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Map of Timor-Leste showing districts and relevant sub-districts. Sub-districts in the 2006-2007 Longitudinal study are named and shown as shaded areas
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Many rural households in the developing world are subject to chronic seasonal food insecurity. Often cited among coping strategies is foraging for wild foods. This study was to understand the role of wild food in household food security in Timor-Leste. Information on wild food use comes from three sources: a) a longitudinal study of food consumptio...
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In Timor-Leste food insecurity is seasonal with the hungry season prior to grain harvests. Foraging for wild foods is often cited among coping strategies for household food insecurity. Historically from 42,000 to 4,500 BP all food (100%) came from wild sources in Timor-Leste. From 4,500 BP up to the arrival of the Europeans in the 16th century, des...
Citations
... Interestingly, the archetypal ways in which food systems conceive of accessing food do not reflect the main strategies identified in this analysis. Scholarship to date has focused predominantly on the role of built food environments (e.g., markets) and, to a lesser extent, cultivated and wild food environments (e.g., harvesting of wild foods and agriculture) (35)(36)(37). Together, these two pathways of obtaining food-purchasing it and harvesting it-encompass the intuitive means by which households may benefit from food consumption. It follows, then, that the canonical strategies of obtaining food would be through substantial investment in the technology, labor, knowledge, and social relations that would enhance home production, or in the capital and access to markets that would enhance purchasing power. ...
Ensuring healthy and sustainable food systems in increasing social, economic, and ecological change is a key global priority to protect human and environmental health. Seafood is an essential component of these food systems and a critical source of nutrients, especially in coastal communities. However, despite rapid transformations in aquatic food systems, and our urgent need to understand them, there is a dearth of data connecting harvested food production to actualized food consumption. Many analyses suggest institutional, legal, or technological innovations to improve food systems, but few have analyzed the pathways through which people already gain access to nutritious food. Here, using a random forest model and cluster analysis of a nationally representative data set from Kiribati, we operationalize access theory to trace the flows of consumptive benefit in a fisheries-based food system. We demonstrate that the market access mechanism is the key mechanism mediating seafood access in Kiribati, but importantly, the highest seafood consumption households showed lower market access, pointing to the importance of non-market acquisition (e.g., home production and gifting). We reveal six distinct household strategies that employ different sets of access mechanisms to ensure high levels of local seafood consumption in different contexts. We demonstrate the impacts of these strategies on the composition of household seafoods consumed, stressing the need to support these existing successful strategies. Finally, we point to key policy and management insights (e.g., improved infrastructure, shifts in species management) that may be more effective in reinforcing these existing pathways than commonly proposed food system interventions.
... Ironically, NTFP use and trade are often described as a 'gap filler' to address the fluctuations in these other sectors (e.g. Erskine et al., 2015). Whilst many NTFP harvest systems occur in common property regimes and frequently as open access ones, it is impossible to generalise. ...
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are used by billions of rural and urban people globally. Income shares from NTFPs are generally highest among poor communities and households, and consequently, their use has at times been described as a poverty trap. However, there are only a handful of works that have directly examined the existence of poverty traps in relation to NTFPs, and none concluded that poverty traps existed in their specific contexts. Consequently, in this paper, we (i) examined the basis for the argument that NTFP use and reliance does engender poverty traps, and (ii) present a reasoned case as to why the use of and reliance on NTFPs is unlikely to result in poverty traps in most contexts. We end with a call for more comprehensive research into the contexts which might, or do, result in poverty traps emanating from reliance on NTFPs, and until such are forthcoming, some circumspection in linking of the two.
... Wild edible plants (WEPs) play an important role in the livelihood of many rural communities across the world, particularly, in providing reliable alternatives when the production of cultivated crops decreases or fails [1][2][3][4][5]. Wild edible plants serve as source of vitamins, carbohydrates, proteins, fibers and minerals and are particularly rich in vitamins A and C, zinc, iron, calcium, iodine, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and folacin. ...
Background
Although there is a wide use of wild edible plants (WEPs) in Ethiopia, very little work has so far been done, particularly, in the Tigray Region, northern Ethiopia, to properly document the associated knowledge. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to document knowledge and analyze data related to the use of wild edible and nutraceutical plants in Raya-Azebo District of Tigray Region. The district was prioritized for the study to avoid the further loss of local knowledge and discontinuation of the associated practices because of the depletion of wild edible plants in the area mainly due to agricultural expansion and largely by private investors.
Methods
A cross-sectional ethnobotanical study was carried out in the study District to collect data through individual interviews held with purposively selected informants, observation, market surveys, and ranking exercises. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods were employed to analyze and summarize the data using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.
