Ethnobiology and conservation: Why do we
need a new journal?
Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves1,* and Ulysses Paulino Albuquerque2
1
Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. Baraúnas #351, Bodocongó,
Campina Grande, PB, 58430-335, Brazil
2
Laboratory of Applied Ethnobotany, Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco,
52171-900 Recife, PE, Brazil
* Corresponding author
E-mail addresses: RRNA (
[email protected]), UPA (
[email protected])
Ethnobiology and Conservation 1:1 (4 October 2012)
ISSN 2238-4782
doi: 10.15451/ec2012-8-1.1-1-03 ethnobioconservation.com
Human beings are part of nature and they have been using it as a source of
resources to supply their basic needs, both materially and spiritually. Since ancient
times, mankind has established interactions of dependency and codependency with
natural resources. Nevertheless, in recent years, the world has undergone strong
economic and environmental changes. As pointed out by Bawa and Saberwal (2003),
these changes have significant consequences, not only because of the fate of natural
ecosystems, but also because of the human societies that are responsible for such
changes. Currently, the world is facing a potentially massive loss of wildlife due to
anthropogenic activities, such as deforestation, farming, overhunting, overfishing and
urbanisation (Alves and Rosa 2007; Bennett et al. 2002; Robinson and Bennett 2000,
2002).
Ironically, the role of human beings and the importance of their actions on
biodiversity have only been recognised recently, demonstrating that nature
conservancy should take into consideration the influence of human beings as agents
of transformation of natural spaces, not only in the aspects considered to be
negative. Thus, questions regarding biodiversity conservation cannot be answered
only with Biological Science fields, but should consider all dimensions that bind
Alves and Albuquerque 2012. Ethnobiology and Conservation: Why do we need a new journal?
Ethnobio Conserv 1:1
human societies to natural resources. In this context, Ethnobiology arises as a
promising subject that may play a fundamental role as a mediator of the dialogue
among the different academic subjects and traditional knowledge, a union essential
in enabling contextualised and sustainable alternatives to practices of exploitation
and management of biodiversity.
Recently, particularly in the last two decades, studies involving the interface
between Ethnobiology and Biology Conservation have intensified, although there are
a few specialised journals that address this theme, including the Journal of
Ethnobiology, Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine, Ethnobotany Research
and Applications, Economic Botany, and the Journal of Ethnopharmacology. Facing
this scenario, Ethnobiology and Conservation (EC) is an open-access online journal
that aims to provide a complementary site for publishing original contributions in all
fields of Ethnobiology and Nature Conservation. EC has an editorial board that
includes members from the international academic community with experience in
Ethnobiology and/or conservation in several regions of the world. The scope of EC
includes traditional ecological knowledge, human ecology, ethnoecology,
ethnopharmacology, ecological anthropology, and the history and philosophy of
science. Contributions to the area of nature conservation may involve studies that are
normally in the field of traditional ecological studies, as well as in animal and plant
biology, ethology, biogeography, management of fauna and flora, and ethical and
legal aspects regarding the conservation of biodiversity. However, all papers should
focus explicitly on their contribution to the conservation of nature.
The aim of EC is to provide a journal to the global scientific community to
disseminate research results that may contribute to the conservation of both cultural
and biological diversity. We hope that this new journal will promote interaction among
ethnobiologists, zoologists, botanists, ecologists, anthropologists, sociologists and
any professional dealing with questions regarding biodiversity, serving as a forum for
debate on the conservation of natural resources and the maintenance of human
cultures.
References
Alves RRN, Rosa IL (2007) Biodiversity, traditional medicine and public health:
where do they meet? Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 3:1-9
2
Alves and Albuquerque 2012. Ethnobiology and Conservation: Why do we need a new journal?
Ethnobio Conserv 1:1
Bawa KS, Saberwal V (2003) Why do we need a new journal on conservation?
Conservation and Society 1:v-vi
Bennett EL, Milner-Gulland EJ, Bakarr M, Eves HE, Robinson JG, Wilkie DS (2002)
Hunting the world's wildlife to extinction. Oryx 36:328-329
Robinson JG, Bennett EL (2000) Carrying capacity limits to sustainable hunting
in tropical forests. In: Robinson JG, Bennett EL (eds) Hunting for sustainability in
tropical forests. 1 ed. Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 13-30
Robinson JG, Bennett EL (2002) Will alleviating poverty solve the bushmeat
crisis? Oryx 36:332-332.
