hmong conservation: lessons in ethnobotany from the elders of long lan, luang prabang, lao...

Hmong  Conservation Lessons in ethnobotany from the elders of Long Lan,

Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic RepublicWhitney, Cory, Vang Sin Min (Meej Vaj), Lê Hồng Giang , Vu Van Can,

Keith Barber, Tran Thi Lanh

Authors •  Cory William Whitney1*, Vang Sin Min (Meej Vaj)2, Lê Hồng

Giang3, Vu Van Can3, Keith Barber4, Tran Thi Lanh3

•  1 Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kleve, Germany

•  * Corresponding author: cory.whitney@hsrw.eu•  2 Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program/ Mekong Community Networking and Ecological Trading, Si Ma Cai, Vietnam

•  3 Social Policy Ecology Research Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam•  4 Waikato University, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences,

Hamilton, New Zealand

Overview

Overview •  What? Hmong cultural plant use Traditional customary management systems

Overview •  What? Hmong cultural plant use Traditional customary management systems

•  So what? Loss of biodiversityPressure to exploit natural resources

Overview •  What? Hmong cultural plant use Traditional customary management systems

•  So what? Loss of biodiversityPressure to exploit natural resources

•  Now What? Promote endogenous practices of conservation-connection to local ecology (educate youth) More participatory research for conservation

Cooperation

Cooperation •  Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program (YIELDS)

Cooperation •  Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program (YIELDS)•  Hmong Association of Northern Laos

Cooperation •  Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program (YIELDS)•  Hmong Association of Northern Laos•  Lao People’s Revolutionary Party

Cooperation •  Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program (YIELDS)•  Hmong Association of Northern Laos•  Lao People’s Revolutionary Party•  Center for Human Ecology Studies of Highlands

(CHESH) in Lao PDR

Cooperation •  Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program (YIELDS)•  Hmong Association of Northern Laos•  Lao People’s Revolutionary Party•  Center for Human Ecology Studies of Highlands

(CHESH) in Lao PDR•  Mekong Community Network for Ecological Trade

(MECO-ECOTRA)

Cooperation •  Hmong, Young Indigenous Ethnic Minority Leadership

Program (YIELDS)•  Hmong Association of Northern Laos•  Lao People’s Revolutionary Party•  Center for Human Ecology Studies of Highlands

(CHESH) in Lao PDR•  Mekong Community Network for Ecological Trade

(MECO-ECOTRA)•  Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden in Luang Prabang

•  Mr. Neej Tsim Lis, Mr. Koos Txum Lis, Mrs. Maiv Txos Lis, Mrs. Niam Xeev Hwm, Mr. Npuas Yias Thoj, Mr. Nyiaj Pos Yaj, Mr. Nyiaj Txiab Lis, Mr. Suav Thej Yaj, Mr. Txoov Tuam Hawj, Mr. Vam Xeeb Yaj, Mr. Xaiv Khws Yaj, Mr. Xaiv Tuam Yaj, Mr. Xi li Van, and Mr. Zam Txoov Thoj

Elders

Objectives

•  Hmong cultural plant use

Objectives

•  Hmong cultural plant use •  Traditional customary management systems

Objectives

Figure 1. Map of Long Lan village* and Phu Soung Mountains in Lao PDR† *Inset points indicate locations of plant samples collected around Long Lan village.

†Map from CartoGIS, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian National University. Inset developed in QGIS 2013.

Long Lan village and Phu Soung Mountains in

Lao PDR �

CartoGIS, College of Asia and the Pacific, The Australian

National University.

Inset QGIS 2013.

Ban  Long  Lan

QGIS 2013.

10km

Ban  Long  Lan

QGIS 2013.

10km

Ban  Long  Lan

QGIS 2013.

10km

Participatory  Ethnobotany

3-­‐‑Stages

Participatory  Ethnobotany

Elders

Participatory  Ethnobotany Youth

Elders

Participatory  Ethnobotany Youth

Elders

Walk-­‐‑in-­‐‑the-­‐‑woods

(PHILLIPS  &  GENTRY,1993)

Data  Analysis

Data  Analysis •  URs /CIs (Tardio & Pardo-de-Santayana 2008)

Where NC=number of use categories, u=uses, i=informant, and N=total number of informants (Ns =FC)

(TARDÍO  J.  &  PARDO-­‐‑DE-­‐‑SANTAYANA  M.  2008)

Data  Analysis •  URs /CIs (Tardio & Pardo-de-Santayana 2008)

•  Regression models in program R ‘ggplot’ / ‘psych’.

