Ethical issues can arise during any stage of research involving human participants. This chapter ... more Ethical issues can arise during any stage of research involving human participants. This chapter is written from the perspective of a field researcher (ethnobotanist) who is collaborating with indigenous and farming communities, here united under the umbrella term local communities, with the goal to record local knowledge (LK) of the biological resources they use to sustain themselves. Many local communities who are living in remote rural or impoverished urban areas possess substantive knowledge about their surrounding biological resources, while often facing limited participation in aspects of mainstream society involving land rights, access to markets and healthcare, or legal representation. The debate has been ongoing for more than two decades about how to best protect the rights of these communities during research that deals with their knowledge and use of biological resources. International law, professional societies of researchers, and international organizations have achieved substantial milestones in addressing how to best safeguard these communities’ rights to be properly informed about research objectives and potential implications of a project, provision of prior informed consent (PIC), and sharing of benefits resulting from commercial development of their biological resources. However, this field of ethics is still evolving and even though its principles are clear (to obtain PIC from local communities and ensure their involvement on mutually agreed terms (MAT)), practical implementation not only differs from country to country, but faces important unresolved issues. This chapter does not deal with ethics in clinical trials, even though important concepts addressed here are of equal relevance to the latter, including PIC, protection of human subjects against harm, and mindfulness in research. In an increasingly globalized world, we all need to stay informed about cross-disciplinary commonalities in ethics. Developing a culturally sensitive mindset is of vital importance for ethical actions by researchers, such as acknowledgment that LK is inherently linked to cultural heritage, and the need for joint publication of research results, as well as giving back to local communities. In the past, biological and cultural harms have resulted from research undertaken without the consent of local communities. The next generations of researchers, field- and lab-based alike, are expected to build harmonious and beneficial relationships with local communities when researching or handling the biological resources utilized by these communities.
The tremendous increase in migrations and diasporas of human groups in the last decades are not o... more The tremendous increase in migrations and diasporas of human groups in the last decades are not only bringing along challenging issues for society, especially related to the economic and political management of multiculturalism and culturally effective health care, but they are also creating dramatic changes in traditional knowledge, believes and practices (KBP) related to (medicinal) plant use. The contributors to this volume – all internationally recognized scholars in the field of ethnobiology, transcultural pharmacy, and medical anthropology – analyze these dynamics of traditional knowledge in especially 12 selected case studies.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Jan 11, 2024
Background Despite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), c... more Background Despite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), communitybased ethnomedicine practices remain a low-cost, culturally relevant treatment for many immigrants. Previous urban ethnobotany research in NYC has established that several Caribbean communities continue using medicinal plants for women's health after immigration. This study sought to address to what extent: (1) NYC Haitian women continue using medicinal plants for women's health after migration; (2) their plants and the conditions treated were similar to those identified in an earlier survey with NYC immigrants from the Dominican Republic. Methods Through an ethnobotanical survey, 100 Haitian women living in NYC and born in Haiti were interviewed about their knowledge of medicinal plants for women's health conditions. Reported species were purchased based on local names in NYC Haitian stores and markets, vouchered, and identified. Results Nearly all Haitian women (97%) reported using medicinal plants while living in Haiti. Most Haitian women continued using medicinal plants after coming to the USA (83%). The 14% decrease, although significant (z = 3.3; p = 0.001), was mainly due to logistical difficulties with sourcing plants after recent immigration. Popular medicinal plant species reported were primarily global food plants, re-emphasizing the intertwined food-medicine relationship in Caribbean diasporas. Comparison with data from NYC Dominicans identified childbirth and puerperium, gynecological infections, and vaginal cleansing as priority Haitian women's health concerns treated with plants. Conclusion Our findings support the global nature of Caribbean migrant plant pharmacopeia, predominantly centered around food plants and adapted to transnational urban settings. They underscore cultural diversity, dispelling the notion of one uniform traditional knowledge system labeled "Caribbean. " The importance of preventative medicine for women's health, particularly the regular consumption of "healthy" foods or teas highlights the role food plants play in maintaining health without seeking treatment for a particular condition. Cross-cultural comparisons with other NYC Caribbean immigrants emphasize the importance of conducting ethnobotanical surveys to ground-truth plant use in the community. Such surveys can also identify culture-specific health priorities treated with these plants. Healthcare providers can leverage these insights to formulate culturally relevant and community-tailored healthcare strategies aligned with Haitian women's health beliefs and needs.
