Little is known about the vegetation, forests, useful plants and their patterns of use at the gradients of climate, geography and culture in Baitadi and Darchula districts, far western Nepal. The interactions among plants-people-places were analyzed using data from phyto-sociological studies, community interviews, and literature. Ecological sampling, participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and informal discussions were held between February and September 2017. We compared plant collection, use and management of two culturally distinct groups (Baitadi and Darchula), who inhabit different physiographic regions, yet share the same ecological landscape, environmental resources and livelihood challenges. We hypothesized that the salient (visible, apparent and accessible) plants and places are likely to be more frequently foraged than the non-salient ones. We also hypothesized that the elderly, native and traditional healers living in rural and remote physiographic conditions possess more diverse and detailed knowledge of plant use and conservation than young, non-native and non-healer people. A total of 18 forest types including eight from the study districts showed that the study area is rich in forests and plants. A total of 975 plant species including 82 new species records and 23 new use reports to Baitadi and Darchula districts were recorded. There were 305 (31%) useful plant species including 122 useful reported in the present study. The people of study area showed a large repertoire of knowledge that helps them execute different strategies of plant use suited to their environment and geography. The knowledge of plant use follows a pattern according to ecological conditions (availability) as well as the cultural significance (transhumance, settlement) of the landscape. However, the latter prevails. Predominate foraging by the agro-pastoral communities from the remote undisturbed forests for quality products and medicines in Darchula district was divergent from the collections from ruderal areas in Baitadi district by generalist collectors for ritual purposes. The extensive usage of plants for socio-economic reasons, livelihood and rituals indicates that the plants and culture are inseparable. Conservation measures with acknowledgement of human, cultural, geographical and environmental variables, are therefore encouraged for sustainable management of the natural resources and traditional knowledge of the Baitadi and Darchula districts. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:30:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-01-10Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:40:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 miranda_tm_dr_rcla.pdf: 1107082 bytes, checksum: 0b02a0643eeee5becfac92759e0d27c7 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / A conservação da agrobiodiversidade tem sido assunto de inúmeras pesquisas. Entretanto, apesar do crescente e amplo reconhecimento de sua importância, ela encontra-se ameaçada pelas constantes transformações pelas quais as áreas rurais brasileiras vêm passando. A urbanização, a mecanização da agricultura e o abandono da prática de atividades agrícolas são alguns dos fatores desencadeadores dessas mudanças. É possível conservar/manter agrobiodiversidade num contexto de constantes transformações? Quais são os efeitos dessas transformações sobre a agrobiodiversidade e conhecimento local a elas associado? O presente trabalho tem como objetivos gerais retratar a agricultura praticada pela comunidade rural de Conceição dos Ouros, MG, especialmente o cultivo da mandioca, identificar a relação entre aspectos socioculturais e os procedimentos agroecológicos do sistema agrícola atualmente mantido e estabelecer o nexo causal entre a ação dos agricultores e a manutenção da diversidade agrícola encontrada localmente. O estudo foi realizado em quinze bairros rurais de Conceição dos Ouros, município regionalmente conhecido como a capital do polvilho. Os capítulos que compõem este trabalho consistem: 1) na caracterização socioeconômica dos moradores das áreas rurais; 2) na descrição dos espaços de cultivo e técnicas de manejo, bem como no levantamento das raízes e tubérculos mantidos localmente; 3) levantamento e análise da diversidade genética das etnovariedades de mandioca presentes no local. Em linhas gerais, constatou-se que as unidades domiciliares são comandadas por casais de idade avançada, de origem local e que se dedicam ao exercício da agricultura para sobreviver. Os descendentes, homens, tendem a permanecer nas unidades domiciliares... / Agrobiodiversity conservation is a current subject of a large number of researches. However, besides its grown and wide recognition, agrobiodiversity is being constantly endangered by frequent changes in rural areas, such as urbanization, agriculture mechanization and abandonment of agriculture activities. In this context, is it possible to maintain/conserve agrobiodiversity? How these changes affect agrobiodiversity maintenance and associated local knowledge? The general objective of this study is to report agricultural practices related to cassava cultivation held by rural communities of Conceição dos Ouros Municipality, MG. Also, we tried to identify the correlation between sociocultural aspects and agroecological procedures present in the cultivation system, as well to understand the cause-effect relationship between farmers’ action and agrobiodiversity maintenance. The research was conducted in 15 rural neighborhoods of Conceição dos Ouros, regionally known as starch flour capital. The chapters of this study are about: 1) socioeconomic characterization of rural communities; 2) description of management techniques, cultivated areas and roots and tubers survey; 3) cassava ethnovarieties survey and genetic diversity analysis. We noticed that households are controlled by old local couples, whose principal activity