Case Studies in Biocultural Diversity from Southeast Asia—Traditional Ecological Calendars, Folk Medicine and Folk Names

Abstract

Biocultural diversity refers to the dynamic interrelationship between the Earth’s biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity. The concept draws strength from the fact that biodiversity-rich regions of the world are also rich in cultural and linguistic diversities. This volume adds to scholarship in biocultural diversity with case studies from geographical Southeast Asia. The chapters presented in the volume, based on research in Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Northeast India demonstrate i) how traditional ecological calendars and calendar keepers serve as repositories of knowledge on landscapes and their resources, ii) the importance of folk medicine for healthcare in contemporary Southeast Asia, and iii) how folk names of flora and fauna serve as condensed forms of traditional knowledge on biodiversity. While highlighting the importance of customary ways of knowing and categorizing the environment in areas such as resource management, conservation, and healthcare, the chapters also demonstrate that traditional environmental knowledge and the practical skills which accompany it are not necessarily widely shared and are under constant threat. As Southeast Asia marches forward in pursuit of economic growth, it would also have to ensure that its biocultural diversity stays alive, nurturing local communities for generations to come.

Ethnobotanical Analysis of Phytonyms and Plant-Related Glosses Mentioned in Bujangga Manik, a Pre-Islamic Sundanese Text (15th Century Java, Indonesia)

“…Most Old Sundanese phytonyms identified in this study are monolexemic and barefaced names (Berlin, 1992;Franco et al, 2022;Hidayati et al, 2022) that have no meaning other than their own. Some of them, such as 'jerinang' and 'hingul' for example, are clearly loanwords unknown in the modern Sundanese botanical vocabulary.…”

Ethnobotanical Knowledge on Vegetable Plants Among Traders in Ujungberung Market, Bandung, West Java

“…West Java have a tradition that in their daily diet in the households they usually consume various vegetables, including in the form of fresh vegetables (lalaban) [21][22][23]. They like to consume various vegetables, besides being influenced by local culture from generation to generation [23]; and also, are supported by local ecosystem conditions, such as fertile soil, lots of water, the weather is cold, so it is conducive for rural farmers to practice the vegetable farming system [1,7,23].…”

“…This is because the Lembang and Pangalengan areas are also mountainous areas, which are known as centers of vegetable cultivation in the West Java region and are also not too far from Ujungberung. Ecologically, those areas are very conducive for vegetable cultivation, as the soil is fertile, and the climate and temperature are cold, suitable for vegetable cultivation [7].…”

“…In general, the local traders have also a This journal is © Iskandar et al 2023 Media Konservasi, 2023, 3 | 297 variety of local knowledge on biodiversity that can be passed on to their children and also spread among their friends [2,5] The local knowledge of the local traders on biodiversity is transmitted orally using their mother tongue. Therefore, species of edible food plants, such as vegetables and fruits traded in traditional markets form a biocultural system, consisting of biological, cultural and linguistic diversity in traditional markets [2,7].…”