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.

Inovacijos yra plačiai vertinamos kaip ekonomikos augimo ir konkurencingumo varomoji jėga. Regioninė inovacinė sistema gali būti suvokiama kaip inovatyvių tinklų ir institucijų sistema, veikianti tam tikrame regione, ir per nuolatinį bei stiprų vidinį sąveikavimą užtikrinanti regiono įmonių novatoriškumą. Regioninės inovacijų sistemos koncepcija akcentuoja sąveikos ir bendradarbiavimo tarp įvairių veikėjų, tokių kaip: įmonės, viešos mokslinių tyrimų ir plėtros institucijos, įskaitant universitetus, vieši ar privatūs technologijų perdavimo centrai, svarbą. Autorės darbe atliktas Klaipėdos regiono bendradarbiavimo inovacinėje srityje empirinis tyrimas ir pritaikant tyrimo duomenis sudaryta Klaipėdos regiono inovacijų sistemos SSGG analizė. Tyrimo objektas – verslo įmonių bendradarbiavimo veiksmai Klaipėdos regiono inovacinėje sistemoje. Tyrimo tikslas – išanalizuoti Klaipėdos regiono įmonių tarpusavio bei bendradarbiavimo su mokslinių tyrimų ir plėtros institucijomis ryšius inovacinėje veikloje ir atsižvelgiant į tyrimo rezultatus pateikti rekomendacijas Klaipėdos apskrities regioninės inovacinės sistemos tobulinimui. Pirmoje darbo dalyje analizuojami regioninės inovacinės sistemos ir resursais grįstos regioninės plėtros ir žinių persiliejimo koncepcijų teoriniai aspektai, taip pat inovatyvumo lygis Lietuvoje. Antroje dalyje pateikiama tyrimo metodologija ir metodai. Trečioje dalyje atliekamas Klaipėdos regiono verslo įmonių tarpusavio bei bendradarbiavimo su mokslo ir plėtros... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Innovations are widely seen as the driving force of economic growth and competitiveness. The regional innovation system can be understood as a system of innovative networks and institutions located within a certain region, with a strong internal interaction that promotes the innovativeness of the region’s companies. The concept of an innovation regional system stresses the role of the interaction and co – operation between various agents such as companies, public research and development institutions including universities, scientific institutes and public or private technology transfer centers. The author of the paper undertook research into the regional innovation system of Klaipeda’s county. The object of this research is to analyze the interactions between enterprises and different research institutions in the region regarding innovation activities. The survey of enterprises measured different types of linkages which characterize firms’ innovation activity. The aim of the research is to analyze the interaction and co – operation in innovation activity between enterprises and public or private scientific research and development institutions in Klaipeda’s county, based on the results of the research to provide the recommendations on how to improve Klaipeda’s regional innovation system. The first part of the thesis analyzes the theoretical aspects of the regional innovation system, the resources - based regional development and the distribution of knowledge concepts and... [to full text]