Community agricultural knowledge is considerable and is often overlooked by policy-makers. Better understanding and documentation is needed of how local knowledge affects community decision-making in the management of natural resources.

Plants and trees are an important source of free nutritious food, fuel and shelter for poor people. They are vital to those who use their fruits, nuts and berries as sources of protein, fats and vitamins in times of economic hardship. 90% of developing countries' populations rely on affordable traditional medicines from plants and trees, but increasing global demand for herbal remedies is threatening the sustainability of these sources. 

Research in southern Africa is documenting the varied local uses of the Marula (Elephant) tree.  The marula fruit pulp has three times more Vitamin C than oranges and its nuts are rich in protein and fat.  The bark is used for preventing malaria and for treating diarrhoea and dysentery, and the leaves, bark and roots are used externally as a rub for toothache and snakebite.  Syphilis, leprosy and hepatitis are also commonly treated using marula bark mixed with other medicinal plants.

In South and South East Asia, research working directly with farmers, aims to understand their continued preference for wild fish and other aquatic animals (self recruiting species - SRS) that breed naturally within their pond system.  This is despite current extension guidelines recommending exclusion to prevent disease and competition with stocked species.  Farmer perception is that many SRS are good for pregnant women, children and the elderly and are also a source of ‘free’ income.  Preliminary research comparing nutritional values of farmed fish and wild species indicate local knowledge may well be correct with more beneficial fatty acids in SRS.  Furthermore, when consumed whole, people benefit from trace elements in bones, eyes and scales, not normally consumed in larger fish.

Research on the benefits of the Gliricidia sepium tree, originating from Central America, has now led to it being grown in much of Africa and Asia.  During the dry season in particular, the foliage provides a valuable source of livestock feed.  A paste formed from ground-up leaves is used to repel insects and the bark and leaves are used to treat human skin diseases as well as burns, fever and gonorrhoea. When dried, the leaves and roots can also be used as a powerful rat poison to protect community food supplies.

In India, Nepal and South Africa, research is helping local communities and governments to document the medicinal and nutritional importance of 300 species of non-timber forest products and determine the most sustainable bark harvesting methods for different tree species.  An exciting indication from South Africa is that medicinal tree bark is helping alleviate symptoms associated with HIV/AIDS, resulting in huge popularity in the herbalist section of Durban’s city market, and leading to inevitable sustainability concerns. 

Closer examination is needed of intellectual property rights (IPR), land tenure and ownership issues to ensure that the good health and livelihoods of local resource users are not ignored as international prospecting companies and local commercial enterprises seek to purchase exploitation rights. Policy-makers need to ensure there is:

• more active management of forest resources so that pressure to maintain supplies for export does not lead to exploitation without monitoring of harvesting impacts and yield limits, backed by reliable population statistics
• closer collaboration between Ministries of Forestry, Health and Trade, ensures more income from the international medicinal plants trade benefits communities in the country of origin
• recognition that local knowledge and innovation may complement the contributions of conventional agricultural technologies and in some cases, may be more appropriate and sustainable.

Source(s):
'Supporting local knowledge and protecting resources', in id21 Insights Health #5, May 2004
'Natural resource management and human health: the forgotten link?'

Funded by: UK Department for International Development

id21 Research Highlight: 14 May 2004

Further Information:
John Palmer
Forestry Research Programme
Natural Resources International Ltd.
Park House, Bradbourne Lane
Aylesford
Kent ME20 6SN
UK

Contact the contributor: j.palmer@nrint.co.uk

Natural Resources International Ltd., UK

Department for International Development, UK

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