Presentation short abstract

This talk examines how ethnobiological knowledge is mobilized in Indigenous land rights litigation. Drawing on global case studies, we explore the types of evidence used in court, their political implications, and the challenges and opportunities for ethnobiologists as allies in such struggles.

Presentation long abstract

This presentation explores the emerging interface between ethnobiology and legal systems, focusing on court cases where ethnobiological knowledge has contributed to defending Indigenous Peoples’ land and territorial rights. Around the world, Indigenous communities have drawn upon their deep-rooted relationships with local ecosystems to demonstrate continuity of occupation, customary use, and cultural significance of ancestral territories. In parallel, ethnobiologists have increasingly participated as expert witnesses or provided research that substantiates these claims in judicial contexts. By reviewing a set of international case studies, this talk highlights the growing relevance of ethnobiological evidence (such as plant use traditions, ecological calendars, place-based nomenclature, and historical land-use patterns) in legal and political processes. We identify recurring patterns in how such evidence is mobilized, the types of claims it supports, and the institutional conditions under which it becomes legally persuasive. We also reflect on the ethical, methodological, and epistemological challenges of using ethnobiological knowledge in adversarial legal arenas, including issues of data sovereignty, representation, extractivism and risks of epistemic reductionism. Ultimately, we argue that ethnobiologists can serve as important allies in struggles for justice and territorial restitution, provided their engagement remains accountable to Indigenous priorities and governance systems.