NIGK24014U Applied Ethnobotany
MSc Programme in Environment and Development
MSc Programme in Forest and Nature Management
MSc Programme in Global Environment and Development
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; potential impact of climate change on peoples'
access to plant resources.
Conservation; the emphasis is on application of local knowledge and
the role of local institutions in conservation, sustainable use and
community development.
Overall: the course will equip students with competences and skills to craft interdisciplinary solutions for a sustainable future
The core concepts in ethnobotany are provided followed by
advanced studies of people-plant relations focusing upon importance
of wild and domesticated plants to local livelihoods and
opportunities for sustainable use of tropical natural resources.
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 land 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
understand local classification and uses of plants
including plant properties.
Select and apply ethnobotanical principels and tools to explore
solutions to ecosystem and plant conservation together
with local people.
Define and formulate a research question and plan practical field
work
Apply scientific ethnobotanical methods in data collection and
analyses.
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.
Develop interdisciplinary solutions for a sustainable future
Gary J. Martin. Ethnobotany. A methods manual. 2004.
Selected scientific papers. Selected book chapters.
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, management, and
conservation.
Academic qualifications equivalent to a BSc degree is recommended.
- Category
- Hours
- Lectures
- 35
- Preparation
- 70
- Practical exercises
- 35
- Excursions
- 10
- Project work
- 50
- Guidance
- 6
- Total
- 206
Students receive written and oral feed-back (collective) at different stages of their field project, i.e. synopsis, formulation of objective and research questions, choise of methods, and poster presentation of results.
Students receive oral feedback (individual) on their presentation of a scientific paper.
Students and teachers engage in discussions on topics and development of field projects including the feasibility of potential methods.
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- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Oral examination, 20 - 30 minutesWritten assignment, made during the block
- Type of assessment details
- Written project and poster (25%)
Oral examination (75%). No time for preparation.
The oral exam will analyse one or two key issues in a broader ethnobotanical context.
Students must pass both examinations individually to pass the overall exam. - Aid
- Without aids
All aids allowed for the written project.
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
two or more internal examiners
- Re-exam
As the ordinary exam
Criteria for exam assesment
Evaluation is based on student performance in relation to intended learning outcome of the course (see learning outcome).
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIGK24014U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 1
- Schedule
- A
- Course capacity
- 35
The number of places might be reduced if you register in the late-registration period (BSc and MSc) or as a credit or single subject student.
Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources, Environment and Animal Science
Contracting department
- Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management
Contracting faculty
- Faculty of Science
Course Coordinators
- Ida Theilade (4-6d686578446d6b72326f7932686f)
Ecology, anthropology, indigenous peoples, participation, conservation. - Lars Schmidt (3-6f7666436c6a71316e7831676e)
Botany, Ecology, forest products, NTFPs, socio-economy, agroforestry, conservation.