Results
The study documented 59 WEPs, the majority of which (57.63%) were sought for their fruits. Most of the WEPs (49 species) were consumed in the autumn, locally called qewei, which includes the months of September, October, and November. Ziziphus spina-christi L. Desf., Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Del. and Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller were the most preferred WEPs. Both interviews and local market surveys revealed the marketability of Opuntia ficus-indica, Ziziphus spina-christi, Ficus vasta Forssk., Ficus sur Forssk., and Balanites aegyptiaca. Of the total WEPs, 21 were reported to have medicinal (nutraceutical) values, of which Balanites aegyptiaca and Acacia etbaica scored the highest rank order priority (ROP) values for their uses to treat anthrax and skin infections, respectively.
Conclusions
The current investigation demonstrated the wide use of WEPs in the district. In future nutritional composition analysis studies, priority should be given to the most popular WEPs, and nutraceutical plants with the highest ROP values.
... Since last two decades researches on wild edibles have gained momentum in the Asian continent also. Series of articles have been published from different parts of Southeast Asia (Erskine et al., 2015;Sujarwo et al., 2016;Bernadas and Peralta, 2017;Ong and Kim, 2017;Shin et al., 2018;Pawera et al., 2020;Punchay et al., 2020;Seav et al., 2021;Tharmabalan, 2023) and South Asia, particularly from China (Kang et al., 2013;Sachula et al., 2020;Cheng et al., 2022Cheng et al., , 2023, Pakistan (Ahmad and Pieroni, 2016;Ijaz et al., 2022;Khalid et al., 2023), and India (Mallick et al., 2020;Harisha et al., 2021;Angmo et al., 2022). ...
Background
Inventorization and promotion of traditionally used local flora can be a better option to gain a wide range of alternative edible resources and multiple nutritional benefits. A perusal of literature highlighted the poor nutritional status of the tribal community living in eastern India and pointed out the potential lack of information regarding locally available wild edible resources.
Objective
Present study aimed to document detailed information on wild edibles of eastern India, evaluate their cultural significance, and understand their role in achieving food security for the local tribes.
Materials and methodology
Traditional knowledge of wild edibles was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Standard protocols were followed for collecting data. The collected data were analyzed using specific statistical tools like Relative frequency of citation (RFC), and Cultural food significance index (CFSI) to identify the most cited and culturally significant species. Jaccard similarity index (JI) was used to check the similarity of food plant use in different localities and adjoining areas of the laterite region in eastern India.
Results
A total of 2,603 citations were made by the 153 participants for 83 types of wild edibles spread across 48 families. Among the 83 species, 65 species were angiosperms, three species were pteridophytes and the rest 15 were from fungal groups. The RFC value ranged from 0.04 to 0.76, and Madhuca longifolia (L.) J.F.Macbr. was identified as the most frequently cited species (FC = 116; RFC = 0.76). The Cultural food significance index (CFSI) value varied from 0.2 to 844, and thirteen wild edibles like Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott, Enydra fluctuans Lour., Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev., Termitomyces heimii Natarajan, etc. were identified as culturally most important in the locality.
Conclusion
Present study concludes that the local flora and macrofungi diversity is a treasure trove for fulfilling human hunger and gaining enough nutritional benefit. Scientific and sustainable utilization of these wild edibles can be a wise step to attain multiple health benefits and food security for the tribal community of eastern India. Moreover, culturally accepted species can be opted as a good source for bioprospecting nutraceuticals.
... Pradhan et al. (2020), in their review of the potentials of wild edible plants, noted that WEP not only functions in meeting the community's nutritional needs but also has an important role in the socio-ecological field in certain landscapes. In their research in Timor Leste, Erskine et al. (2015) reported that WEP plays an important role in maintaining food security, especially during the hard time of harvest failure, and this kind of food was mainly obtained from tuber-producing plants. Moreover, Harisha et al. (2021) reported that wild food plants not only play a role in meeting daily food needs but also play an important role in maintaining food security and even as one of the pillars of the economy of forest dwellers communities. ...
