THE VALUE OF TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
WHAT IS TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE
Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) is a cumulative body of knowledge of how human groups obtain, manage, and perceive their local resources, particularly plants they use for food, medicine, and objects, which is crucial for ensuring that those communities can continue to live and benefit from their local ecosystems in a sustainable way.
TEK is an evolving, adaptive knowledge that’s handed down from generation to generation through oral tradition. This knowledge goes beyond scientific or academic, in that it’s richer, deeper, and more extensive, as it combines human interaction with the observation of the environment. Overall providing a more holistic perspective of the human relationship to the natural environment and approaches to climate change.
70% of people in Ghana rely on traditional medicine. 80% of people in Africa rely on traditional
medicine.
Accessible: Pharmacies and hospitals can
be located far away, especially in rural areas
WHY TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
Available: There is an abundance of different
species right in your local environment.
Affordable: Plants will not cost anything,
compared to pharmaceuticals.
Cultural and spiritually accepted: Practice of
using traditional medicine is embedded into
cultural and moral value systems.
Based on secondary research it's clear that traditional medicine is commonly practiced in Ghana and many other African countries. However, studies are showing that the increase in acculturation and urbanization are resulting in a lack of application of knowledge and practices, moreover, younger generations no longer view this knowledge as valuable and aren't passed down. Furthermore, the natural environment is no longer seen as valuable, leading to land and biodiversity loss.
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Although Kokrobite is becoming more urban, its located outside of Accra and is still considered a village so we conducted some field research and interviewed 89 people to find out:
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To what extent is traditional knowledge about plants valued by people in Kokrobite?
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INTERVIEWS WITH LOCALS
Interview format
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Questions and approaches to the interview were developed beforehand with locals to ensure the format is appropriate to social-cultural norms
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Format questions to be indirect as it answers direct questions without putting the interviewee on the spot
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Informal structure- casual conversations
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Using keywords and gestures when faced with language barriers
Interview outcomes
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Despite simple questions were able to obtain rich qualitative and quantitative data
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Through finding out if people thought this knowledge was valuable, also got insight to commonly used plants and ailments they are used for
Future research
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Can go further in-depth with this research, ask more specific questions and interview more people
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Compare & contrast knowledge between generations and assess the transfer of knowledge
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Interviews in the future must be carried out by a local Ghanaian. Although most people were welcoming, there are still multiple barriers and limitations due to:
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Physical appearance (Being Caucasian)
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Different cultural background
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Language (limit in my ability to ask in-depth questions, limit in an interviewee’s response having to reply in English)
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INTERVIEW DATA AND INSIGHTS
GENDER AND AGE
People were not asked their age but if someone clearly looked like a teenager or child they were put into that category. The children and teenagers interviewed were ages 8-14.
(Data in a pie chart format are for questions with only one answer).
“In the city, they advise us that self-medication is not good, but in the village people, my age know. True education is integrating science with what we learn around us” -14 year-old teenager.
WHAT DO YOU USE FOR MEDICINE
People who source from both areas said they only went to the pharmacy if their ailment or pain did not go away after using plants.
“It’s all around us! Why go to the pharmacy when it’s right here for free.”
“We have a relationship with plants.”
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“Unlike western pharmacy that is a chemical this is natural, you know what you are putting into your body.”
WHAT PLANTS DO YOU USE WHEN YOU ARE SICK
The majority of people said that they knew many plants, these plants listed are the first that come to their mind, therefore are likely the most popular or well-known in Kokrobite.
Based on the prior question and through conversation we were able to get answers to if people could identify many plants.
“People should learn their uses, western medicine had to come from somewhere.”
“They are important to use in everyday food to prevent sickness, why wait until you get sick, it’s a part of daily lifestyle.”
WHAT TYPE OF SICKNESS DO YOU USE PLANTS FOR
WHERE DID YOU LEARN ABOUT PLANTS
The majority of people said, parents and grandparents. There is a separate category for people listing their ancestors, African forefathers because it demonstrates they are conscious that this
knowledge has a history and is passed down from one generation to the next.
"All Africans know this, we are Ghanaian."
"Our Forefathers used plants at the time when there was no pharmacy to go to."
IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN DO YOU USE PLANTS TO TREAT THEM
Adults interviewed who do not have children fall into the category of N/A.
Those who said no or sometimes were often due to not knowing the right dosage for a young child, or prefer to go to a doctor.
“Plants help us and we help them.”
“Here you have nature, you can feel nature, here you can feel the air is clean, in the city you don't have that, the air feels dirty.”
“If we do not have plants then we will have disasters and there will be no food for humans or animals.”
DO YOU THINK PLANTS ARE IMPORTANT
WHY DO YOU THINK PLANTS ARE IMPORTANT
Air purification is separate from fresh air/oxygen, as people explained how plants not only provide oxygen they remove toxins from the air.
“Plants were here before we were and they will be here after we die.”
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“God put them there for a reason, when he finished creating the earth he said it was perfect, therefore these plants are important and we should value them.”
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“God put plants on earth before humans.”
DO YOU THINK OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN ABOUT PLANTS
In the future, there needs to be a better way to ask this question or should be translated into Twi or Ga.
“People should learn because they are useful to humankind.”
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“People spoil it, it goes bad, people don't treat plants with kindness because they don't know it's medicine.”
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“Every plant has a purpose, everyone should learn about plants.”
WHY DO YOU THINK OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD LEARN ABOUT PLANTS
From the previous graph, it’s clear people understand that plants provide oxygen, therefore, is needed for survival. But this category is specifically for those who explained how humans have an innate relationship with plants.
MAIN INSIGHTS GATHERED
We are still in the process of properly citing our sources but for now, you can find our list of sources