Intracerebral microdialysis in the bank vole (CIethrionomys glaredus) cha.IIenges the accuracy an... more Intracerebral microdialysis in the bank vole (CIethrionomys glaredus) cha.IIenges the accuracy and precision of the stereotaxic implantation technique because of the small brain size. In this paper, a miniaturized s tewxaxic head I&&r is described that allows precise alignment of bone landmarks on the skull and prevents all movement after fixation by clasrping me sWII sp%?Wk@ at the OS parietale and at the OS nasale. In addition, the head holder is adapted for inhalation anae&etic delivery in order to ensure stable anaesthetic depth over several hours. The system is not restricted to bank voles but can be readily appkd to other small experimental animals, which could lead to a more widespread use of the microdialysis technique in mice.
... 1994. Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 246... more ... 1994. Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 246906. Record Type, conference. Author, Ina Vandebroek [801000839614] - Ghent University; J CAEMAERT; Frank Odberg [801000272162] - Ghent University Frank.Odberg@UGent.be. ...
... Record Details. Record ID, 420149. Record Type, conference. Author, Ina VANDEBROEK - Ghent Un... more ... Record Details. Record ID, 420149. Record Type, conference. Author, Ina VANDEBROEK - Ghent University; Frank Odberg [801000272162] - Ghent University Frank.Odberg@UGent.be; Jacques Caemaert [801000362189] - Ghent University Jacques.Caemaert@UGent.be. ...
Ga onmiddellijk naar paginanavigatie. STEGELLETINA-LATICOLLARIS N-SP, A 2ND NEW SPECIES OF THE GE... more Ga onmiddellijk naar paginanavigatie. STEGELLETINA-LATICOLLARIS N-SP, A 2ND NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS FROM SENEGAL (NEMATODA, CEPHALOBIDAE). Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 200385. ...
Cab Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 2019
Jamaica's national motto 'Out of Many, One People' reflects the country's multira... more Jamaica's national motto 'Out of Many, One People' reflects the country's multiracial past and the historic and ongoing influences that many cultures have had on the country's traditional knowledge systems (TKS) and traditional medicine (TM). This review explores Jamaican TKS and TM, from the earliest indigenous peoples to their use today. Historically, a significant proportion of the Jamaican population has relied on different forms of TM, and today 73% of Jamaicans self-medicate with plant-based medicines on a regular basis. Modern Jamaica effectively has a spectrum of healthcare provision operating between two healthcare systems, western biomedicine and TM, although the latter is often dismissed as lacking western scientific rigour. Crucial to the development of TKS and TM has been the island's abundant flora, including endemic, native and introduced plants, giving rise to a uniquely Jamaican vegetation. Following a declining oral tradition of transmission, Jamaican TKS and TM also face a concurrent loss of biological diversity that forms an indispensable constituent of these systems, making their conservation and protection a priority. Jamaica is poised to develop a natural health products' industry with the potential to contribute to national growth and development. However, for such development to flourish on an equitable basis across Jamaican society requires recognition of TKS, and legislation that protects TKS and the holders of TKS and guarantees fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the commercial use of these knowledge systems. At a time when the rights of indigenous peoples internationally are increasingly recognized, it is also important for Afro-descendant communities in the Caribbean and Latin America to achieve better recognition and to be incorporated into the dialogue on traditional, local and indigenous knowledge systems and their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Jan 14, 2008
Background: The objective of the present study was to reveal patterns in the treatment of health ... more Background: The objective of the present study was to reveal patterns in the treatment of health conditions in a Quechua-speaking community in the Bolivian Andes based on plant use data from traditional healers and patient data from a primary health care (PHC) service, and to demonstrate similarities and differences between the type of illnesses treated with traditional and biomedical health care, respectively. Methods: A secondary analysis of plant use data from semi-structured interviews with eight healers was conducted and diagnostic data was collected from 324 patients in the community PHC service. Health conditions were ranked according to: (A) the percentage of patients in the PHC service diagnosed with these conditions; and (B) the citation frequency of plant use reports to treat these conditions by healers. Healers were also queried about the payment modalities they offer to their patients. Results: Plant use reports from healers yielded 1166 responses about 181 medicinal plant species, which are used to treat 67 different health conditions, ranging from general symptoms (e.g. fever and body pain), to more specific ailments, such as arthritis, biliary colic and pneumonia. The results show that treatment offered by traditional medicine overlaps with biomedical health care in the case of respiratory infections, wounds and bruises, fever and biliary colic/cholecystitis. Furthermore, traditional health care appears to be complementary to biomedical health care for chronic illnesses, especially arthritis, and for folk illnesses that are particularly relevant within the local cultural context. Payment from patients to healers included flexible, outcome contingent and non-monetary options. Conclusion: Traditional medicine in the study area is adaptive because it corresponds well with local patterns of morbidity, health care needs in relation to chronic illnesses, cultural perceptions of health conditions and socioeconomic aspects of health care. The quantitative analysis of plant use reports and patient data represents a novel approach to compare the contribution of traditional and biomedical health care to treatment of particular health conditions.