Kulsum NNS, Susandarini R. 2023. Diversity of wild edible fruits in the agroforestry area of Cigalontang Village, Tasikmalaya, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 4161-4167. Wild edible fruits are non-timber forest products that support the nutritional adequacy of communities around the forest. Scientific inventory and documentation of wild fruit plant diversity are important to reveal local resources' potential in supporting local communities food security. A study on wild edible fruits in the agroforestry area in Cigalontang Village aimed to document the diversity of fruit plant species and traditional knowledge of the community on food plants available from the forest. This study used semi-structured interviews with 63 respondents and guided fieldwork to identify natural habitats and collect specimens of wild edible fruits. The results showed that people of Cigalontang Village commonly consumed 49 wild edible fruit species belonging to 27 families. Zingiberaceae and Moraceae were two families with the highest number of wild edible fruit species mentioned by the respondents. All the fruits were consumed raw as fresh fruits, and some were known as ingredients for traditional medicine to treat minor health complaints. The community discussed the use of wild edible fruits with a review of the nutritional content based on relevant references. Results showed that the community used wild edible fruits for daily nutritional needs, not for sale. Both older and younger generations shared knowledge about the diversity of wild edible fruit plants and were closely related to local traditions kept within the frame of local wisdom. This knowledge, supported by local wisdom held by the community, is important to maintain the sustainability of fruit plant diversity and its conservation.
... Notably, it was observed that poorer households and households facing economic shocks obtained a greater proportion of their income from wild food sources [13]. Wild edible fruits have been found to improve household food coping strategies and food security during periods of crop scarcity [91]. Similar to our findings, a study conducted in Zimbabwe corroborated the recognition of wild foods, particularly wild edible fruits, as a coping mechanism in response to crop failure [92]. ...
Wild edible fruits from the forest have often been regarded as poverty food; however, there has been a notable shift in recent years as these wild edible fruits have gained increasing recognition for their significance in global food security, especially in agricultural societies such as Senegal. This paper contributes to the debate on how the forest plays a role in diets and nutrition security using the example of wild fruit (Baobab) found in the Boundou Region in Senegal. The livelihood strategies of people in this region have been subject to external influences, such as climate shock and restrictions enforced as the area became a protected area in 2009. These external influences have resulted in the loss of pasture use and the prohibition of hunting. Restriction of access to these previous commons (pasture, wildlife) diminishes the resilience of the local population. However, a new alternative of seasonal usage of wild fruit, specifically baobab, for commercial purposes has emerged as everybody in the community has unrestricted access to collecting these wild edible fruits within the protected area, which is uncommon in other protected areas. The commodification and commercialization of these wild fruits bring essential cash income to many households, thereby improving food security.
... The FAO (3) reports that wild foods contribute to food security via direct consumption -regularly or as an emergency measure in times of scarcity, by being sold to provide income that is reinvested in food purchases or other household needs, and for cultural and recreational use. Harvesting wild food is well-established as an important coping strategy to deal with food insecurity in rural households (13)(14)(15)(16). However, wild foods fulfil more than just safety-net functions, and their consumption is often shaped by other factors such as seasonal availability, trade-offs in time, culture and recreation (17). ...
Food systems are the primary cause of biodiversity loss globally. Biodiversity and specifically, the role that wild, forest and neglected and underutilised species (NUS) foods might play in diet quality is gaining increased attention. The narrow focus on producing affordable staples for dietary energy has contributed to largely homogenous and unhealthy diets. To date, evidence to quantify the nutritional contribution of these biodiverse foods is limited. A scoping review was conducted to document the methods used to quantify the contribution of wild, forest and NUS foods. We found 37 relevant articles from 22 different countries, mainly from Africa (45%), the Americas (19%), and Asia (10%). There were 114 different classifications used for the foods, 73% of these were specifically related to wild or forest foods. Most dietary assessments were completed using a single day qualitative or quantitative 24 h open recall (n = 23), or a food frequency questionnaire (n = 12). There were 18 different diet related indicators used, mainly nutrient adequacy (n = 9) and dietary diversity scores (n = 9). Often, no specific nutritionally validated diet metric was used. There were 16 studies that presented results (semi) quantitatively to measure the contribution of wild, forest or NUS foods to dietary intakes. Of these, 38% were aggregated together with broader classifications of ‘traditional’ or ‘local’ foods, without definitions provided meaning it was not possible to determine if or to what extend wild, forest of NUS foods were included (or not). In almost all studies there was insufficient detail on the magnitude of the associations between wild, forest or NUS foods and dietary energy or nutrient intakes or the (qualitative) diet recall methodologies that were used inhibited the quantification of the contribution of these foods to diets. A set of six recommendations are put forward to strengthen the evidence on the contribution of wild, NUS, and forest foods to human diets.
... It has been reported that several wild fruits are more nutritious than cultivated fruits (Nazarudeen 2010;Suwardi et al. 2022a). Wild edible fruits have also improved household food security under normal conditions (Broegaard et al. 2017) and during crop insufficiency (Erskine et al. 2015). Moreover, the wild edible fruit plants have multiple uses, such as cosmetics (Gebauer et al. 2016), medicine (Dreher 2018;Adnan et al. 2022;, spices and condiments (Sutrisno et al. 2021;Syamsuardi et al. 2022a), crafts (Hazarika and Singh 2018), fiber (Karun et al. 2014), and fuel (Klimas et al. 2012). ...
