Randomized trial assesses ecological significance of traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation, highlighting its cultural importance.
Key Points
This study aims to document how traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) contributes to biodiversity conservation and its significance within local cultures.
Conducted integrated ethnobotanical surveys and ecological assessments in the Hadiya and Kambata-Tembaro zones of central Ethiopia.
Collected data on species inventories, cultural uses, and ecological measures of richness and complexity across various land types.
Recorded a total of 78 plant species, focusing on culturally significant ones and evaluating sacred groves versus disturbed sites.
Sacred groves exhibited the highest species richness with 62 species and greater structural complexity compared to disturbed sites.
Communities linked biodiversity decline to agricultural expansion, overharvesting, and weakening local institutions.
TEK practices such as rotational harvesting and community nurseries were employed to sustain both ecological and cultural functions.