Engagement with indigenous people preserves local knowledge and biodiversity alike

Elliot M. Gardner; Aida Shafreena Ahmad Puad; Joan T. Pereira; Jugah anak Tagi; Salang anak Nyegang; Postar Miun; Jeisin Jumian; Lisa Pokorny; Nyree J.C. Zerega

doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.062

Engagement with indigenous people preserves local knowledge and biodiversity alike

Elliot M. Gardner^*, Aida Shafreena Ahmad Puad, Joan T. Pereira, Jugah anak Tagi, Salang anak Nyegang, Postar Miun, Jeisin Jumian, Lisa Pokorny, Nyree J.C. Zerega

^*Corresponding author for this work

Program in Biological Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Indigenous peoples are important stewards of biodiversity, often living near and possessing intimate knowledge of ecosystems. As a result, species new to science may be long known to indigenous people. While the scientific endeavor has long benefitted from indigenous knowledge, it has usually not engaged with it on equal footing^1,2. While Linnaean taxonomy offers a broad framework for global comparisons, it may lack the detailed local insights possessed by indigenous peoples. This study illustrates how meaningful engagement with indigenous knowledge — throughout the scientific process — can improve biodiversity science and promote conservation^1,2, particularly in studies of crop wild relatives, an international priority³ for food security in the face of climate change⁴. Two species of fruit trees recognized as distinct by the Iban and Dusun peoples, but considered a single species in current Linnaean taxonomy, were confirmed as distinct taxa by molecular studies. They correspond to Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco and Artocarpus mutabilis Becc., whose distinguishing characteristics were clarified by members of indigenous communities.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	R511-R512
Journal	Current Biology
Volume	32
Issue number	11
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.062
State	Published - Jun 6 2022

Funding

We thank the Sabah Forestry Department and Sarawak Forest Departments for permits; the Field Museum of Natural History and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for access to laboratories; Markus G. Aloysius L. Brono S. and Jegong anak Suka for assistance in the field; J. Viruel, M. Murphy, and E. James for assistance in the lab; BO, F, K, and MO herbaria for access to specimens; and Sabah Agriculture Department, Semenggoh Arboretum, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bogor Botanical Garden, National Tropical Botanic Garden, and Govardhan Gardens for access to living collections. This study was supported by the NSF (0919119, 1501373 and 1711391), Garden Club of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Botanical Society of America, Systematics Research Fund, EU-SYNTHESYS (NL-TAF-6894, GB-TAF-2437), and the Garfield Weston Foundation. The authors declare no competing interests. We thank the Sabah Forestry Department and Sarawak Forest Departments for permits; the Field Museum of Natural History and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for access to laboratories; Markus G., Aloysius L., Brono S., and Jegong anak Suka for assistance in the field; J. Viruel, M. Murphy, and E. James for assistance in the lab; BO, F, K, and MO herbaria for access to specimens; and Sabah Agriculture Department, Semenggoh Arboretum, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bogor Botanical Garden, National Tropical Botanic Garden, and Govardhan Gardens for access to living collections. This study was supported by the NSF (0919119, 1501373 and 1711391), Garden Club of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Botanical Society of America, Systematics Research Fund, EU-SYNTHESYS (NL-TAF-6894, GB-TAF-2437), and the Garfield Weston Foundation.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
General Neuroscience
General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.062

