologique traditionnel, ainsi que dans les activités de subsistance. Ces stratégies ont pour but de réaffirmer leur souveraineté territoriale. La vision de gestion territoriale de la Première nation algonquine d’Ardoch (PNAA), située dans l’est de l’Ontario, est représentative de ce nouveau courant. Les membres de la PNAA pratiquent couramment des activités culturelles, telles que la fabrication de canoës, la chasse, le piégeage, et la récolte du riz sauvage, sur leurs territoires traditionnels, localisés à la source des rivières Mississippi (ontarienne), Madawaska et Rideau. Ce territoire fait actuellement partie d’une revendication territoriale algonquine toujours non-résolue. Cette étude présente les résultats d’un projet de recherche pluriannuel qui visait à mieux comprendre l’écologie spirituelle algonquine (miyo-pimaadiziwin) de la PNAA, de décrire comment ce concept est interprété et mis en pratique par les membres de la communauté, ainsi qu’à obtenir un aperçu quant à la trajectoire des relations entre les membres de la PNAA, les gouvernements et les intérêts privés, qui sont responsables du développement des ressources naturelles dans la région. Bien que les membres de la PNAA espèrent pouvoir (en suivant les principes éthiques de miyo-pimaadiziwin) éventuellement établir et maintenir un sentiment de respect mutuel et d’harmonie avec leurs voisins non-autochtones, cette vision reste loin d’être en mesure d’être réalisée. Cependant, il reste que les principes de miyo-pimaadiziwin sont fondamentalement irréconciliables à la vision du développement de ressources naturelles intensif que promeut le gouvernement provincial de l’Ontario. Par conséquent, la possibilité de futures mésententes et de conflits entre la PNAA et le gouvernement provincial reste élevée. Bien que ces deux stratégies territoriales soient, à plusieurs égards, fondamentalement différentes, cette analyse identifie quelques objectifs et ambitions partagés par la PNAA et le gouvernement ontarien, ce qui indique la possibilité de collaboration entre ces deux partis. Les résultats et conclusions de cette étude pourront contribuer aux tentatives de la part de l’érudition de mieux comprendre les défis auxquels font face les Premières nations non-statuées, en ce qui concerne la conservation culturelle, qui va de pair avec la pratique d’activités de subsistance sur le territoire traditionnel.

A multidisciplinary research methodology based on the combination of literature review and spatial analysis is presented as a contribution to the historical ecology of olive trees in Sicily (Italy). The thesis crosscuts time and space at different scales for a new epistemological approach to allow the olive trees to “talk”. Structured around the identification of breaking points and nodes of connection, the social and ecological history of the olive trees in the island are explored. While recognising the full agency of trees in the spatial and temporal evolving dynamics of the landscape, the vital importance of their inner connections with other elements of the ecosystems is stressed in the analysis; as also the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge. The thesis is concluded with the hypothesis that the olive trees of Sicily could be seen as biocultural refugia, physical places which preserve both agricultural biodiversity and traditional ecological knowledge.

<p>Antillean manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) were heavily hunted in the past throughout the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR), and are currently listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In most WCR countries, including Haiti and the Dominican Republic, remaining manatee populations are believed to be small and declining, but current information is needed on their status, distribution, and local threats to the species.</p><p>To assess the past and current distribution and conservation status of the Antillean manatee in Hispaniola, I conducted a systematic review of documentary archives dating from the pre-Columbian era to 2013. I then surveyed more than 670 artisanal fishers from Haiti and the Dominican Republic in 2013-2014 using a standardized questionnaire. Finally, to identify important areas for manatees in the Dominican Republic, I developed a country-wide ensemble model of manatee distribution, and compared modeled hotspots with those identified by fishers.</p><p>Manatees were historically abundant in Hispaniola, but were hunted for their meat and became relatively rare by the end of the 19th century. The use of manatee body parts diversified with time to include their oil, skin, and bones. Traditional uses for folk medicine and handcrafts persist today in coastal communities in the Dominican Republic. Most threats to Antillean manatees in Hispaniola are anthropogenic in nature, and most mortality is caused by fisheries. I estimated a minimum island-wide annual mortality of approximately 20 animals. To understand the impact of this level of mortality, and to provide a baseline for measuring the success of future conservation actions, the Dominican Republic and Haiti should work together to obtain a reliable estimate of the current population size of manatees in Hispaniola.