Los factores socio-economicos que influyen sobre los conocimientos de plantas medicinales de la p... more Los factores socio-economicos que influyen sobre los conocimientos de plantas medicinales de la poblacion (personas no especialistas que se auto medican con plantas medicinales) han sido poco estudiado en la investigacion etnobotanica. En este marco, el objetivo del trabajo de investigacion fue analizar la distribucion social del conocimiento sobre plantas medicinales en comunidades rurales de los Andes peruanos y bolivianos. Se realizaron entrevistas detalladas y ejercicios de listados libres en idioma Quechua con la ayuda de un interprete local con 18 familias de un distrito rural de los Andes peruanos y 18 familias de una subcentral rural de los Andes bolivianos. Se recolectaron muestras botanicas de las plantas junto con los informantes en las dos areas de estudios de caso. Un analisis cuantitativo de clasificacion mostro que, en los dos estudios de caso, los vinculos de parentesco y la historia personal influye sobre las especies de plantas conocidas y usadas, en vez de otros factores como la edad, el nivel de educacion, el estatuto socio-economico o la religion. El proceso de migracion hacia los centros urbanos y las tierras bajas amazonicas, generalmente considerado como un factor importante en la perdida de los conocimientos de medicina tradicional, solo tiene un impacto sobre el conocimiento de la poblacion en el caso de familias que migran mas de seis meses por ano o de manera permanente. La migracion no influye sobre los niveles de conocimientos de plantas medicinales ni sobre las estrategias terapeuticas de las familias que migran de forma temporal o por periodos mas cortos de tiempo. Se demuestra que el impacto de factores socio-economicos externos que son generalmente considerados como la causa de la perdida de los conocimientos de medicina tradicional en las altas tierras andinas es limitado. Ademas, los resultados de investigacion implican que en zonas rurales donde la migracion tiene un impacto sobre los conocimientos locales, la medicina tradicional podria ser mejor fortalecida si se trabaja estrechamente con familias y su red de parentesco extendida.
Urban ecosystems differ from non-urban ones in the strong and rapid biocultural dynamics generate... more Urban ecosystems differ from non-urban ones in the strong and rapid biocultural dynamics generated by the interactions between people from different cultures, at large spatial and temporal scales and very fast rates. This opinion piece explores the concept of urban ethnobiology as a critical field of research that investigates the complex and dynamic biocultural systems that exist in urban environments. We argue that interactions between humans and other life forms in urban ecosystems are influenced by a characteristic set of social, cultural, and political factors that are linked to urban environments, such as infrastructure development, population density, and governance structures. We emphasize the need for an interdisciplinary approach that brings together experts from different fields to study the inherent complexity of these systems. By examining the sociocultural dynamics that shape the way urban biodiversity is perceived, used, and managed, we can gain deeper insights into the different dimensions of socio-cultural biodiversity in urban areas.
