Search Results (1,080)

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea Linnaeus) is an important vegetable crop for food security and income generation for farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). However, production is severely undermined by a complex of insect pests. This study investigates farmers’ knowledge, perception, and pest management practices in key cabbage-growing areas surrounding Goma city in Eastern DRC. A total of 430 farmers were interviewed using a structured survey administered via the KoboToolbox platform. The diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella Linnaeus, 1758) and the cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae Linnaeus, 1758) were identified as the main pests, with peak incidences reported during the dry mid-season. Pest damages are most frequently observed at the post-transplanting and heading stages of cabbage. Although chemical control was the dominant strategy (69.4%), concerns arise due to the widespread use of moderately to highly hazardous insecticides, including pyrethroid, organophosphorus, and avermectin-based formulations. The insufficient use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and limited training on safe pesticide handling remain further challenges. While indigenous practices, such as crop rotation, handpicking of insects, and the use of botanical extracts, are employed to a lesser extent, awareness and implementation of biological control are almost nonexistent. The findings underscore the need to promote integrated pest management (IPM) approaches based on agroecological principles, including the safe use of (bio-)pesticides, training programs, and stakeholder engagement to enhance sustainable cabbage production. Full article

We (Public Interest Group on Cancer Research) started a podcast and guest blog series on cancer in 2024. Our objective in this Commentary is to describe our experience with this series, insights gained, adjustments made to our approach, and our recommendations for future series. Our group identified and invited guests to contribute a blog or podcast episode on cancer, lived experience of cancer, cancer care and research, or advocacy. The podcast episodes were recorded using the WebEx platform (version 45.9.0.33069) and edited using the Kdenlive software (version 23.08.4). The blogs and podcasts were edited, finalized, and posted online for public access. In this manuscript, we utilized descriptive statistics to define and summarize information about the podcast episodes, guest blogs, and categorical responses to guest feedback survey questions, while we presented the responses to open-ended survey questions as quotes and summaries. As a result, during the period of January 2024–July 2025, we aired 28 podcast episodes and 13 guest blogs involving 36 guests. Guests included people from various backgrounds (such as people with lived experience, advocates, scientists, and healthcare providers) and members of equity-deserving communities (such as women, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ communities). We contemplated and learned as we proceeded with this project and implemented changes to address the issues that arose. In most cases the guests had positive experiences; however, in rare cases, university practices or federal policies prevented guest compensation, creating an unusual barrier. In conclusion, podcasting and blogging are practical public engagement instruments that provide space for sharing messages and knowledge to communicate with members of the public. Systematic barriers, such as policies that hamper guest compensation, need to be fixed for equitable participation, compensation, and engagement. As there is an increased interest in public engagement and knowledge mobilization activities, our learnings shared in this commentary may help other groups initiate or improve their public engagement practices. Full article

What is a plant? A photosynthesizing organism, molecule, commodity, songs, images, oniric experience, spirit…Indigenous perspectives show that plants cannot be thought of without the relationships that constitute them. We contextualize our reflection in plant extractive activities that, by reducing sociality with these non-humans to anonymous, non-situated knowledge, feed a transit of knowledge based on a relational extractivism. Thus, in this article, based on one historical case and another ethnographic one involving two South American plants—cinchona (Cinchona officinalis) and matico (Piper aduncum)—we present a reflection on plant agency from the perspective of Amazonian peoples, with the intention of showing how these beings are conceived of as subjects who are part of kinship relations, but also of predation. We take shamanic and artistic experiences as ethnographic cases to argue that the Western categories of biology are insufficient to define and circumscribe the so-called plant kingdom according to certain Amazonian conceptions. Full article

Adverse climate events are increasingly challenging the health and wellbeing of communities. The intersections of indigenous knowledge and sustainable development, through an eco-social work perspective, are least developed0 in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The challenging socio-ecological environment is compounded by limited infrastructure, which hinders the delivery of social services in remote communities. Drawing on cumulative research evidence and regional case studies across Africa, this conceptual article examines the key elements of an eco-social work paradigm and the potential challenges of its implementation. Drawing on intersectional approaches, this paper proposes practical strategies for integrating eco-social work dimensions into problem-solving to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Goal 1 (No Poverty) and Goal 13 (Climate Action). Social work practice should be anchored in an indigenous epistemology and research governance, informed by insights from higher education institutions, local communities, the context of practice, and partnerships with the state, to ensure regulatory oversight and inter-professional collaboration. Contextualised outcomes to build community-level resilience, and development practitioners who are up-skilled and able to conduct needs-led ecological assessments are essential. Such co-created interventions and collaborative strategies would effectively address poverty and climate change in vulnerable, remote communities. Further empirical research on the interpretation of indigenous knowledge and the role of eco-social workers within interprofessional collaboration is essential for formulating an indigenous epistemology and ecological wellbeing policy, thereby strengthening community-level resilience and sustainability. Full article