</p><p> </p><p>In Haiti, the survey of fishers showed a wider distribution range of the species than suggested by the documentary archive review: fishers reported recent manatee sightings in seven of nine coastal departments, and three manatee hotspot areas were identified in the north, central, and south coasts. Thus, the contracted manatee distribution range suggested by the documentary archive review likely reflects a lack of research in Haiti. Both the review and the interviews agreed that manatees no longer occupy freshwater habitats in the country. In general, more dedicated manatee studies are needed in Haiti, employing aerial, land, or boat surveys. </p><p>In the Dominican Republic, the documentary archive review and the survey of fishers showed that manatees still occur throughout the country, and occasionally occupy freshwater habitats. Monte Cristi province in the north coast, and Barahona province in the south coast, were identified as focal areas. Sighting reports of manatees decreased from Monte Cristi eastwards to the adjacent province in the Dominican Republic, and westwards into Haiti. Along the north coast of Haiti, the number of manatee sighting and capture reports decreased with increasing distance to Monte Cristi province. There was good agreement among the modeled manatee hotspots, hotspots identified by fishers, and hotspots identified during previous dedicated manatee studies. The concordance of these results suggests that the distribution and patterns of habitat use of manatees in the Dominican Republic have not changed dramatically in over 30 years, and that the remaining manatees exhibit some degree of site fidelity. The ensemble modeling approach used in the present study produced accurate and detailed maps of manatee distribution with minimum data requirements. This modeling strategy is replicable and readily transferable to other countries in the Caribbean or elsewhere with limited data on a species of interest.</p><p>The intrinsic value of manatees was stronger for artisanal fishers in the Dominican Republic than in Haiti, and most Dominican fishers showed a positive attitude towards manatee conservation. The Dominican Republic is an upper middle income country with a high Human Development Index. It possesses a legal framework that specifically protects manatees, and has a greater number of marine protected areas, more dedicated manatee studies, and more manatee education and awareness campaigns than Haiti. The constant presence of manatees in specific coastal segments of the Dominican Republic, the perceived decline in the number of manatee captures, and a more conservation-minded public, offer hope for manatee conservation, as non-consumptive uses of manatees become more popular. I recommend a series of conservation actions in the Dominican Republic, including: reducing risks to manatees from harmful fishing gear and watercraft at confirmed manatee hotspots; providing alternative economic alternatives for displaced fishers, and developing responsible ecotourism ventures for manatee watching; improving law enforcement to reduce fisheries-related manatee deaths, stop the illegal trade in manatee body parts, and better protect manatee habitat; and continuing education and awareness campaigns for coastal communities near manatee hotspots. </p><p>In contrast, most fishers in Haiti continue to value manatees as a source of food and income, and showed a generally negative attitude towards manatee conservation. Haiti is a low income country with a low Human Development Index. Only a single dedicated manatee study has been conducted in Haiti, and manatees are not officially protected. Positive initiatives for manatees in Haiti include: protected areas declared in 2013 and 2014 that enclose two of the manatee hotspots identified in the present study; and local organizations that are currently working on coastal and marine environmental issues, including research and education on marine mammals. Future conservation efforts for manatees in Haiti should focus on addressing poverty and providing viable economic alternatives for coastal communities. I recommend a community partnership approach for manatee conservation, paired with education and awareness campaigns to inform coastal communities about the conservation situation of manatees in Haiti, and to help change their perceived value. Haiti should also provide legal protection for manatees and their habitat.</p> / Dissertation

The state of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is of importance to ecologists and conservationists considering the recent trends in the loss of local culture and indigenous knowledge systems worldwide. An understanding of the factors that affect the distribution and transmission of TEK may offer scientists an insight into how it can be conserved to persist to inform ecological decisions. This study investigated the distribution and transmission of TEK based on gender, age and tree resource use in two rural communities in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. The distribution of this knowledge was assessed based on respondents’ ability to identify local tree species, their uses and conservation techniques. Their ecological knowledge of a number of common and rare indigenous tree species was also assessed. This was done mainly through focus group discussions, individual interviews and a participatory appraisal technique. Age group rather than gender had a significant effect on the distribution of TEK with old age respondents being more knowledgeable than youths and middle aged respondents. Resource use also affected the distribution of knowledge indicating that knowledge was highly dependent on resource use. Females were the main actors in the transfer of TEK in this community and majority of this knowledge was acquired through passive means. The results revealed a combination of factors that may pose a threat to the loss of TEK in these communities. These factors include; the continuous and unregulated harvesting of trees in the area, the effects of modernisation and globalization on aspects of the traditional community and the high levels of rural urban-migration.

