Paper short abstract:

We propose the Papiliocene as a place-based category that considers past and present socio-nature configurations to inform monarch butterfly conservation studies.

Paper long abstract:

The North American Monarch Butterfly is a well-known and protected insect due to its iconic migration and overwintering behaviour. The insect faces survival challenges along its migratory route within today's distinct nations of Canada, the United States and Mexico and has been widely researched by conservation science. While these conservation science studies are important, particularly in the overwinter UNESCO protected area in Mexico, they have not integrated indigenous and deep-time perspectives in the conservation of this butterfly. To the day, conservation science operating at this Unesco Reserve regards monarchs as discrete units and seeks to protect them independently of their human relations. This paper presents a different lens to monarch butterfly conservation by analyzing historical and current indigenous ecological knowledge of Jnato and Nya-Nyu (Mazahua and Otomi) groups who have historically inhabited monarch's overwinter forest. Based on the researcher’s fieldwork and active engagement with indigenous communities of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve, our paper shows the long-term co-productive relations of these communities with the monarch forest, its waters, and guardian entities. We present three systems of indigenous knowledge and practices related to different yet related entities. 1) Water-rain-monarchs. 2) Corn-milpa-monarchs, and 3) Forest-mushroom-monarchs. By exploring these three interrelated areas of knowledge and practice, we aim to bring a long-term perspective to the current state of monarch conservation. We propose Papiliocene as a place-based category that considers past and present socio-nature configurations to inform monarch butterfly conservation studies.

Paper long abstract:

Traditional Owners of Australia valued trees for a range of cultural purposes and these now veteran trees are generally not valued highly and are often lost during the development of settlements and regions, including road and rail corridors. The project aim was to increase awareness and knowledge on Culturally Modified Trees and specifically Aboriginal scarred trees which now exist as veteran trees in fragmented landscapes through a series of workshops.

Scarred trees are significant to Aboriginal culture as they were a source of material for construction, craft and have important intangible values (e.g. spiritual beliefs). Scarred trees now provide information to modern cultural groups on artefact manufacture and are of irreplaceable value as these remnants provide knowledge and links to past practices. The need exists to mitigate developmental impacts and other encroachment pressures in association with increased conservation efforts to ensure scarred trees are not vulnerable and remain a viable part of our cultural heritage until natural senescence.

Educational workshops discussing the management of these significant trees were developed and held in subtropical and tropical regions of Eastern Australia. The planning and delivery of the project was co-managed with Indigenous groups. The focus of the workshops was the convergence of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge and Western Scientific Knowledge to explore ways of managing veteran and scarred trees.

A number of examples will be presented on veteran tree management options that integrate Indigenous values and cultural management and touch on important considerations that are crucial to engaging with Indigenous groups.

Paper short abstract:

This paper presents a deep-time perspective on the tula wells in southern Ethiopia. Survival of this successful but threatened water management system is contingent on dynamic responses that accommodate the interests of different actors while preserving their symbolic significance and history.

Paper long abstract:

The tula wells in southern Ethiopia represent an indigenous water technology and water governance system that transcended generations. This presentation presents a deep-time perspective on the use of the wells and argues that continuity of this successful but threatened water management system and key resource is contingent on the dynamic responses that accommodate the interests of different social groups while utilizing technologies that simplify use of water from tula wells in a manner that preserves the socio-cultural significance of the wells. The wells play crucial roles in Borana ritual performances, cultural identity, political debate, pastoral production, human and livestock fertility, and above all nagaa Borana (peace of Borana). Borana pastoralists connect past, present and future generations through tula wells ownership. A conservative estimate shows that the wells have been in use for at least 600 years. We present the results of a study aimed at understanding the socio-cultural symbolism of tula wells, threats to the continuity of the water system, and its transformation. Key informant interviews, group discussion, and observation were the main tools to gather data. Tula wells have been undergoing structural, social and institutional transformations in terms of labour organization, economic contributions from collective owners and users, and institutions that manage the wells. The transformation is partly an adaptation to socio-economic and ecological dynamics and partly imposed by development actors.