Research Keyword: traditional ecological knowledge

Co-existence of potentially sustainable indigenous food systems and poor nutritional status in Ho indigenous community, India: an exploratory study

This study found that the Ho indigenous people of India have access to hundreds of nutritious traditional foods but still experience widespread malnutrition. Even though their indigenous foods are rich in essential minerals and vitamins, factors like unpredictable rainfall, shift to growing only rice instead of diverse crops, and the availability of cheap processed foods in markets prevent people from using these nutritious foods. The research highlights the need to support traditional food systems and farming practices to improve both health and environmental sustainability in indigenous communities.

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Folk taxonomy of wild mushrooms in communities of the indigenous groups Chatino, Chontal, and Chinantec in Oaxaca, Mexico

Indigenous communities in Mexico have developed sophisticated systems for naming and classifying wild mushrooms based on where they grow, what they look like, and cultural beliefs. This study documents how the Chatino, Chontal, and Chinantec peoples of Oaxaca name 32 different mushroom species using their own languages. Older community members know more indigenous mushroom names than younger people, showing that this traditional knowledge is gradually being replaced by Spanish terms. Understanding these traditional naming systems helps preserve cultural heritage and ensures communities can safely identify which mushrooms are safe to eat.

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