There were profound changes in climate and landscape throughout the Early to Late Holocene in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. The transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) among ancient hunter–gatherer societies is key for resilient adaptations to such environmental shifts. Such ecological knowledge is often transmitted across generations through folklore and rituals. Evidence from the site of Burgasny Enger in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert suggests a persistent place used for gatherings centered around ritual consumption of birds. Occupied seasonally from approximately 10,000–5000 years ago during a warm, wet Holocene phase, the site offers evidence of waterbird hunting, elaborate oven construction, and repeated occupations. We propose that such gatherings were occasions for storytelling and the cultural transmission of TEK, including the widespread Earth Diver Myth. This narrative, centered on the emergence of land from water, underscores the symbolic and ecological significance of wetlands in traditional cosmologies. With the disappearance of wetlands and changing climates, new herding societies replaced earlier lifeways. We highlight the importance of integrating Indigenous ecological knowledge into modern sustainability efforts. TEK, as demonstrated by these ancient practices, offers vital insights for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, and long-term ecological resilience. Full article

Indigenous Peoples have developed and stewarded complex knowledge systems that have contributed to thriving societies. With continued threats to Indigenous lifeways, there is increasing need to further protect traditional ecological knowledges (TEK). We carried out a qualitative study to explore Indigenous community perspectives on stewarding and protecting TEK while identifying gaps in community-level protections of TEK. We conducted ten semi-structured interviews in December 2024 and one focus group in January 2025 with Indigenous Peoples in the southwestern United States. Reflexive thematic analysis through open coding was carried out using qualitative software. Six overarching themes were characterized in the interviews, which overlapped with findings from the focus group, including the following: (1) Historical and current barriers impact the sharing of TEK; (2) Preserving our language is necessary for intergenerational transmission of our TEK; (3) Our TEK reveals changes to our Lands; (4) Protecting our Lands and medicines is vital to our health; (5) We must take the time to learn our TEK for future generations; and (6) We need to protect our TEK. Our research highlights the importance of supporting Indigenous communities’ capacities to protect their TEK for personal, community, and environmental well-being. Full article

Disaster headlines often underscore devastation and loss while overlooking success stories where proactive disaster risk reduction (DRRM) measures have averted catastrophe, saved lives, and reduced economic damage. This study addresses the gap in documentation and analysis of DRRM success stories in Africa, particularly within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), arguing that the absence of such narratives hampers a shift from reactive to proactive disaster risk governance. The research aims to extract critical lessons from success stories for enhancing future preparedness and response frameworks. A qualitative research design was employed, integrating document analysis, expert interviews, field observations, and practitioner workshops. Data was triangulated from diverse sources, including national disaster management agency reports (e.g., South Africa’s NDMC, Botswana’s NDMO, Mozambique’s INGC), peer-reviewed literature, UNDRR reports, SADC policy documents, and first-hand experiences from the authors’ consultancy work in the African Union’s biennial DRRM reporting processes. Case studies examined include Mozambique’s response to Cyclone Idai in 2019, South Africa’s drought and flood risk governance (e.g., the 2023 floods in Eastern and Western Cape), and Malawi’s flood resilience programs. Findings reveal that successful DRRM outcomes are driven by a combination of anticipatory governance, community-based preparedness, integration of Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKSs), and investment in infrastructure and ecosystem-based adaptation. These cases demonstrate that locally embedded, yet scientifically informed, interventions enhance resilience and reduce disaster impacts. The study underscores the relevance of theoretical frameworks such as resilience theory, narrative theory, and social learning in interpreting how success stories contribute to institutional memory and adaptive capacity. Policy recommendations emphasize the need for institutionalizing success-story documentation in national DRRM frameworks, scaling up community engagement in risk governance, and fostering regional knowledge-sharing platforms within the SADC. Furthermore, the paper advocates for making DRRM success stories more visible and actionable to transition toward more anticipatory, inclusive, and effective disaster risk management systems. Full article