Ethical issues can arise during any stage of research involving human participants. This chapter ... more Ethical issues can arise during any stage of research involving human participants. This chapter is written from the perspective of a field researcher (ethnobotanist) who is collaborating with indigenous and farming communities, here united under the umbrella term local communities, with the goal to record local knowledge (LK) of the biological resources they use to sustain themselves. Many local communities who are living in remote rural or impoverished urban areas possess substantive knowledge about their surrounding biological resources, while often facing limited participation in aspects of mainstream society involving land rights, access to markets and healthcare, or legal representation. The debate has been ongoing for more than two decades about how to best protect the rights of these communities during research that deals with their knowledge and use of biological resources. International law, professional societies of researchers, and international organizations have achieved substantial milestones in addressing how to best safeguard these communities’ rights to be properly informed about research objectives and potential implications of a project, provision of prior informed consent (PIC), and sharing of benefits resulting from commercial development of their biological resources. However, this field of ethics is still evolving and even though its principles are clear (to obtain PIC from local communities and ensure their involvement on mutually agreed terms (MAT)), practical implementation not only differs from country to country, but faces important unresolved issues. This chapter does not deal with ethics in clinical trials, even though important concepts addressed here are of equal relevance to the latter, including PIC, protection of human subjects against harm, and mindfulness in research. In an increasingly globalized world, we all need to stay informed about cross-disciplinary commonalities in ethics. Developing a culturally sensitive mindset is of vital importance for ethical actions by researchers, such as acknowledgment that LK is inherently linked to cultural heritage, and the need for joint publication of research results, as well as giving back to local communities. In the past, biological and cultural harms have resulted from research undertaken without the consent of local communities. The next generations of researchers, field- and lab-based alike, are expected to build harmonious and beneficial relationships with local communities when researching or handling the biological resources utilized by these communities.
The tremendous increase in migrations and diasporas of human groups in the last decades are not o... more The tremendous increase in migrations and diasporas of human groups in the last decades are not only bringing along challenging issues for society, especially related to the economic and political management of multiculturalism and culturally effective health care, but they are also creating dramatic changes in traditional knowledge, believes and practices (KBP) related to (medicinal) plant use. The contributors to this volume – all internationally recognized scholars in the field of ethnobiology, transcultural pharmacy, and medical anthropology – analyze these dynamics of traditional knowledge in especially 12 selected case studies.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Jan 11, 2024
Background Despite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), c... more Background Despite the availability of mainstream biomedical healthcare in New York City (NYC), communitybased ethnomedicine practices remain a low-cost, culturally relevant treatment for many immigrants. Previous urban ethnobotany research in NYC has established that several Caribbean communities continue using medicinal plants for women's health after immigration. This study sought to address to what extent: (1) NYC Haitian women continue using medicinal plants for women's health after migration; (2) their plants and the conditions treated were similar to those identified in an earlier survey with NYC immigrants from the Dominican Republic. Methods Through an ethnobotanical survey, 100 Haitian women living in NYC and born in Haiti were interviewed about their knowledge of medicinal plants for women's health conditions. Reported species were purchased based on local names in NYC Haitian stores and markets, vouchered, and identified. Results Nearly all Haitian women (97%) reported using medicinal plants while living in Haiti. Most Haitian women continued using medicinal plants after coming to the USA (83%). The 14% decrease, although significant (z = 3.3; p = 0.001), was mainly due to logistical difficulties with sourcing plants after recent immigration. Popular medicinal plant species reported were primarily global food plants, re-emphasizing the intertwined food-medicine relationship in Caribbean diasporas. Comparison with data from NYC Dominicans identified childbirth and puerperium, gynecological infections, and vaginal cleansing as priority Haitian women's health concerns treated with plants. Conclusion Our findings support the global nature of Caribbean migrant plant pharmacopeia, predominantly centered around food plants and adapted to transnational urban settings. They underscore cultural diversity, dispelling the notion of one uniform traditional knowledge system labeled "Caribbean. " The importance of preventative medicine for women's health, particularly the regular consumption of "healthy" foods or teas highlights the role food plants play in maintaining health without seeking treatment for a particular condition. Cross-cultural comparisons with other NYC Caribbean immigrants emphasize the importance of conducting ethnobotanical surveys to ground-truth plant use in the community. Such surveys can also identify culture-specific health priorities treated with these plants. Healthcare providers can leverage these insights to formulate culturally relevant and community-tailored healthcare strategies aligned with Haitian women's health beliefs and needs.