Cite this

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title = "Engagement with indigenous people preserves local knowledge and biodiversity alike",

abstract = "Indigenous peoples are important stewards of biodiversity, often living near and possessing intimate knowledge of ecosystems. As a result, species new to science may be long known to indigenous people. While the scientific endeavor has long benefitted from indigenous knowledge, it has usually not engaged with it on equal footing1,2. While Linnaean taxonomy offers a broad framework for global comparisons, it may lack the detailed local insights possessed by indigenous peoples. This study illustrates how meaningful engagement with indigenous knowledge — throughout the scientific process — can improve biodiversity science and promote conservation1,2, particularly in studies of crop wild relatives, an international priority3 for food security in the face of climate change4. Two species of fruit trees recognized as distinct by the Iban and Dusun peoples, but considered a single species in current Linnaean taxonomy, were confirmed as distinct taxa by molecular studies. They correspond to Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco and Artocarpus mutabilis Becc., whose distinguishing characteristics were clarified by members of indigenous communities.",

author = "Gardner, {Elliot M.} and {Ahmad Puad}, {Aida Shafreena} and Pereira, {Joan T.} and Tagi, {Jugah anak} and Nyegang, {Salang anak} and Postar Miun and Jeisin Jumian and Lisa Pokorny and Zerega, {Nyree J.C.}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank the Sabah Forestry Department and Sarawak Forest Departments for permits; the Field Museum of Natural History and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for access to laboratories; Markus G. Aloysius L. Brono S. and Jegong anak Suka for assistance in the field; J. Viruel, M. Murphy, and E. James for assistance in the lab; BO, F, K, and MO herbaria for access to specimens; and Sabah Agriculture Department, Semenggoh Arboretum, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bogor Botanical Garden, National Tropical Botanic Garden, and Govardhan Gardens for access to living collections. This study was supported by the NSF (0919119, 1501373 and 1711391), Garden Club of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Botanical Society of America, Systematics Research Fund, EU-SYNTHESYS (NL-TAF-6894, GB-TAF-2437), and the Garfield Weston Foundation. The authors declare no competing interests. Funding Information: We thank the Sabah Forestry Department and Sarawak Forest Departments for permits; the Field Museum of Natural History and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, for access to laboratories; Markus G., Aloysius L., Brono S., and Jegong anak Suka for assistance in the field; J. Viruel, M. Murphy, and E. James for assistance in the lab; BO, F, K, and MO herbaria for access to specimens; and Sabah Agriculture Department, Semenggoh Arboretum, Singapore Botanic Gardens, Bogor Botanical Garden, National Tropical Botanic Garden, and Govardhan Gardens for access to living collections. This study was supported by the NSF (0919119, 1501373 and 1711391), Garden Club of America, American Society of Plant Taxonomists, Botanical Society of America, Systematics Research Fund, EU-SYNTHESYS (NL-TAF-6894, GB-TAF-2437), and the Garfield Weston Foundation. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2022 Elsevier Inc.",

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doi = "10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.062",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "32",

pages = "R511--R512",

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AU - Gardner, Elliot M.

AU - Ahmad Puad, Aida Shafreena

AU - Pereira, Joan T.

AU - Tagi, Jugah anak

AU - Nyegang, Salang anak

AU - Miun, Postar

AU - Jumian, Jeisin

AU - Pokorny, Lisa

AU - Zerega, Nyree J.C.

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PY - 2022/6/6

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N2 - Indigenous peoples are important stewards of biodiversity, often living near and possessing intimate knowledge of ecosystems. As a result, species new to science may be long known to indigenous people. While the scientific endeavor has long benefitted from indigenous knowledge, it has usually not engaged with it on equal footing1,2. While Linnaean taxonomy offers a broad framework for global comparisons, it may lack the detailed local insights possessed by indigenous peoples. This study illustrates how meaningful engagement with indigenous knowledge — throughout the scientific process — can improve biodiversity science and promote conservation1,2, particularly in studies of crop wild relatives, an international priority3 for food security in the face of climate change4. Two species of fruit trees recognized as distinct by the Iban and Dusun peoples, but considered a single species in current Linnaean taxonomy, were confirmed as distinct taxa by molecular studies. They correspond to Artocarpus odoratissimus Blanco and Artocarpus mutabilis Becc., whose distinguishing characteristics were clarified by members of indigenous communities.

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Engagement with indigenous people preserves local knowledge and biodiversity alike

Abstract

Funding

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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