is agriculture. Male descendents tend to stay in their parent’s household, practicing agriculture. Descendents who leave parent’s household usually practice activities that are not related to agriculture. Cultivated areas (“roças”, “mandiocais” e homegardens) maintain some level of diversity, where it is possible to find species used for several purposes. These areas are also important for families’ subsistence and local economy. The set of roots and tubers locally established is reduced and it is not ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Lin Chau Ming / Banca: Izabel de Carvalho / Banca: Eliana Rodrigues / Resumo: O presente estudo objetivou caracterizar os terreiros, espaços que se localizam ao redor das casas, da comunidade remanescente de quilombos de Praia Grande, Iporanga, SP, realizando um levantamento etnobotânico das espécies vegetais, seus usos e sua importância social, cultural e econômica. Esta caracterização promoveu a reflexão e a discussão sobre o papel que estes espaços desempenham na vida da comunidade. A coleta de dados foi realizada em oito viagens para a comunidade no período de março de 2003 a dezembro de 2003, com duração média de dez dias. A metodologia utilizada consistiu em observações participante, entrevistas estruturadas (na forma de questionários) e não-estruturadas, registradas por meio de gravações (em fita cassete) e de anotações em caderneta de campo. Os depoimentos foram realizados com 12 mulheres e 1 homem, numa faixa etária variando de 41 a 80 anos. Para a coleta de material botânico das espécies úteis e anotação sobre seu(s) uso(s) foram realizados passeios livres pelos terreiros com os moradores. Buscou-se o conheciemtno que a comunidade possuía em relação à história do uso das plantas presentes nos terreiros. O material botânico coletado foi identificado e herborizado. O mesmo será depositado no Herbário da Unesp/ Departamento de Botânica - IB/ Botucatu, SP. Foram descritas 260 plantas, representadas por 73 famílias botânicas, sendo que 202 plantas identificadas até o nível de espécie, 42 até o gênero e 16 não puderam ser identificadas. A maior parte das espécies encontradas são cultivadas, exóticas (ocorrência fora da Mata Atlântica) e com hábito de crescimento herbáceo. A categoria de uso mais encontrada foi a alimentar (40,21 %), seguida pela medicinal (29,18 %) e pela ornamental (22,78 %). A categoria relacionada a outros usos, tais como madeira para lenha, planta para fazer sabão entre outras... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to characterize the homegardens - "terreiros", of a "Quilombo" remaining community in Praia Grande, São Paulo. A ethnobotanical survey was done veryfing the use of the vegetal species, and their social, cultural and economical importance. This characterization promoted the refletion and discution about the homegardens role in community life. The survey was done during eight visits to the community, from March to December, 2003, for ten days each visit. The methodology was the participant observation, estructured interviews (questionaries) and no- estructurated interviews registered by tape recorder and in field note book. The interviews were done with 12 women and 1 man, and theirs age ranging from 41 to 80 years old. The botanical collection and the traditional use register were done by free excursions on the homegardens together with the residents. It was demanding the community knowledgment about the use stories of homegardens plants. The botanical material was identified and herborized. It will be deposited at the UNESP Herbarium/Department of Botany -IB/Botucatu, São Paulo. 260 plants were described, represented by 73 botanical families, 202 species, 42 genus, and 16 species non identificated. The majority of species are cultivate, exotic (out of the Atlantic Forest) and herbaceous. The principal plant use was alimentary (40,21 %), besides medicinal (29,18 %) and ornamental (22,78 %). Other uses like firewood, and soap plants were little significatives in this study (7,83 %). The Praia Grande homegardens are very rich in botanical species which represent a great potential... (Complete abstract, click electronic access below) / Mestre

Thesis (M.Sc.) --University of Limpopo, 2008 / Senna species, a member of the Fabaceae family (subfamily Caesalpinaceae), is widely used traditionally to treat a number of disease conditions such as sexually transmitted diseases and some forms of intestinal complications. In this study the roots of Senna species, collected from Zebediela region of the Limpopo province (R.S.A), were ground to a fine powder and extracted with acetone by cold/shaking extraction method. The phytochemical composition of the extract was then determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC). The chromatograms were visualised with vanillin-sulphuric acid and p-anisaldehyde reagents. The total phenolic content of the extract was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as TAE/g of dry plant material. The extract was assayed for the in vitro anticancer activity using Jurkat T cells. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the antibacterial activity determined by both bioautographic and the microtiter plate methods. The acetone extract of the roots of Senna species inhibited the growth of Jurkat T cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The extract was shown to possess free radical scavenging activity and antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values of 0.16, 0.078, 0.078 and 0.16 mg/ml, respectively. A compound with free radical scavenging activity was isolated from the acetone extract of the roots of Senna species through bioassay-guided fractionation. The isolated compound was identified as 1, 3-diphenol-2-propen-1-one. Thus, the study has systematically shown the biological activity of the roots of Senna species and the isolation and identification of the bioactive compound.