Where NC=number of use categories, u=uses, i=informant, and N=total number of informants (Ns =FC)

(TARDÍO  J.  &  PARDO-­‐‑DE-­‐‑SANTAYANA  M.  2008)

Results:  Ethnobotany •  74 indigenous plant species >300 UR

Specimens  at  Pha  Tad  Ke  Botanical  Garden.  Luang  Prabang,  Laos  /  SPERI,  Hanoi,  Vietnam/  Vu Van Can, Hanoi,  Vietnam,  

(Aubréville  1985;  Smitinand  &  Vidal  1990)

Latin Name Hmong Name* UR FC NU Cons CIPersicaria chinensis (L.) H.

Gross Qaub Yag 18 4 9 6 1.286

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don. Qos Tsov 14 3 7 5 1.00

0

Uncaria hirsuta Havil. Pos Kub Yas Liab, Pos Kub Yag 9 4 6 10 0.64

3

Bischofia javanica Blume (Ntoo) Qaub Pluas 8 4 6 4 0.571

Cheilocostus speciosus (J.Koenig) C.D.Specht (Ko, Kav) Qeej 8 2 7 4 0.57

1

Sterculia lanceolata Cav. Seb Kaus Dais, Ntoo Xib 8 4 4 4 0.57

1

Results:  Quantitative scores 6 most important (CI index) by plant species

*Parenthesis indicates names (e.g. affix, prefix) often omitted

Chinese  knotweed Elephant  ear  taro Cat’s  claw Bishop  wood Crêpe  ginger Lance-­‐‑leaved  Sterculia

Customary  Laws Spreading  seed

Remove  competing  vegetation

Latin Name Hmong Name* UR FC NU Cons CIPersicaria chinensis (L.) H.

Gross Qaub Yag 18 4 9 6 1.286

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don. Qos Tsov 14 3 7 5 1.00

0

Uncaria hirsuta Havil. Pos Kub Yas Liab, Pos Kub Yag 9 4 6 10 0.64

3

Bischofia javanica Blume (Ntoo) Qaub Pluas 8 4 6 4 0.571

Cheilocostus speciosus (J.Koenig) C.D.Specht (Ko, Kav) Qeej 8 2 7 4 0.57

1

Sterculia lanceolata Cav. Seb Kaus Dais, Ntoo Xib 8 4 4 4 0.57

1

Results:  Quantitative scores 6 most important (CI index) by plant species

*Parenthesis indicates names (e.g. affix, prefix) often omitted

Chinese  knotweed Elephant  ear  taro Cat’s  claw Bishop  wood Crêpe  ginger Lance-­‐‑leaved  Sterculia

Customary  Laws Spreading  seed

Remove  competing  vegetation

NU  =  number  of  uses  per  species

Latin Name Hmong Name* UR FC NU Cons CIPersicaria chinensis (L.) H.

Gross Qaub Yag 18 4 9 6 1.286

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don. Qos Tsov 14 3 7 5 1.00

0

Uncaria hirsuta Havil. Pos Kub Yas Liab, Pos Kub Yag 9 4 6 10 0.64

3

Bischofia javanica Blume (Ntoo) Qaub Pluas 8 4 6 4 0.571

Cheilocostus speciosus (J.Koenig) C.D.Specht (Ko, Kav) Qeej 8 2 7 4 0.57

1

Sterculia lanceolata Cav. Seb Kaus Dais, Ntoo Xib 8 4 4 4 0.57

1

Results:  Quantitative scores 6 most important (CI index) by plant species

*Parenthesis indicates names (e.g. affix, prefix) often omitted

Chinese  knotweed Elephant  ear  taro Cat’s  claw Bishop  wood Crêpe  ginger Lance-­‐‑leaved  Sterculia

Latin Name Hmong Name* UR FC NU Cons CIPersicaria chinensis (L.) H.

