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- Convenor:
-
Sofia Penabaz-Wiley
(Chiba University)
Send message to Convenor
- Format:
- Roundtable
- Sessions:
- Friday 29 October, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract:
The roundtable panel discussion of ideas will include: reasons and ways to bring ethnobiology into the modern day; landscape types such as urban and rural; methods for planting, showing, and interacting; possible new interactions; and overcoming change resistance in society and government.
Long Abstract:
The aim of the roundtable panel discussion will be to address how to bring ethnobiology back into everyday life for human beings. We will discuss ideas for past ways of planting, showing, or interacting that can be adaptated for use in the modern technological age. It is our hope that with this discussion, many ideas for expanding ethnobiology into societal systems can be formulated and thus new areas of research can emerge and new connections between us and our world can evolve.
The panel discussion will include reasons for bringing ethnobiology into the present modern day for average people in their localities. We will generally be considering urban and rural landscapes in developed and developing countries. We will contemplate various possible methods, both soft and hard, for bringing it into average people's lives in places where traditional knowledge is fading. With soft methods we would be considering what kinds of social and communication-based methods we could use. With hard methods will discuss concrete changes in architecture, landscape architecture, horticulture, maintenance training, and other physical aspects of the landscape or physical states. This would naturally include types of possible interactions that folks could have with nature that might not be possible without such innovations. Finally, we will discuss the possible challenges and interactions with local and national governments and societal norms to defeat change resistance and modernize our relationship with nature.
The panel discussion will be shorter than others to open it to outside ideas for a longer Q&A session.
Accepted papers:
Session 1 Friday 29 October, 2021, -Paper short abstract:
We examined the relationship between psychological ownership of ethnobotanical plants in the landscape, how landscape and biodiversity are related, and the connection between the two. Findings showed that human age, plants and landscape biodiversity, and land grading affect psychological ownership.
Paper long abstract:
This study’s objectives were to examine the relationship between psychological ownership of ethnobotanical plants in the landscape, the perceived relations between landscape and plant and animal diversity, and the connections between the two. It also attempts to address related questions posited in social-ecological systems theory. The mixed-methods research consisted of 40 interviews, a 200m radius land-use history study, field notes, and a questionnaire at a 746-unit housing complex in Matsudo City, Japan. 34 ethnobotanical plants were found within 200m of the complex center. 111 responses regarding psychological ownership of biodiversity and of ethnobotanical knowledge were analyzed. Results demonstrated a relationship between psychological ownership of the landscape and plants, mostly learned through familial experiences, an awareness of biodiversity, and reduction with land grading. Ethnobotanical knowledge was found to be related to interest in biodiversity. There was a relationship between age and knowledge; residents in their 60s and 70s knew more about the usages of plants for food and medicine and had more extensive knowledge of the landscape. Land use history showed that grading of the native landscape removed biodiversity, that original landscape had higher numbers of ethnobotanical plants and shelter for rarer birds, and that psychological ownership decreased with a decrease in biodiversity unless plants are actively accessible commercially. Findings suggest that conserving native landscapes and increasing psychological ownership of them, as well as galvanizing intergenerational, social appreciation of the elderly could lead to retaining biodiversity as well as traditional knowledge of ethnobotanical plants.
Paper short abstract:
Kuromoji, or Lindera umbellata, is a large native shrub and one of the herbal ingredients in Yomeishu, a popular medicinal liquor that has been passed down for 4 centuries. In recent years, there have been movements to utilize it to promote forest conservation and revitalization of local villages.
Paper long abstract:
Kuromoji is an ethnobotanical Japanese Laurel and is playing a part in the new relationship emerging between modern society and the traditional forests of Japan. Yomeishu Seizo Co., Ltd. maintains the manufacture and sale of the medicinal liquor Yomeishu that was developed in Japan four centuries ago. It contains herbal medicines traditionally used in Japan and China. The main one is Kuromoji.
Kuromoji is also important in traditional culture. It is presumed that wooden picks in tea ceremonies since the 16th century have been made from it. Several other traditional customs also depend upon it.
On the other hand, in the forestry field it is not used as a building material so it is usually thrown away. The Japanese forestry industry, dependent upon cedar, is considered to be in decline.
Recently, some local governments and businesses aim to utilize forestry resources for reasons other than building materials. Kuromoji has a pleasant scent and can be consumed, so it is processed and sold as an essential oil and an herbal tea. Recent studies have shown that Kuromoji has antiviral effects. It can be expected to be used by taking advantage of its antiviral effect.
Kuromoji grows easily in well-maintained forests, so we believe that its use will help protect the forest. Forests can provide rich ecosystem services and landscapes for use by humans, so traditional satoyama forests and kuromoji are a good match. Thus, kuromoji is being used to revive Japan’s satoyama heritage and landscape through integration with current economic and societal needs.