Format: ORAL

Manuel Pardo-de-Santayana1,2, Laura Aceituno-Mata3, Petra Benyei4, Airy Gras5, Almudena Lzaro3, Mara Molina3, Javier Tardo3, Victoria Reyes-Garca6,7,8

1 Departamento de Biología (Botánica), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain 2 Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global (CIBC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain 3 Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario, Madrid, Spain 4 Dpto. de Economía y Geografía Aplicadas, Instituto de Economía, Geografía y Demografía (IEGD), Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, CSIC, Madrid, Spain 5 Departament de Biologia, Sanitat i Medi Ambient, Universitat de Barcelona, Spain 6 Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain 7 Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellatera, Barcelona, Spain 8 Departament d’Antropologia Social i Cultural, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellatera, Barcelona, Spain

In the current global change framework, the erosion of traditional ecological knowledge is pronounced, remarkably in industrialized countries like Spain. Ethnobotanical studies conducted in the country reveal that this erosion varies across territories and knowledge domains, with health or food exhibiting a less profound decline. The overall erosion trend is attributed to factors such as the abandonment of traditional agricultural practices and shepherding, changes in land use, the diminished necessity of wild plants for subsistence, reduced time spent in the field, or negative associations with certain species deemed famine food. Conversely, there are multiple motivations that promote wild plants use. Some view gathering as a recreational and community-building activity, while others appreciate the unique flavors of wild plants that cannot be replicated by cultivated or commercial varieties. Additionally, the medicinal role of food, particularly in uses closely aligned with medicine such as beverages and condiments, remains highly valued. Recognizing the significance of traditional ecological knowledge, two initiatives in Spain are actively promoting its documentation, protection, and reintroduction to society. Firstly, the Spanish Inventory of Traditional Knowledge related to Biodiversity compiles and disseminates information on the traditional use and management of biodiversity. Six volumes have been published since 2014 and two more are being edited, including monographs about 837 plant species. Secondly, CONECT-e (www.conecte.es) is an online platform enabling citizens to document knowledge and uses of both wild and domesticated species, and includes 3772 monographs. By employing open data and copyleft licenses, these endevours contribute to the traditional knowledge preservation in the public domain, ensuring the unrestricted exchange and reproduction of this valuable knowledge.