Gross Qaub Yag 18 4 9 6 1.286

Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G.Don. Qos Tsov 14 3 7 5 1.00

0

Uncaria hirsuta Havil. Pos Kub Yas Liab, Pos Kub Yag 9 4 6 10 0.64

3

Bischofia javanica Blume (Ntoo) Qaub Pluas 8 4 6 4 0.571

Cheilocostus speciosus (J.Koenig) C.D.Specht (Ko, Kav) Qeej 8 2 7 4 0.57

1

Sterculia lanceolata Cav. Seb Kaus Dais, Ntoo Xib 8 4 4 4 0.57

1

Results:  Quantitative scores 6 most important (CI index) by plant species

*Parenthesis indicates names (e.g. affix, prefix) often omitted

Chinese  knotweed Elephant  ear  taro Cat’s  claw Bishop  wood Crêpe  ginger Lance-­‐‑leaved  Sterculia

Type UR FC NU Cons CI index

Trees 92 38 76 78 6.571Perennial

herbs 82 26 63 44 5.857

Shrubs 67 27 55 57 4.786Lianas /

Climbers 37 14 34 17 2.643

Annual herbs 22 11 20 16 1.571

Ferns 6 3 6 4 0.429

Results:  Cumulative  scores UR,  FC,  NU,  conservation  practices  (Cons),  CI  index  by  plant  habit

Chinese  knotweed Elephant  ear  taro Cat’s  claw Bishop  wood Crêpe  ginger Lance-­‐‑leaved  Sterculia

Results:  Conservation  /Use UR

FC

Multiple  R-­‐‑squared:    0.7291 Adjusted  R-­‐‑squared:    0.7267  

p-­‐‑value:  <  2.2e-­‐‑16

Multiple  R-­‐‑squared:    0.6594 Adjusted  R-­‐‑squared:    0.6563  

p-­‐‑value:  <  2.2e-­‐‑16

Ind. quantitative ethnobotany. Dep. conservation practices.

Multiple  R-­‐‑squared:    0.2023 Adjusted  R-­‐‑squared:    0.1949  

F-­‐‑statistic:  27.64   p-­‐‑value:  7.354e-­‐‑07

Results:  Conservation  /Use

NU

UR FC

Ind. quantitative ethnobotany. Dep. conservation practices.

Discussion/Conclusions

Discussion/Conclusions •  Hmong cultural plant use for conservation

Discussion/Conclusions •  Hmong cultural plant use for conservation

•  Coping for traditional customary management systems

Discussion/Conclusions •  Hmong cultural plant use for conservation

•  Coping for traditional customary management systems •  Promote traditional practices of conservation

Discussion/Conclusions •  Hmong cultural plant use for conservation

•  Coping for traditional customary management systems •  Promote traditional practices of conservation

•  Participatory research for endogenous solutions for conservation

Discussion/Conclusions •  Hmong cultural plant use for conservation

•  Coping for traditional customary management systems •  Promote traditional practices of conservation

•  Participatory research for endogenous solutions for conservation

Literature •  AUBRÉVILLE A. 1985. Flore du Cambodge, du Laos et du Vietnam:

Sabiacées, par. F. Gagnepain et J. Vidal. Muséum national d’histoire naturelle.

•  PHILLIPS O. & GENTRY A.H. 1993. The useful plants of Tambopata, Peru: I. Statistical hypotheses tests with a new quantitative technique. Economic Botany 47: 15-32. SMITINAND T. & J.E. VIDAL 1990. Flore du Cambodge, du Laos et du Viêtnam:(révision de la Flore générale de l’Indochine). Diptérocarpacées. Muséum national d’histoire naturelle.

•  SPERI 2013. Ethnobotany Research; An Approach to Biological Human Ecology Theory. Hanoi, Vietnam: Knowledge Publishing (Nhà xuất bản Tri thức).

•  TARDÍO J. & PARDO-DE-SANTAYANA M. 2008. Cultural importance indices: a comparative analysis based on the useful wild plants of Southern Cantabria (Northern Spain) 1. Economic Botany 62: 24-39.