Intracerebral microdialysis in the bank vole (CIethrionomys glaredus) cha.IIenges the accuracy an... more Intracerebral microdialysis in the bank vole (CIethrionomys glaredus) cha.IIenges the accuracy and precision of the stereotaxic implantation technique because of the small brain size. In this paper, a miniaturized s tewxaxic head I&&r is described that allows precise alignment of bone landmarks on the skull and prevents all movement after fixation by clasrping me sWII sp%?Wk@ at the OS parietale and at the OS nasale. In addition, the head holder is adapted for inhalation anae&etic delivery in order to ensure stable anaesthetic depth over several hours. The system is not restricted to bank voles but can be readily appkd to other small experimental animals, which could lead to a more widespread use of the microdialysis technique in mice.
... 1994. Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 246... more ... 1994. Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 246906. Record Type, conference. Author, Ina Vandebroek [801000839614] - Ghent University; J CAEMAERT; Frank Odberg [801000272162] - Ghent University Frank.Odberg@UGent.be. ...
... Record Details. Record ID, 420149. Record Type, conference. Author, Ina VANDEBROEK - Ghent Un... more ... Record Details. Record ID, 420149. Record Type, conference. Author, Ina VANDEBROEK - Ghent University; Frank Odberg [801000272162] - Ghent University Frank.Odberg@UGent.be; Jacques Caemaert [801000362189] - Ghent University Jacques.Caemaert@UGent.be. ...
Ga onmiddellijk naar paginanavigatie. STEGELLETINA-LATICOLLARIS N-SP, A 2ND NEW SPECIES OF THE GE... more Ga onmiddellijk naar paginanavigatie. STEGELLETINA-LATICOLLARIS N-SP, A 2ND NEW SPECIES OF THE GENUS FROM SENEGAL (NEMATODA, CEPHALOBIDAE). Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: Record Details. Record ID, 200385. ...
Cab Reviews: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resources, 2019
Jamaica's national motto 'Out of Many, One People' reflects the country's multira... more Jamaica's national motto 'Out of Many, One People' reflects the country's multiracial past and the historic and ongoing influences that many cultures have had on the country's traditional knowledge systems (TKS) and traditional medicine (TM). This review explores Jamaican TKS and TM, from the earliest indigenous peoples to their use today. Historically, a significant proportion of the Jamaican population has relied on different forms of TM, and today 73% of Jamaicans self-medicate with plant-based medicines on a regular basis. Modern Jamaica effectively has a spectrum of healthcare provision operating between two healthcare systems, western biomedicine and TM, although the latter is often dismissed as lacking western scientific rigour. Crucial to the development of TKS and TM has been the island's abundant flora, including endemic, native and introduced plants, giving rise to a uniquely Jamaican vegetation. Following a declining oral tradition of transmission, Jamaican TKS and TM also face a concurrent loss of biological diversity that forms an indispensable constituent of these systems, making their conservation and protection a priority. Jamaica is poised to develop a natural health products' industry with the potential to contribute to national growth and development. However, for such development to flourish on an equitable basis across Jamaican society requires recognition of TKS, and legislation that protects TKS and the holders of TKS and guarantees fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from the commercial use of these knowledge systems. At a time when the rights of indigenous peoples internationally are increasingly recognized, it is also important for Afro-descendant communities in the Caribbean and Latin America to achieve better recognition and to be incorporated into the dialogue on traditional, local and indigenous knowledge systems and their contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Jan 14, 2008
Background: The objective of the present study was to reveal patterns in the treatment of health ... more Background: The objective of the present study was to reveal patterns in the treatment of health conditions in a Quechua-speaking community in the Bolivian Andes based on plant use data from traditional healers and patient data from a primary health care (PHC) service, and to demonstrate similarities and differences between the type of illnesses treated with traditional and biomedical health care, respectively. Methods: A secondary analysis of plant use data from semi-structured interviews with eight healers was conducted and diagnostic data was collected from 324 patients in the community PHC service. Health conditions were ranked according to: (A) the percentage of patients in the PHC service diagnosed with these conditions; and (B) the citation frequency of plant use reports to treat these conditions by healers. Healers were also queried about the payment modalities they offer to their patients. Results: Plant use reports from healers yielded 1166 responses about 181 medicinal plant species, which are used to treat 67 different health conditions, ranging from general symptoms (e.g. fever and body pain), to more specific ailments, such as arthritis, biliary colic and pneumonia. The results show that treatment offered by traditional medicine overlaps with biomedical health care in the case of respiratory infections, wounds and bruises, fever and biliary colic/cholecystitis. Furthermore, traditional health care appears to be complementary to biomedical health care for chronic illnesses, especially arthritis, and for folk illnesses that are particularly relevant within the local cultural context. Payment from patients to healers included flexible, outcome contingent and non-monetary options. Conclusion: Traditional medicine in the study area is adaptive because it corresponds well with local patterns of morbidity, health care needs in relation to chronic illnesses, cultural perceptions of health conditions and socioeconomic aspects of health care. The quantitative analysis of plant use reports and patient data represents a novel approach to compare the contribution of traditional and biomedical health care to treatment of particular health conditions.
