When minority language persistence is not enough: the decline of foraging knowledge in German- and Ladin-speaking Alpine communities of Northern Italy.
| Title: | When minority language persistence is not enough: the decline of foraging knowledge in German- and Ladin-speaking Alpine communities of Northern Italy. |
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| Authors: | Ullah I; Department of Molecular Wood Biotechnology and Technical Mycology, Georg- August University of Göttingen, Büsgenweg 2, 37077, Göttingen, Germany.; Alrhmoun M; University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, Pollenzo, 12042, Italy.; Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bolzano, Piazza Università 5, Bolzano, 39100, Italy.; Gillani SW; Department of Plant Sciences, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.; Prakofjewa J; Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, Venice, 30174, Italy.; Zhang L; Institute of Vegetable and Flower Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.; Mattalia G; Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació -Institut de Recerca de la Biodiversitat (IRBio), Laboratori de Botànica-Unitat Associada CSIC, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Catalonia, Spain.; Amin HIM; Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 12, Pavia, 27100, Italy.; Department of Pharmacy, Tishk International University, Erbil, 44001, Iraq.; Yebouk C; Laboratory of Plant Biodiversity and Natural Resource Development, University of Nouakchott, BP 880, Nouakchott, Mauritania.; Moola F; Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada.; Corvo P; University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, Pollenzo, 12042, Italy.; Sõukand R; Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics, and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Via Torino 155, Venice, 30174, Italy.; Kalle R; Estonian Literary Museum, Vanemuise 42, Tartu, 51003, Estonia.; Sulaiman N; University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, Pollenzo, 12042, Italy. n.sulaiman@unisg.it.; Pieroni A; University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, Pollenzo, 12042, Italy.; Department of Medical Analysis, Tishk International University, Erbil, 44001, Iraq. |
| Source: | Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine [J Ethnobiol Ethnomed] 2026 May 09. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 09. |
| Publication Model: | Ahead of Print |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Biomed Central Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 101245794 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1746-4269 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 17464269 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Ethnobiol Ethnomed Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: [London] : Biomed Central, [2005]- |
| Abstract: | Local ecological knowledge is an essential element of the Alpine biocultural diversity and is often linked to minority languages. However, its continuity does not necessarily correspond to the persistence of these languages. This study investigates how knowledge of wild plants (and mushrooms) is transmitted and transformed among three minority-language communities in the Italian Alps: Cimbrian, Mòcheno, and Ladin speakers. Ethnobotanical data were collected through structured interviews between 2022 and 2025 and compared with historical records from the 1980s documenting the use of wild plants for food, medicinal purposes, and herbal teas. The results reveal a marked decline in traditional plant-related practices despite the continued use and institutional support of minority languages. Plants once central to household herbal repertoires, such as Achillea millefolium L., Artemisia absinthium L., and Sambucus nigra L. which are now marginal or abandoned. However, a limited set of herbal teas remains culturally significant. Conversely, mushroom foraging and the gathering of wild fruits remain comparatively resilient, supported mainly by communal land-use institutions (usi civici) that foster ecological engagement and intergenerational learning. Overall, the study highlights a paradox of biocultural resilience: linguistic vitality alone does not safeguard embodied ecological knowledge. Sustaining Alpine cultural and environmental heritage, therefore, requires integrated approaches that address language, environment, governance, and socio-economic change together.; (© 2026. The Author(s).) |
| Competing Interests: | Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to Participate: This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of the International Society of Ethnobiology. Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of the University of Gastronomic Sciences. Verbal informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to the interviews. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Ethnobotany; Ethnomycology; Ladins; Local ecological knowledge; Lusern; Mocheni; Socio-ecological change; Wild food plants |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260509 Latest Revision: 20260509 |
| Update Code: | 20260510 |
| DOI: | 10.1186/s13002-026-00906-4 |
| PMID: | 42106747 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
Journal Article