Pesquisas em que se procura investigar a relação entre os fatores ambientais e o comportamento dos consumidores são ainda embrionárias no Brasil, o que constitui uma oportunidade para estudos que relacionam o comportamento de compra dos consumidores com as questões ambientais. Nessa perspectiva, o objetivo da presente pesquisa foi verificar se existe correlação entre os construtos: conhecimento ecológico, afeto ecológico, preocupação ecológica, normas subjetivas e o comportamento de compras verdes. Na busca do alcance dos objetivos propostos, adotou-se uma metodologia caracterizada pela pesquisa exploratória, utilizando-se o método transversal simples no processo de coleta dos dados. Foram adotados no estudo dados secundários, provenientes de artigos, livros, dissertações, teses e internet, além de dados primários, coletados com a aplicação de questionários à população-alvo. Partindo-se de uma amostragem aleatória estratificada, essa população foi constituída pelas mulheres acima dos 18 anos, por representarem consumidoras potenciais de produtos cosméticos. No tratamento dos dados dos 500 questionários validados, contemplouse a utilização do coeficiente Alpha de Cronbach e da técnica multivariada de análise fatorial exploratória. Um modelo de regressão múltipla foi testado para explicar o comportamento de compra de cosméticos ecológicos. Os resultados deixam evidências de que as variáveis Normas Subjetivas (NS), Afeto Ecológico (AE), Preocupação Ecológica (PE) e Conhecimento Ecológico (CE) foram consideradas estatisticamente significantes para explicar as variações em Comportamento de Compra de Cosméticos Ecológicos (CCCE), com um R2 de 0,555. Entre as variáveis demográficas testadas, verificou-se que apenas a faixa etária e a classe social exercem influência moderada sobre a variável dependente. Tais resultados sinalizam similaridade entre os resultados obtidos na mensuração da correlação múltipla entre as variáveis independentes, a variável dependente e aqueles observados na teoria sobre a influência da primeira sobre o comportamento de compra de produtos ambientalmente corretos. Os resultados desta tese oferecem uma compreensão adicional sobre os fatores que afetam o processo de decisão de compra do consumidor. Considera-se, portanto, que este trabalho constitui um avanço no estado da arte das pesquisas sobre a relação entre os fatores ambientais e o comportamento dos consumidores, uma vez que foram investigados aspectos não contemplados em estudos anteriores. / Research which seeks to investigate the relationship between environmental factors and the consumer behavior is still embryonic in Brazil, which is a unique opportunity for those studies that relate the purchasing behavior of consumers to environmental issues. In this perspective, the goal of this research was to ascertain whether there is correlation between the following constructs: ecological knowledge, ecological affection, ecological concern, subjective norms and green purchase behavior. In pursuit of achieving the proposed objectives, a methodology characterized by exploratory search was used, adopting the simple transverse method in data collection process. In the study, secondary data from articles, books, dissertations, theses and the internet were used, in addition to the primary data, collected with the application of questionnaires to the target population. Based on a stratified random sampling, the population was constituted by women over 18 years old, since they represent potential consumers of cosmetic products. Regarding the data processing of 500 validated questionnaires, the use of Cronbach\'s Coefficient Alpha and multivariate exploratory technique of factor analysis were contemplated. A multiple regression model was tested to explain the behavior of buying ecological cosmetics. The results produce evidence that Subjective Norms (SN), Ecological Affection (EA), Ecological Concern (EC) and Ecological Knowledge (EC) variables were considered statistically significant to explain the variations in Purchase Behavior of Ecological Cosmetics (PBEC), with an R2 of 0.555. Among the demographic variables tested, it was found that only the age and social class exercise moderate influence over the dependent variable. Such results indicate similarity among the results obtained in the measurement of multiple correlations among independent variables, the dependent variable and those observed in theory concerning the influence of the former over the purchasing behavior of environmentally correct products. The results of this thesis offer additional insight about the factors that affect the purchase decision process. Therefore, it is considered that this work is an advance in the state of the art of research about the relationship between environmental factors and the consumer behavior, since aspects not covered in previous studies were investigated.