Indigenous Knowledge Safeguards Africa's Food Security and Biodiversity

Traditional knowledge held by indigenous and local communities across Africa is vital for bolstering food security and preserving biodiversity, experts highlighted this week. Forests and tree-based systems are essential, providing diverse nutrition and income for millions, yet both ecosystems and the knowledge supporting them face increasing threats. Rural and indigenous populations rely on wild and cultivated forest products, such as baobab and marula, for daily needs and climate resilience, while these species also generate income through various markets.

This accumulated traditional knowledge offers invaluable insights into natural resource management, contributing to human development. Generations of farmers have developed resilient crop varieties, supporting food security and conserving agrobiodiversity for modern agriculture. However, this wisdom is rapidly disappearing as traditional lifestyles shift and environmental degradation accelerates, leading to the loss of crucial conservation knowledge as elders pass away.

Across different regions, the importance of forest-derived foods is evident. In Benin, 31 documented tree-food species are threatened by deforestation and habitat loss. Ethiopia identifies 25 forest species contributing to household sustenance in the Horn of Africa, but faces challenges from drought and illegal activities. Southern Africa's Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot lists 115 edible forest species, many also used as medicine, yet faces degradation from illegal logging and overharvesting.