Objectives: Few studies have examined maternal dietary intakes in relation to children’s malnutrition status. We examined variations in children stunting status and their association with maternal and child dietary intakes. Methods: This one-year prospective study (conducted from November 2021 to December 2022) consisted of up to four surveys carried out in rural Kenya. It included 135 pairs of children aged 12–59 months and their non-pregnant mothers, all of whom had received nutrition guidance during the study. Dietary intakes were assessed in four non-consecutive 24 h dietary recalls during the first two surveys. Anthropometric measurements were taken at most four times, and variations in children stunting status (not-stunted, recovered-from-stunting, or persistent/worsened stunting) were assessed. Maternal and child dietary intakes, based on variations in stunting status, were compared using one-way analysis of covariance adjusted for socio-demographic variables. Results: Of the 135 children studied, 40 (29.6%) were stunted at baseline, whereas 85, 20, and 30 had no stunting, recovered from stunting, or had persistent/worsened stunting. Children with persistent/worsened stunting had a significantly lower energy intake than other children; however, maternal energy intake did not differ by children’s stunting status. Milk intake was significantly lower among children with persistent/worsening stunting than other children. A similar difference based on variations in stunting was also observed for maternal milk intake. Conclusions for Practice: The mothers of rural Kenyan children who had recovered from stunting consumed the most milk, while the mothers of children with persistent/worsening consumed the least milk. Further research is needed to confirm the factors behind the observed intake differences. Full article

Food insecurity, financial loss, and a decline in agricultural output are among the significant challenges to the global food chain caused by extreme climatic events, high variability and change, rapid urbanization, and land degradation. Therefore, it is essential to explore alternative, sustainable agricultural practices to meet the growing population’s food needs. Sustainable agriculture is foundational to farm management, rural development, and water conservation. This includes sustainable practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and planting crops with varying rooting depths to maximize soil moisture absorption, as well as mulching to improve nutrient recycling and enhance productivity in smallholder cropping systems. The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices has become a priority for smallholder farmers, policymakers, extension agents, and agricultural experts to improve agricultural productivity, contribute to food security, and generate income. However, adoption rates have been slow, especially in Southern Africa, due to a lack of access to technology, financial constraints, limited information, and limited knowledge. This review was conducted using a comprehensive literature search on the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by legume smallholders, examining various factors that contribute to the failure of legume smallholder farmers to adopt new agricultural practices. The timeframe of the reviewed literature was from 2010 to 2024. The results showed that smallholder farmers face numerous challenges, including limited access to technology, inadequate knowledge, and insufficient financial resources. Research conducted by the Water Research Commission (WRC) indicates that commercial farmers have access to technology, and this group of farmers possesses more substantial financial resources compared to smallholder farmers. In the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. It is essential to strengthen the linkage between researchers, agricultural extension, and legume smallholder farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs). Smallholder farmers must be informed about such interventions and sustainable agricultural practices to improve rural livelihoods and enhance resilience, adaptation, and responsiveness. Full article

Despite the oligotrophic conditions of the southeastern Levantine Sea and northern Red Sea, six lobster species—five slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) and one spiny lobster (Palinuridae)—maintain permanent, reproducing populations in the study area. Additionally, there are isolated records of four other sporadic lobster species. In the southeastern Mediterranean, permanent species include the Mediterranean slipper lobster,Scyllarides latus, small European locust lobster, Scyllarus arctus, and pygmy locust lobster, Scyllarus pygmaeus. In the northern Red Sea, they include the clamkiller slipper lobster, Scyllarides tridacnophaga, Lewinsohn locust slipper lobster, Eduarctus lewinsohni, and pronghorn spiny lobster, Panulirus penicillatus. This review synthesizes current knowledge of their biology and ecology, including distribution, habitat, reproduction and development, feeding, predators and anti-predatory adaptations, behavior, sensory modalities, environmental impacts, threats, and conservation. Recent advances focus mainly on larger, commercially valuable species (S. latus, S. tridacnophaga, P. penicillatus), while major gaps remain for oceanic post-embryonic stages and the nektonic nisto postlarva, as well as for smaller, often cryptic species (S. arctus, S. pygmaeus, E. lewinsohni). Addressing these gaps will require targeted research, using modern methodologies, in coastal, deep, and open waters, coupled with citizen-science surveys. While many Indo-Pacific decapods have been established in the Mediterranean, no immigrant lobster species have successfully colonized Levant waters, despite rare records of three non-indigenous species (NIS). However potential NIS predators and shifts in mollusk compositions, the main prey of some native lobsters, may affect the latter. Large lobsters remain targeted by fisheries despite protective regulations, which are not always effective or obeyed. No-take marine protected areas (MPAs) or nature reserves can be effective if sufficiently large and well-managed. Habitat loss from marine construction can be partly compensated by stable, environmentally safe artificial reefs tailored to lobster behavioral ecology. The categories of the studied lobsters’ species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, last updated over fifteen years ago, should be re-evaluated. Full article

