THEME 2. CHANGING ROLES OF BIODIVERSITY IN THE LANDSCAPE

Posters on Biodiversity Functions

The Socio-Cultural Significance of Minor Crops and Wild Plants

by Hanne Christensen¹, Ole Merts and Jytte Agergaard²

It is often argued that strategies for conservation of biodiversity in the humid tropics should focus more on indigenous natural resource management to ensure that local people become the primary stewards of resource management. Mostly attention has focused on agricultural uses of forest areas such as shifting cultivation and on the extraction of forest products for commercial use. However, the knowledge and use of plants that do not have any obvious commercial importance has attracted less attention. The objective of this paper is to emphasize the ritual, cultural, and religious importance of minor crops and wild plants which are not marketed. We argue that such plants may play a role in sustaining adequate indigenous land stewardship and definitely are important for the cultural identity of local communities and individuals.

Ethnobotanical data was collected in 1993-98 in the Iban longhouse of Nanga Sumpa in the Ulu Batang Ai, Sri Aman Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. A total of 679 cultivated, semi-managed, and wild species had known uses in this community. Of these, 111 species with religious or magic properties were recorded and divided into three main categories: plants for rice protection (38), for ceremonies and offerings (42), and for human protection and curses (22). A residual group of 27 species had various properties, such as tabood plants, plants for attraction, etc. These plants are found in all types of environments and some are planted and have alternative uses. Hence, they contribute to agricultural as well as natural biodiversity.

The knowledge of religious plants and their uses is mainly confined to the older generation, and the urge to provide school education for children, engage in off-farm work, and conversion to Christianity is likely to send this knowledge into oblivion. While this classical development scenario represents positive progress in terms of increased welfare, it could have the potential to undermine the foundation of indigenous resource management. The reduced knowledge base is likely to lead to a reduced interest in the traditional conservation of areas with e.g. tabood or other religious plants. Younger people are primarily driven by incentives for wealth accumulation and conversion of forest to cash crop fields is considered the most profitable activity. Although certain forest products may have commercial value, they are often not sufficiently abundant or easily marketed to provide incentive for conservation.

If communties are to see the advantage of conserving forest areas without significant commercial value, it is essential that knowledge and understanding of traditional Iban religion and culture is encouraged. Plants are an inseparable part of this culture and even if younger people no longer perform the rituals and ceremonies in which plants are important, the knowledge of their existence may encourage conservation and strenghten cultural identity.

Footnote_______________

¹ NepCon, Odensegade.4, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark. Email: hc@nepcon.dk

² Institute of Geography, University of Copenhagen, Oster Voldgade 10, 1350 Copenhagen K, Denmark. Email: om@geogr.ku.dk, ja@geogr.ku.dk