Los factores socio-economicos que influyen sobre los conocimientos de plantas medicinales de la p... more Los factores socio-economicos que influyen sobre los conocimientos de plantas medicinales de la poblacion (personas no especialistas que se auto medican con plantas medicinales) han sido poco estudiado en la investigacion etnobotanica. En este marco, el objetivo del trabajo de investigacion fue analizar la distribucion social del conocimiento sobre plantas medicinales en comunidades rurales de los Andes peruanos y bolivianos. Se realizaron entrevistas detalladas y ejercicios de listados libres en idioma Quechua con la ayuda de un interprete local con 18 familias de un distrito rural de los Andes peruanos y 18 familias de una subcentral rural de los Andes bolivianos. Se recolectaron muestras botanicas de las plantas junto con los informantes en las dos areas de estudios de caso. Un analisis cuantitativo de clasificacion mostro que, en los dos estudios de caso, los vinculos de parentesco y la historia personal influye sobre las especies de plantas conocidas y usadas, en vez de otros factores como la edad, el nivel de educacion, el estatuto socio-economico o la religion. El proceso de migracion hacia los centros urbanos y las tierras bajas amazonicas, generalmente considerado como un factor importante en la perdida de los conocimientos de medicina tradicional, solo tiene un impacto sobre el conocimiento de la poblacion en el caso de familias que migran mas de seis meses por ano o de manera permanente. La migracion no influye sobre los niveles de conocimientos de plantas medicinales ni sobre las estrategias terapeuticas de las familias que migran de forma temporal o por periodos mas cortos de tiempo. Se demuestra que el impacto de factores socio-economicos externos que son generalmente considerados como la causa de la perdida de los conocimientos de medicina tradicional en las altas tierras andinas es limitado. Ademas, los resultados de investigacion implican que en zonas rurales donde la migracion tiene un impacto sobre los conocimientos locales, la medicina tradicional podria ser mejor fortalecida si se trabaja estrechamente con familias y su red de parentesco extendida.
Urban ecosystems differ from non-urban ones in the strong and rapid biocultural dynamics generate... more Urban ecosystems differ from non-urban ones in the strong and rapid biocultural dynamics generated by the interactions between people from different cultures, at large spatial and temporal scales and very fast rates. This opinion piece explores the concept of urban ethnobiology as a critical field of research that investigates the complex and dynamic biocultural systems that exist in urban environments. We argue that interactions between humans and other life forms in urban ecosystems are influenced by a characteristic set of social, cultural, and political factors that are linked to urban environments, such as infrastructure development, population density, and governance structures. We emphasize the need for an interdisciplinary approach that brings together experts from different fields to study the inherent complexity of these systems. By examining the sociocultural dynamics that shape the way urban biodiversity is perceived, used, and managed, we can gain deeper insights into the different dimensions of socio-cultural biodiversity in urban areas.
Background Evidence suggests that plants can behave intelligently by exhibiting the ability to le... more Background Evidence suggests that plants can behave intelligently by exhibiting the ability to learn, make associations between environmental cues, engage in complex decisions about resource acquisition, memorize, and adapt in flexible ways. However, plant intelligence is a disputed concept in the scientific community. Reasons for lack of consensus can be traced back to the history of Western philosophy, interpretation of terminology, and due to plants lacking neurons and a central nervous system. Plant intelligence thus constitutes a novel paradigm in the plant sciences. Therefore, the perspectives of scientists in plant-related disciplines need to be investigated in order to gain insight into the current state and future development of this concept. Methods This study analyzed opinions of plant intelligence held by scientists from different plant-related disciplines, including ethnobiology and other biological sciences, through an online questionnaire. Results Our findings show th...
