Forest as Stronghold of Local Ecological Practice: Currently Used Wild Food Plants in Polesia, Northern Ukraine

Abstract

Local Ecological Practice (LEP, e.g. the everyday practice of collecting and using plants, including wild food plants) is shaped by nature (available local resources) and culture (local knowledge on their usability) that includes a multitude of factors, among which language and geographical or cultural separation have been found to play crucial roles in affecting biocultural diversity. Also, proximity to the forest has been shown to increase the use of plants. We conducted ethnobotanical fieldwork within Eastern and Western regions of Ukrainian Polesia, during which we interviewed 118 people. Through semi-structured interviews, we recorded the distribution of the current uses of 70 wild food taxa. The analysis of use records revealed homogeneous distribution of use despite the geographical distance and different spoken dialects; however, we were able to single out the highly sylvan region of Eastern Polesia as the area with highest biocultural diversity for the use of wild food plants. The results suggest that in the context of the overall homogenization of local ecological knowledge, the continued existence of unintended contact with nature through living and working in the forest may be the primary factor maintaining the broader LEP in the sylvan area of Eastern Polesia. Abstract in UkrainianМісцева екологічна практика (MЕП, що включає повсякденну практику збору та використання дикорослих рослин у їжу) формується природою (місцевими ресурсами) та культурою (місцеві знання про їх використання), що включає безліч чинників, серед яких мова та географічне або культурне відокремлення відіграють вирішальну роль у впливі на біокультурне різноманіття. Також показано, що близькість до лісу збільшує використання рослин. Ми проводили етноботанічні польові роботи у двох областях Українського Полісся, в ході яких ми провели інтерв'ю з 118 людьми. За допомогою напівструктурованих інтерв'ю ми задокументували поточне використання 70 таксонів дикорослих рослин у їжу. Аналіз записів про вживання свідчить про однорідний розподіл використання, незважаючи на географічне розташування та різні розмовні діалекти; однак, ми змогли виділити лісистий регіон Східного Полісся як територію з найвищим біокультурним різноманіттям використання дикорослих рослин уїжу. Результати свідчать, що в контексті загальної гомогенізації місцевих екологічних знань, продовження існування контакту з природою живучи та працюючи в лісі може бути основним чинником, який підтримує ширшу MЕПу в лісовій зоні Східного Полісся.

How practice in plant collection influences interactions with illustrations and written texts on local plants? A case study from Daghestan, North Caucasus

“…In that period we conducted four field trips, altogether 12 weeks of fieldwork. Edible plants were collected with Shiri people in 2012-2014 (voucher specimens were deposited in the herbarium of the University of Warsaw Botanic Garden) [2], then during field trips in 2015 and 2016 we co-designed with Shiri people the booklets with these plants [3]. Eventually, between 2017-2019 we distributed the booklets in Shiri and in the lowland settlements (Druzhba, Izberbash, Makhachkala) where people of Shiri origin live.…”

“…The main language of research was Russian [1] which is the lingua-franca in Daghestan. The older inhabitants used the mix of Russian and Shiri [2]. Russian is the most common language in the lowland settlements, while Shiri is spoken only in the village and in the households of the Shiri people who migrated to the lowlands.…”

“…It is, however, important to emphasize that "knowledge" here is seen as dynamic and processual (cf. [2]). [2] Documentation of grammar, dictionary and use of Shiri languages is one of the goals of the project: "Documenting Dargi Languages in Daghestan: Shiri and Sanzhi" financed by the Volkswagen Foundation.…”

“…[2]). [2] Documentation of grammar, dictionary and use of Shiri languages is one of the goals of the project: "Documenting Dargi Languages in Daghestan: Shiri and Sanzhi" financed by the Volkswagen Foundation. Some results can be viewed on the project's website [13].…”

The importance of tolerating interstices: Babushka markets in Ukraine and Eastern Europe and their role in maintaining local food knowledge and diversity

“…In the visited markets, for example, most wild vegetables, old landraces of cultivated crops, and animals products belonged to the revival food group, while the fruits of Viburnum opulus, widely sold in autumn, to the new "traditions" (cf. Pieroni and Soukand, 2018). From an economic perspective the sale of home-made food can be viewed as a form of response to economic marginalization and a way in which to combat poverty, along with informal work, social networking, gift-giving and mutual exchange involving about 20% of the population (Round et al, 2010).…”