- Title
- Cultural significance of biodiversity: the role of medicinal plants in urban African cultural practices in the Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Creator
- Cocks, Michelle L
- Creator
- Dold, Anthony P
- Date Issued
- 2006
- Date
- 2006
- Type
- text
- Type
- article
- Identifier
- http://hdl.handle.net/10962/141338
- Identifier
- vital:37963
- Identifier
- DOI: 10.2993/0278-0771(2006)26[60:CSOBTR]2.0.CO;2
- Description
- Since the International Convention on Biodiversity in 1992 conservation biologists, ecologists and conservationists have devoted considerable attention to the conservation of biodiversity. With this has come the realization that solutions to biological problems often lie in the mechanisms of social, cultural, and economic systems. This shift has emphasized the relationship between biodiversity and human diversity, or what the Declaration of Belem (1988) calls an “inextricable link” between biological and cultural diversity. The term biocultural diversity was introduced by Posey to describe the concept denoting this link. To date this concept has been used only in reference to “indigenous people” who, as part of their traditional lifestyles, use biodiversity to sustain their cultural identity. Our research, however, demonstrates that Xhosa people (amaXhosa) living in an urban context in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa continue to use wild plants for cultural purposes and often access these through commercial trade. We suggest that recognition of the cultural and spiritual values associated with wild plants would greatly enhance biodiversity conservation efforts. Recognition of the significant role that wild plants play in fulfilling cultural needs for urban Xhosa people would go a long way towards achieving this.
- Format
- 22 pages
- Format
- Language
- English
- Relation
- Journal of Ethnobiology
- Relation
- Cocks, M.L. and Dold, A.P., 2006. Cultural significance of biodiversity: the role of medicinal plants in urban African cultural practices in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Journal of Ethnobiology, 26(1), pp.60-81.
- Relation
- Journal of Ethnobiology volume 26 number 1 60 81 2006 0278-0771
- Rights
- Publisher
- Rights
- Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of the BioOne Complete Statement (https://bioone.org/about)
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Collections
Dold, Anthony Patrick (Mr)
RU Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER)
Cocks, Michelle Linda (Assoc Prof)
RU Department of Anthropology
RU Department of Botany
SDG 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 15. Life On Land
SDG 03. Good Health and Well-Being
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