Missouri to consider the ways in which a global crisis now underway-the loss of tens of thousands... more Missouri to consider the ways in which a global crisis now underway-the loss of tens of thousands of plant species-can be addressed. These threatened plants include species vital to the lives of people throughout the world, including plants used for food and nutrition, medicine, cultural and spiritual purposes, and the maintenance of livelihoods; they are needed to redress poverty, provide food security, and ensure sustainable development in many nations. Plants and their associated biocultural knowledge play an essential role in the ecosystem services that support all life on Earth.
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Books by Ina Vandebroek
of a field researcher (ethnobotanist) who is collaborating with indigenous and farming communities, here
united under the umbrella term local communities, with the goal to record local knowledge (LK) of the biological
resources they use to sustain themselves. Many local communities who are living in remote rural or impoverished urban
areas possess substantive knowledge about their surrounding biological resources, while often facing limited participation
in aspects of mainstream society involving land rights, access to markets and healthcare, or legal representation.
The debate has been ongoing for more than two decades about how to best protect the rights of these communities during
research that deals with their knowledge and use of biological resources. International law, professional societies of
researchers, and international organizations have achieved substantial milestones in addressing how to best safeguard
these communities’ rights to be properly informed about research objectives and potential implications of a project, provision
of prior informed consent (PIC), and sharing of benefits resulting from commercial development of their biological
resources. However, this field of ethics is still evolving and even though its principles are clear (to obtain PIC from
local communities and ensure their involvement on mutually agreed terms (MAT)), practical implementation not only
differs from country to country, but faces important unresolved issues. This chapter does not deal with ethics in clinical
trials, even though important concepts addressed here are of equal relevance to the latter, including PIC, protection
of human subjects against harm, and mindfulness in research.
In an increasingly globalized world, we all need to stay informed about cross-disciplinary commonalities in ethics. Developing a culturally sensitive mindset is of vital importance for ethical actions by researchers, such as acknowledgment that LK is inherently linked to cultural heritage, and the need for joint publication of
research results, as well as giving back to local communities. In the past, biological and cultural harms have resulted
from research undertaken without the consent of local communities. The next generations of researchers, field- and lab-based
alike, are expected to build harmonious and beneficial relationships with local communities when researching or
handling the biological resources utilized by these communities.
Papers by Ina Vandebroek
of a field researcher (ethnobotanist) who is collaborating with indigenous and farming communities, here
united under the umbrella term local communities, with the goal to record local knowledge (LK) of the biological
resources they use to sustain themselves. Many local communities who are living in remote rural or impoverished urban
areas possess substantive knowledge about their surrounding biological resources, while often facing limited participation
in aspects of mainstream society involving land rights, access to markets and healthcare, or legal representation.
The debate has been ongoing for more than two decades about how to best protect the rights of these communities during
research that deals with their knowledge and use of biological resources. International law, professional societies of
researchers, and international organizations have achieved substantial milestones in addressing how to best safeguard
these communities’ rights to be properly informed about research objectives and potential implications of a project, provision
of prior informed consent (PIC), and sharing of benefits resulting from commercial development of their biological
resources. However, this field of ethics is still evolving and even though its principles are clear (to obtain PIC from
local communities and ensure their involvement on mutually agreed terms (MAT)), practical implementation not only
differs from country to country, but faces important unresolved issues. This chapter does not deal with ethics in clinical
trials, even though important concepts addressed here are of equal relevance to the latter, including PIC, protection
of human subjects against harm, and mindfulness in research.
In an increasingly globalized world, we all need to stay informed about cross-disciplinary commonalities in ethics. Developing a culturally sensitive mindset is of vital importance for ethical actions by researchers, such as acknowledgment that LK is inherently linked to cultural heritage, and the need for joint publication of
research results, as well as giving back to local communities. In the past, biological and cultural harms have resulted
from research undertaken without the consent of local communities. The next generations of researchers, field- and lab-based
alike, are expected to build harmonious and beneficial relationships with local communities when researching or
handling the biological resources utilized by these communities.