Ecocultural or Biocultural? Towards Appropriate Terminologies in Biocultural Diversity

Abstract

Biocultural diversity has made notable contributions that have furthered our understanding of the human culture-nature interrelationship. However, the usage of the term ‘biocultural’ is not unique to biocultural diversity. It was first used in biocultural studies within anthropology decades ahead of biocultural diversity. The existing literature on biocultural diversity does not acknowledge the prior existence of biocultural studies, or provide a clear demarcation between usages of the two terms. In this article, I discuss the varying contexts in usage of the term ‘biocultural’ between biocultural diversity and biocultural anthropology. While biocultural diversity deals with the linkages between biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity, biocultural studies in anthropology deal with the deterministic influence of physical and social environment on human biology and wellbeing. In biocultural studies, ‘biocultural’ refers to the integration of methodically collated cultural data with biological and environmental data. ‘Bio’ in biocultural anthropology therefore denotes biology, unlike biocultural diversity where it refers to biodiversity. Both biocultural studies and biocultural diversity apply ‘biocultural’ as descriptor to generate overlapping terminologies such as ‘biocultural approach’. Such a confusing scenario is not in the interest of biocultural diversity, as it would impede theoretical advancements. I propose that advocates of biocultural diversity explore its harmonies with ecoculturalism and the possibilities of suitably adapting the term ‘ecoculture’ in lieu of ‘bioculture’. Using ‘ecocultural’ instead of ‘biocultural’ as a descriptor to coin terminologies could solve confusions arising from the expanding usage of the term ‘bioculture’.

The fading popularity of a local ecological calendar from Brunei Darussalam, Borneo

“…We adapt the definition of biocultural indicators proposed by McKemey et al [ 30 ] to define local seasonal indicators as ‘predictable, obvious, seasonal events in the landscape that are temporal landmarks of cultural and ecological significance.’ We prefer not to use the term ‘biocultural indicators’ as the term ‘biocultural’ when used as a descriptor in a form other than ‘biocultural diversity’ leads to confusion owing to precedence of its usage in biocultural anthropology [ 43 ]. We could not document the Kedayan use of the picula flower ( Luffa sp.)…”

Embracing eco‐cultural restoration

“…We use eco‐cultural restoration as an umbrella term, recognizing that other terminologies, especially biocultural restoration (e.g., Chang et al 2019; Franco 2022; Sena et al 2022), impactfully describe forms of restoration that center IPLCs. For the purpose here, we are compelled to use the term eco‐cultural restoration , following Martinez (2003), due to its uptake and clear emphasis on restoration of inter‐related ecosystems and cultures, while recognizing value in related terms including biocultural and ecosocietal restoration, reinhabitation, focal restoration, and others (see Higgs 2003, pp 236–249).…”

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

“…Instead of seeing culture as a widely shared and clearly bounded system of values and beliefs, we adopt a relational and dynamic view of culture, one where different cultural orientations and experiences shape how people re-articulate traditional knowledge and interact with their environments (Cocks 2006;Cocks and Wiersum 2014). Such a focus allows us to examine how certain ecocultural practices and knowledges (Franco 2022), are lost, persist, thrive or obtain new significance under altered conditions. However, we acknowledge that, in a rapidly transforming world, it is the alarming loss of languages and species that require immediate attention (Bridgewater and Rotherham 2019).…”

“…Biocultural diversity is notably different from biocultural anthropology(Franco 2022). The origin of biocultural anthropology can be traced to the 1960s and focuses on the influence of biological and cultural factors on human biology and well-being(McElroy 1990).…”