Abstract

In Madagascar, biodiversity, local livelihoods and agroecosystems are increasingly threatened. It is critical to understand and support local social–ecological systems that sustain livelihoods and value biodiversity. This study investigates why Betsileo communities in Ambendrana and Sahabe protect isolated individuals and clusters of Ficus species in their rural landscapes. Ficus trees have multiple values and sustain webs of ecological interactions that favor biodiversity. We show that spontaneous seedlings of Ficus are protected and that people also actively propagate Ficus by stem cuttings. Their multiple values and uses and the distribution patterns of each species, are linked to social–ecological dynamics and to the historical construction of local landscapes. Both past and present uses associated with each Ficus species define how they are protected. Different sets of practices associated with each species are governed by both material and symbolic considerations. Ficus reflexa, a boundary marker of zebu corrals, has a symbolic role in protecting humans and livestock and checks erosion; F. lutea is a marker of residences of ancient noble classes and F. tiliifolia is a remnant of swidden agriculture and a marker of the memory of ancestors, but its numbers are shrinking. Ficus trees are protected but there is no strict taboo against cutting them when they hinder crop production. Their potential role for biodiversity conservation is linked to these social–ecological dynamics. Based on these findings, we propose some rules of thumb for developing collaborative approaches which consider synergies between local and scientific knowledge.

中文翻译：

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马达加斯加乡村景观中Betsileo农民保护的榕树物种的孤立和集群的多重价值：对生物多样性保护的影响

摘要

在马达加斯加，生物多样性，当地生计和农业生态系统日益受到威胁。了解和支持维持生计并重视生物多样性的地方社会生态系统至关重要。这项研究调查了为何本贝拉纳（Ambendrana）和萨哈贝（Sahabe）的贝齐勒欧（Betsileo）社区在其农村景观中保护着孤立的个体和榕树丛。榕树具有多种价值，并维持有利于生物多样性的生态相互作用网。我们显示榕树的自发幼苗受到保护，人们也积极繁殖榕树通过茎cutting插。它们的多重价值和用途以及每个物种的分布模式与社会生态动态以及当地景观的历史构造有关。与每种榕属植物相关的过去和现在的用途都定义了如何保护它们。与每个物种相关的不同习俗集都受到物质和符号方面的考虑。反射的榕树是封牛畜栏的边界标记，在保护人类和牲畜并检查侵蚀方面具有象征性作用；F. lutea是古代贵族住所的标志，而F. tiliifolia是残存的农业耕作和对祖先记忆的标志，但其数量正在减少。榕树木受到保护，但是当它们阻碍作物生长时，没有严格的禁忌禁止砍伐树木。它们在保护生物多样性方面的潜在作用与这些社会生态动态有关。基于这些发现，我们提出了一些经验法则，用于开发考虑本地知识与科学知识之间协同作用的协作方法。