Historically there has been considerable debate over the origin of karaka (Corynocarpus laevigatus J.R. et G. Forst.) In contrast, the extent and importance of pre-historic arboriculture in New Zealand has received little attention in the literature. This study reviews the ecology and ethnobotony of karaka and investigates its cultural and natural biogeography. Maori migration traditions frequently state that karaka was introduced to New Zealand. However, molecular evidence and finds of fossil seeds of the late Oligocene age show that karaka is endemic to New Zealand. Therefore, Maori traditions probably relate to the translocation and cultivation of karaka within the New Zealand region, for which there is abundant anecdotal evidence. Karaka fruits were a valuable addition to the Maori diet and were likely to have functioned as a replacement for traditional Polynesian precedents and entailed a rigorous regime of steaming and soaking to rid the kernal of its toxic elements. There is data to suggest selection for fruit size and/or nutritional value in cultivated karaka populations. A database of karaka distribution was compiled and populations classified as �cultural� or �unknown� on the basis of spatial association with archaeological sites. Groves classed as cultural were assumed to be cultivated or translocated by pre-historic Maori. Lack of effective seed dispersal by birds and the longevity of the trees, mean that the contemporary distribution of karaka provides a reasonable template for the extent of its prehistoric translocation and cultivation within New Zealand. Karaka has a distinct cultural and natural biogeography. The greatest overlap between cultural and unknown trees occurred in the northern North Island while the majority of trees in the lower North Island, and all trees in the South Island were classed as cultural. Prior to the arrival of Polynesians in New Zealand, karaka was probably restricted in distribution to the Northland/Auckland region. Its natural range was then extended by human translocation and cultivation to the lower North Island, South Island, Kermadec Islands, Chatham Islands and many other in-shore islands off New Zealand. Climate variables were fitted to the distribution data and discriminant analysis used to further test the classification of karaka into cultural and unknown populations. Significant differences were found in climatic parameters between groups. Cultural karaka were found in enviroments with greater solar radiation seasonality, higher evaporative demands and greater soil moisture deficits than unknown karaka. The climate profile of karaka is biased towards the same environmental correlates of pa and pit site locations, further indicating that karaka was a cultivated tree crop. It is concluded that the importance and extent of karaka arboriculture, and probably that of other endemic tree species currently restricted to the northern North Island of cultural karaka is biased towards the same environmental correlates of pa and pit site locations, further indicating that karaka was a cultivated tree crop. The extensive translocation of karaka by Maori means that it has the potential, with the application of molecular methods, to serve as a marker for prehistoric settlement and mobility. Preliminary work was begun on this aspect and a predictive model is presented of the possible relationships within and between populations of karaka. It is concluded that the importance and extent of karaka arboriculture, and probably that of other endemic tree species, has previously been overlooked. This has implications for our view of certain plant communities as unmodified by humans, and provides an impetus to protect surface vegetation as an integral part of some prehistoric archaeological sites.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, Riverside, 2009. / Includes abstract. Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Febrary 1, 2010). Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references. Issued in print and online. Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (B.A.)--University of Wisconsin -- La Crosse, 2009. / Also available online. Includes bibliographical references (p. 62-64).

Thesis (M.Sc.)(Botany)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Summary in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

The overall objective for this report is to examine the Tohono O'odham people's traditional gathering and use of saguaro fruit in the Tucson Mountain District (TMD) of Saguaro National Park (SAGU). It is intended to aid park planning and environmental assessment work, as well as other related management decisions. Potential use of this report includes updating and informing the park's cultural and natural resource programs, and public education programs. Based on tribal concerns, the focus of the study shifted to the existing harvest camps in TMD, an ethnohistory of harvest in TMD, and an ethnobotany of the saguaro. The 2004 harvest season provided our only access to field interactions with harvesters, however, it was a year of poor production and only a handful of people came to the camp in TMD. The ethnography, consequently, was limited to two individuals, one of whom wrote her account privately. Both women came from families with an unbroken saguaro harvest tradition and have continued the practice with their immediate families. The report includes an ecological overview of the saguaro, an ethnohistory of the saguaro harvest and harvest camp in the TMD, and an ethnobotany of the saguaro. A final management discussion includes impacts, traditional knowledge, and suggestions from the study participants.