Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China
Abstract Background Baiku Yao is an ancient branch of the Yao people in China who have the custom of maintaining homegardens. The local government has relocated some villagers to improve their livelihood. To study the characteristics of Baiku Yao homegardens and the impact of relocation, we conducte...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00578-4 |
| _version_ | 1827970285998964736 |
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| author | Renchuan Hu Chuangui Xu You Nong Binsheng Luo |
| author_facet | Renchuan Hu Chuangui Xu You Nong Binsheng Luo |
| author_sort | Renchuan Hu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Baiku Yao is an ancient branch of the Yao people in China who have the custom of maintaining homegardens. The local government has relocated some villagers to improve their livelihood. To study the characteristics of Baiku Yao homegardens and the impact of relocation, we conducted an ethnobotanical study on homegardens in the relocated villages of Huaili and Yaozhai and in the ancient villages of Yaoshan and Duonu from January 2019 to May 2022. Method Data on homegarden plants were collected through semi-structured interviews with homegarden households. A total of 4 villages (i.e., two relocated and two ancient villages) were selected for detailed investigation. In each village, 60 homegardens were chosen randomly. In addition, the RFC index and Jaccard value were used to analyze and evaluate the homegarden plants we recorded. Result The study recorded a total of 213 species of homegarden plants with approximately 11 functions. Baiku Yao homegardens are small in size but rich in species and functions, and their utilization efficiency is extremely high. The Jaccard value shows that the homegarden plants in Huaili and Yaozhai have the highest similarity. Neighborhood sharing and market purchasing are the two most important sources of local homegarden plants. Additionally, medicine and food are the two most important uses of homegarden plants. Ornamental plants also play a significant part, especially in relocated villages. The comparisons indicate that the diversity of homegarden plants in the investigated ancient villages is better preserved than in relocated villages. Due to frequent exchanges between the villages and the outside world, Yaoshan Village, as an older relocated village, maintains a good traditional culture in its homegardens. As a newly relocated village, Duonu Community has developed a complicated homegarden system with only much less plant diversity. The development of local tourism has also impacted the composition of homegarden plants. The study found that plants such as Zea mays, Morus alba, and Capsicum annuum are closely related to local life and livelihood. Conclusion The traditional knowledge of homegarden plants in investigated ancient villiages maintained good diversity and has been affected much less by the modernization and tourism industry development compared to the relocated villages. The composition of homegarden plants is closely connected to the local livelihood. In the future development of Baiku Yao communities, protecting homegarden plant diversity and functional diversity is crucial. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:51:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54028c85a88b46179564e9bd53da29b2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T18:51:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-54028c85a88b46179564e9bd53da29b22023-04-09T11:24:52ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692023-02-0119113310.1186/s13002-023-00578-4Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern ChinaRenchuan Hu0Chuangui Xu1You Nong2Binsheng Luo3Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical ScienceGuangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical ScienceGuangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical ScienceLushan Botanical Garden, Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of SciencesAbstract Background Baiku Yao is an ancient branch of the Yao people in China who have the custom of maintaining homegardens. The local government has relocated some villagers to improve their livelihood. To study the characteristics of Baiku Yao homegardens and the impact of relocation, we conducted an ethnobotanical study on homegardens in the relocated villages of Huaili and Yaozhai and in the ancient villages of Yaoshan and Duonu from January 2019 to May 2022. Method Data on homegarden plants were collected through semi-structured interviews with homegarden households. A total of 4 villages (i.e., two relocated and two ancient villages) were selected for detailed investigation. In each village, 60 homegardens were chosen randomly. In addition, the RFC index and Jaccard value were used to analyze and evaluate the homegarden plants we recorded. Result The study recorded a total of 213 species of homegarden plants with approximately 11 functions. Baiku Yao homegardens are small in size but rich in species and functions, and their utilization efficiency is extremely high. The Jaccard value shows that the homegarden plants in Huaili and Yaozhai have the highest similarity. Neighborhood sharing and market purchasing are the two most important sources of local homegarden plants. Additionally, medicine and food are the two most important uses of homegarden plants. Ornamental plants also play a significant part, especially in relocated villages. The comparisons indicate that the diversity of homegarden plants in the investigated ancient villages is better preserved than in relocated villages. Due to frequent exchanges between the villages and the outside world, Yaoshan Village, as an older relocated village, maintains a good traditional culture in its homegardens. As a newly relocated village, Duonu Community has developed a complicated homegarden system with only much less plant diversity. The development of local tourism has also impacted the composition of homegarden plants. The study found that plants such as Zea mays, Morus alba, and Capsicum annuum are closely related to local life and livelihood. Conclusion The traditional knowledge of homegarden plants in investigated ancient villiages maintained good diversity and has been affected much less by the modernization and tourism industry development compared to the relocated villages. The composition of homegarden plants is closely connected to the local livelihood. In the future development of Baiku Yao communities, protecting homegarden plant diversity and functional diversity is crucial.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00578-4HomegardenBaiku YaoEthnobotanyTraditional knowledge |
| spellingShingle | Renchuan Hu Chuangui Xu You Nong Binsheng Luo Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Homegarden Baiku Yao Ethnobotany Traditional knowledge |
| title | Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China |
| title_full | Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China |
| title_fullStr | Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China |
| title_short | Changes in homegardens in relocation villages, a case study in the Baiku Yao area in Southern China |
| title_sort | changes in homegardens in relocation villages a case study in the baiku yao area in southern china |
| topic | Homegarden Baiku Yao Ethnobotany Traditional knowledge |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-023-00578-4 |
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