Recognising Indigenous plant-use histories for inclusive biocultural restoration

Emilie J Ens; Maurizio Rossetto; Oliver Costello

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2023.06.009

Recognising Indigenous plant-use histories for inclusive biocultural restoration

Trends Ecol Evol. 2023 Oct;38(10):896-898. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.06.009. Epub 2023 Aug 10.

Authors

Emilie J Ens¹, Maurizio Rossetto², Oliver Costello³

Affiliations

¹ School of Natural Sciences, University Road, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia. Electronic address: emilie.ens@mq.edu.au.
² The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Mrs Macquarie's Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
³ Bundjalung Jagun, Rosebank, NSW 2480, Australia.

PMID: 37573174
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2023.06.009

Abstract

Indigenous Peoples have manipulated environments and species for millennia. However, restoration science often overlooks ancient human plant dispersal, niche construction, and selection pressures that may have resulted in plant 'cultural traits'. Concerted efforts to acknowledge Indigenous plant-use histories in restoration could help to abate the coextinction of species and cultures.

Keywords: Traditional Ecological knowledge; biocultural diversity; cross-cultural science; cultural traits; decolonising science; two-eyed seeing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Culture*
Environmental Restoration and Remediation*
Humans
Indigenous Peoples*
Plants*