Title | Identifying traditionally used plants in the regional municipality of Wood Buffalo |
Publication Type | Report |
Year of Publication | 2008 |
Authors | Bush, D., & Dersch A. |
Publication Language | en |
Keywords | traditional use plants |
Abstract | The objective for this study was to collect information on traditional plant use in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and required three tasks: a literature review, the development of a conceptual framework for organizing and synthesizing traditional plant use data, and interviews and field visits with Aboriginal communities. It is hoped that the results of the study will contribute to the Sustainable Ecosystems Working Group's management framework to address cumulative effects. The report is divided by the three tasks, with each task section explaining the methodology employed and results obtained. Much of the existing literature reviewed was problematic due to variations in the level of detail provided, language used for plant names, and little use of GPS for location identification. The data collected from the literature review, interviews, and field visits is collected into summary tables, divided by Aboriginal community. Tables provide not only the common name of plants identified, but also the scientific name and local variations of it, as well as frequency of collection, quantity collected, geographical availability, accessibility, past use and current abundance, and an assessment of cultural importance. Summary maps identifying locations of traditionally used plants are also provided. Brief summaries of plant use within each community, including the identification of the most important species, favoured collection areas, and current challenges, are also provided. The study notes in conclusion that most plant collection still occurs along pre-contact transportation routes. The northern part of the region is less heavily impacted by development, though it suffers from pollution from the south and the impact of the Bennett Dam, and plant collection areas are still largely intact. The central and southern parts of the region are characterized by extreme habitat loss due to development, and plant collection areas have been seriously constrained. |
Notes | Consultant commissioned by Cumulative Environmental Management Association |
Locational Keywords | Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo |
Group | CEMA |
Citation Key | 25096 |