Sumatra Island is recognized as the distribution center of tropical fruit species in Indonesia. However, increased human activity threatens the existence of edible wild fruit plants in nature. The study aims to assess the diversity and regional conservation status of wild edible fruit plant species in Sumatra, Indonesia. The study was conducted in four provinces: West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, and Bengkulu. For the sampling, a modified line transect method was used. A total of 331 wild edible fruit plant species at four studied sites in Sumatra consisted of 73 families. The highest number of fruit plant species was recorded in West Sumatra Province, i.e., 176 species, followed by Jambi (172 species), Riau (121 species), and Bengkulu (76 species). The diversity of wild edible fruit plant species was higher in West Sumatra Province (3.85) but lower in Riau Province (3.25). Artocarpus integer (Thunb.) Merr., Baccaurea lanceolata (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea macrocarpa (Miq.) Müll.Arg., Baccaurea polyneura Hook.f., Garcinia atroviridis Griff. ex T.Anderson, Garcinia xanthochymus Hook.fil. ex J.Anderson, Mangifera foetida Lour., Mangifera laurina Blume, Mangifera odorata Griff., and Pometia pinnata J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. were the most frequently recorded wild fruit plant species in all of the study area. However, 74 wild edible fruit plant species were recorded only in West Sumatra, 45 in Riau, 79 in Jambi, and 9 in Bengkulu. Among the 331 wild edible fruit species in the present study, 1 taxon was classified as endangered (0.30%), 9 taxa (2.72%) as vulnerable, 11 taxa (3.32%) as near threatened, and 139 taxa (41.99%) as least concern, and 171 taxa (51.67%) as Data Deficient.
... There has been a significant amount of research identifying the important contribution of wild foods to nutrition and household food security, particularly amongst the poor and vulnerable (Arnold et al. 2011;Barbara, Eyzaguirre, and Johns 2008;Erskine et al. 2015;Fentahun and Hager 2009;Koffi et al. 2020;Legwaila et al. 2011;Mavengahama, McLachlan, and de Clercq 2013;Sunderland 2011;Tshering et al. 2014;Vinceti et al. 2013). However, only a few studies provide quantitative evidence on the extent of this contribution (i.e., Chakona and Shackleton 2019;Hickey et al. 2016;Shumsky et al. 2014). ...
We use primary data to examine the potential role of wild foods in alleviating food insecurity among rural farmers in Bhutan during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that food-insecure households are more likely to collect wild foods, suggesting that food-insecure households are consuming wild foods as a coping mechanism. Therefore, it is crucial to include wild food considerations in regional, national, and international food security policy to promote resilience and reduce vulnerability in rural communities. Food security policies may enable the use and consumption of wild foods as a complementary source of food and nutrition, especially in remote areas. Further, the government should implement policies on managing wild foods as it is a public good, and its conservation is crucial for preserving biodiversity.
JEL Codes: Q18, Q20
... Nowadays, the cultivation of Phaseolus lunatus in East Timor is very limited since a time-consuming cooking process is required to avoid poisoning (boiled up to 10 times, discarding water after each boiling) [60]. This is one of the few pulses species that contains toxic amounts of cyanide-producing glucosides [61]. ...
Cashew is an important export-oriented crop in several tropical countries, often under monocropping systems. Intercropping with legume species is promoted as a sustainable practice, enhancing agricultural productivity and providing nutritional food sources to rural communities. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of Leguminosae (or Fabaceae) in the cashew agroforestry systems of East Timor (Southeast Asia). Fourteen cashew orchards were sampled across the country, and information about leguminous species uses was collected from local populations. About 50 species are commonly part of the country’s cashew agroforestry system, many of them simultaneously used as food, fodder, and in traditional medicine. Six bean species—Cajanus cajan (L.) Huth, Phaseolus lunatus L., Phaseolus vulgaris L., Vigna angularis (Willd.) Ohwi and H.Ohashi, Vigna radiata (L.) R.Wilczek and Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.—are largely used as food. The mineral contents of these beans revealed relevant differences between species and, in some cases, between types (seed colour) within species. Periods of hunger and low food variety are frequent in East Timor, reflecting a very poor nutritional state of the population. Knowing and using legumes for local nutrition, as well as for healthcare and well-being, adds great value to these species as components of East Timor cashew agroforestry systems.
