Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://dx.doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-7126
Main Title: | Urban foraging in Berlin: people, plants and practices within the metropolitan green infrastructure |
Author(s): | Landor-Yamagata, Jonah L. Kowarik, Ingo Fischer, Leonie Katharina |
Type: | Article |
Language Code: | en |
Abstract: | Gathering wild plants in cities (urban foraging) is likely an important, but understudied human-nature interaction globally. As large European cities are critically understudied in this regard, we performed in-depth ethnography-based interviews in Berlin, Germany, to shed light on the cultural background of foragers, their motivations and which plants and fungi are gathered for which purposes. Results demonstrate multiple uses of 125 taxa, mostly frequently-occurring species but also some Red List species, from a range of formal and informal greenspace types. Both native and non-native species were gathered, with significant differences in use patterns. Use for food was most common, followed by medicinal uses, and personal enjoyment was a frequent motivation, indicating that urban foraging combines provisioning and cultural ecosystem services. Familial and childhood foraging exposure were common, pointing to influences of early-in-life exposure on later-in-life activities and transgenerational aspects of the practice. Results further suggest legacy effects from the post-war and communist eras on foraging knowledge. Although non-commercial foraging is allowed in Berlin, over-harvesting was not evident. Interviews indicate that stewardship of urban biodiversity is common among foragers. Results thus suggest considering urban foraging as a promising vehicle for linking humans with nature when developing a biodiverse urban green infrastructure. |
URI: | https://depositonce.tu-berlin.de//handle/11303/7964 http://dx.doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-7126 |
Issue Date: | 4-Jun-2018 |
Date Available: | 22-Jun-2018 |
DDC Class: | 333.7 Natürliche Ressourcen, Energie und Umwelt |
Subject(s): | biocultural diversity edible weeds endangered plant species gathering activity provisioning ecosystem services urban biodiversity urban collecting urban greenspace urban NTFPs wild food |
Sponsor/Funder: | DFG, TH 662/19-1, Open Access Publizieren 2017 - 2018 / Technische Universität Berlin |
License: | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Journal Title: | Sustainability |
Publisher: | MDPI |
Publisher Place: | Basel |
Volume: | 10 |
Issue: | 6 |
Article Number: | 1873 |
Publisher DOI: | 10.3390/su10061873 |
Page Start: | 1 |
Page End: | 23 |
EISSN: | 2071-1050 |
Appears in Collections: | FG Ökosystemkunde / Pflanzenökologie » Publications |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | |
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sustainability-10-01873-v4.pdf | 724.61 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
This item is licensed under a Creative Commons License