Abstract:
Traditional or indigenous communities have for a long time contributed to the
accumulation of world knowledge. Unfortunately, in the context of modern
science and technology this knowledge is largely ignored and undervalued. Recent
approaches to development and industrialisation, however, are geared towards upscaling
traditional innovations, technologies and inventions. There are traditional
practices especially in utilisation biological resources that are likely to contribute
to acceleration of development of natural products industry and sustainable
environmental management in the 21st century. These may include indigenous
knowledge of local plants and forest products, knowledge on important species for
integration in pest management, innovative ideas in ecological processes and land
use. This paper explores the relevance of ethnobiological data in sustainable natural
products industrial development and environmental management
