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Ethnobotanical Knowledge Transmission and Evolution: The Case of Medicinal Markets in Tanga, Tanzania1

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Ethnobotanical Knowledge Transmission and Evolution: The Case of Medicinal Markets in Tanga, Tanzania. This paper explores the range and distribution of local ecological knowledge (LEK) of popular medicinal plants by means of a case study in the medicinal markets of Tanga, Tanzania. Seventy–four medicinal plant harvesters, healers, and vendors were surveyed to test if knowledge differed based on their role in the market system, age, years of experience, and level of formal education. These results diverge from previous studies that explain variation in plant knowledge based on sociodemographic variables. It also questions the assumption that markets inevitably erode local or traditional knowledge. This study contributes to an understanding of the dynamics of ethnobotanical knowledge transmission and evolution by showing how particular contexts, in this case medicinal plant markets, can influence this process.

Maambukizi na Mageuzi wa Maarifa ya Mimea ya Kimila: Uchunguzi wa masoko ya dawa za mitishamba katika Tanga, Tanzania. Karatasi hii inatoa data kisayansi na maelezo juu ya masoko ya dawa za mitishamba ya Tanga, Tanzania. Kwa kuchakua mfano ya mitishamba tisa ambayo zinatumika sana, karatasi hii inachunguza umbalimbali na usambazaji wa ujuzi wa jadi wa mazingira (UJM). Wachimbaji, waganga wa jadi, na wauzaji sabini na nne walifanyiwa utafiti ili kujua kama maarifa ni tofauti kulingana na nafasi yao katika mfumo wa soko, umri, uzoefu, na kiwango cha elimu rasmi. Matokeo haya yanatofautiana na utafiti mwingine unaoelezea tofauti katika UJM kwa kuzingatia vigezo kama umri, elimu, na uzoefu; pia matokeo yanaonyesha kwamba si lazima masoko yaharibu LEK. Kwa kuonyesha jinsi gani hasa mazingira, katika masoko ya dawa za mitishamba, yanaweza kushawishi mchakato huu, utafiti huo unachangia katika ufahamu wa mienendo ya maambukizi na mageuzi katika maarifa asilia ya miti.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to the participants from Tanga, especially Mohomed Kassomo and Miraji Shemkai. Data collection was assisted by Mbessere Lukumay, William Mbuli, Shabani Suleimani Omar, and Salehe Zimbwe. Thanks also to Roy Gereau of the Missouri Botanical Garden, Efrem–Fred Njau of the National Herbarium of Tanzania, Christian K. Ruffo of the Tanzania Tree Seed Agency, John Kessy and Emmanuel Luoga of Sokoine Agricultural University, Bruno Mallya of the Tanga Forestry Catchment Project, Tamara Ticktin and Nina Etkin of the University of Hawaii, and Anthony B. Cunningham of People and Plants International. Thank you to Alicia Davis and two anonymous reviewers whose comments improved this paper. Funding is from the Society for Economic Botany through the Richard Evans Schultes Award, the National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (Grant No. 0413837) and the GK–12 (Grant No. DGE02–32016 awarded to K.Y. Kaneshiro), and People and Plants International.

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  1. Botany Department, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, USA

    Heather McMillen

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  1. Heather McMillen
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Correspondence to Heather McMillen.

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1Submitted 18 November 2011; Accepted 23 April 2012.

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McMillen, H. Ethnobotanical Knowledge Transmission and Evolution: The Case of Medicinal Markets in Tanga, Tanzania1 . Econ Bot 66, 121–131 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-012-9201-8

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