Endangered knowledge and endangered plants: Threats to Indigenous medicinal traditions in Borneo

Mongabay
Mongabay
1w ago • 11 views
The Punan people's traditional plant knowledge is declining as modern medicine takes precedence. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect both biodiversity and cultural heritage.
Endangered knowledge and endangered plants: Threats to Indigenous medicinal traditions in Borneo
A What happened
In Borneo, the Punan people's centuries-old knowledge of medicinal plants is at risk as younger generations increasingly rely on modern medicine. Researchers from Universiti Putra Malaysia have documented traditional practices and identified key plants, including Cissus rostrata and Coscinium fenestratum, which are facing severe conservation threats. The Punan believe that sharing their medicinal knowledge could diminish its effectiveness, complicating documentation efforts. To address this, researchers are building trust-based relationships with the community, immersing themselves in daily life. However, less than half of the traditional knowledge is passed to the next generation, raising concerns about its extinction. The loss of these plants and knowledge not only impacts biodiversity but also erases part of the community's cultural heritage. Collaborative conservation efforts are essential to maintain both botanical diversity and the cultural practices of Indigenous peoples.

Key insights

  • 1

    Cultural Heritage at Risk: Loss of medicinal plants erases community heritage.

  • 2

    Trust-Based Research: Building relationships is key to documenting knowledge.

  • 3

    Endangered Medicinal Plants: Cissus rostrata and Coscinium fenestratum are critically endangered.

  • 4

    Generational Knowledge Gap: Less than half of traditional knowledge is passed down.

Takeaways

Urgent action is needed to preserve the Punan people's medicinal knowledge and the endangered plants they rely on. Collaborative efforts can help maintain both biodiversity and cultural heritage.

Topics

Health & Medicine Medicine