LNAK10037U Applied Ethnobotany
MSc Programme in Sustainable Development in Agriculture (Agris Mundus)
The course will introduce students to research at the interface
between several disciplines, using methods derived from botany,
anthropology, ecology, economy, ethno-medicine, climate and
conservation science.
Introduction to ethnobotany; definition, history and disciplines
which contribute to an ethnobotanical study.
Botanical methods; preparing a reference collection, botanical
surveys.
Anthropological methods; understanding local people, surveys and
analytical tools.
Ecology; describing the environment and the plant resources,
qualitative and quantitative approaches.
Economics and ethnobotany; the value of forest products, surveys of
community and household economies and local markets.
Food plants; the role of traditional food plants in subsistence, as
income source and as emergency foods.
Ethno-medicine; collecting plants for phytochemical analysis,
ethics in searching for new plant products, and how to return
knowledge to communities.
Climate change; peoples' perceptions of climatic changes and
its impacts on useful plants and on peoples' use and knowledge
of plant resources.
Conservation; the emphasis is on application of local knowledge and
the role of local institutions in conservation, sustainable use and
community development.
The core concepts in ethnobotany are provided followed by
advanced studies of people-plant relations focusing upon importance
of forest plants to local livelihoods and opportunities for
sustainable use of tropical forests. The course highlights patterns
in plant use and the role that local peoples’ knowledge,
institutions and cultural perspectives can play in plant resource
use, management and conservation.
After completing the course the student should be able to:
Knowledge:
Display overview of key areas within ethnobotanical research and
describe main theories regarding traditional plant use and its
relative importance to different user groups.
Understand the role of ethnobotanical studies in community
development, sustainable forest management and development.
Demonstrate awareness of ethics and values related to
ethnobotanical studies.
Reflect on ethnobotany in relation to local and national cross
cutting issues such as gender, culture, equity, environmental
concern and intellectual property rights.
Skills:
Familiar with methods useful to work with local communities to
learn about their knowledge and uses of plants.
Select and apply ethnobotanical principals and tools to explore
solutions to forest plant conservation and development issues
together with local people.
Define and formulate a research question and plan practical field
work
Apply scientific ethnobotanical methods in data collection and
analyses in relation to a common project.
Communicate research aim(s) and results to the involved community.
Competencies:
Critically examine ethnobotanical literature
Transfer ethnobotanical methods to own research situation
Work effectively in an interdisciplinary group to define a common
research project and plan field work.
Gary J. Martin. Ethnobotany. A methods manual. 2004.
Selected scientific papers.
Gary Martins manual is used as an easy introduction to the science
of ethnobotany and practical field methods.
The book is supplemented by articles for advanced understanding of
hypothesis, methods, analysis and results of ethnobotanical studies
within plant use and management.
- Category
- Hours
- Excursions
- 10
- Guidance
- 6
- Lectures
- 35
- Practical exercises
- 35
- Preparation
- 70
- Project work
- 50
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examinationThe oral exam will analyse one or two key issues in a broader ethnobotanical context.
- Aid
- Without aids
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- External censorship
- Re-exam
- As the ordinary examn
Criteria for exam assesment
Evaluation is based on students performance in relation to intended learning outcome of the course (see learning outcome).
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- LNAK10037U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- A (Tues 8-12 + Thurs 8-17)
- Course capacity
- 35
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting departments
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences
Course responsibles
- Ida Theilade (4-7a757285517a7783803f7c863f757c)
Ecology, indigenous peoples, participation, socio-economy, conservation. - Marten Sørensen (2-7c824f7f7b747d3d7a843d737a)
Tropical botany, systematics, useful plants, food plants.