In Africa, the folkloric practices involving plant-based remedies play a crucial role in livestock farming, often attributed to the limited access to modern veterinary services. The use of Acacia species (including those reclassified as Vachellia species) in ethnoveterinary medicine has garnered increasing interest due to their high protein content and medicinal (including anti-parasitic) properties, offering a sustainable source of fodder particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. However, scientific assessment of their efficacy and safety remains limited. This systematic review examines the ethnoveterinary uses, biological efficacy and safety of Acacia species across Africa. A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, yielding 519 relevant studies published between 2001 and 2024. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 43 eligible studies were analyzed based on their relevance, geographical location and livestock disease applications. Plants of the World online database was used to validate the names of the species and authority. Ethiopia had the highest usage of Acacia species (25%), then Nigeria (20%) followed by both South Africa (15%) and Namibia (15%). Vachellia nilotica (Acacia nilotica) was the most frequently cited species (26.3%), followed by Vachellia karroo (Acacia karroo) (15.8%). Ethnobotanical records indicate that the different Acacia species have been traditionally used to treat conditions such as diarrhea, wound infections and complications such as retained placenta. Pharmacological studies corroborate the therapeutic benefits of Acacia species with evidence of their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anthelmintic effects, though some toxicity concerns exist at high dosages. The systematic review revealed the efficacy and safety (to some extent) of Acacia species in livestock disease management, emphasizing their potential integration into veterinary medicine. However, the dearth of in vivo studies underscores the need for pre-clinical and clinical trials to establish safe and effective dosages for use in livestock. Full article

This autoethnographic study examines my transformation as an educator teaching gender and sexuality to future helping professionals in South African higher education. Through systematic analysis of personal journals, teaching reflections, and pedagogical materials collected over 180 contact hours, I explore how innovative approaches can create collaborative learning environments in traditionally sensitive subject areas. Drawing on critical pedagogy, queer theory, and decolonizing methodologies, the research reveals three interconnected pedagogical innovations: structured vulnerability protocols that transcend traditional “safe space” models, progressive exposure pedagogy that challenges heteronormative assumptions by introducing diverse content early, and indigenous knowledge integration that positions students as knowledge co-creators. The findings demonstrate how my professional evolution from knowledge authority to learning facilitator enabled authentic engagement with diverse epistemologies while maintaining academic rigor. Students consistently contributed concepts absent from academic literature—from social media discourse about sexual identity hierarchies to traditional cultural practices—enriching collective understanding. This study addresses significant gaps in South African literature on tertiary-level sexuality education pedagogy, offering concrete strategies for implementing transformative approaches. The research contributes to autoethnographic scholarship by demonstrating how systematic reflection can generate theoretical insights about collaborative knowledge construction while acknowledging the ongoing challenges of teaching sensitive subjects within complex cultural contexts. Full article

Indigenous Fire Stewardship (IFS) has long been practiced by Indigenous Peoples to care for the land, reduce wildfire risk, and maintain ecological and cultural values. In British Columbia, Yunesit’in, a member of the Tsilhqot’in Nation, has revitalized their IFS practices following the 2017 Hanceville Fire. As climate policy increasingly supports nature-based solutions, carbon credit programs are emerging as a potential funding source for IFS. This study used grounded theory with interviews to understand Yunesit’in IFS practitioners’ and community leaders’ perspectives on carbon credits. Using the concept of “cultural signatures,” we identified core values shaping community engagement in carbon markets. While most interviewees (7/10) were initially unfamiliar with carbon credits, many saw their potential to support long-term program goals after learning more. Three cultural signatures emerged from the analysis: (1) a sense of stewardship responsibility, (2) the importance of a community-grounded program, and (3) the revitalization of Indigenous knowledge and land-based practices. Interviewees expressed concern that carbon credits might shift the program’s focus away from land and culture toward technical goals that exclude community participation. We conclude that building awareness about carbon and carbon credits among Indigenous Peoples, and supporting engagement processes that reflect cultural signatures in carbon frameworks, are both critical. Full article

The growing ineffectiveness of common antibiotics against multidrug-resistant pathogens has made antimicrobial resistance (AMR) a serious global health concern. This review emphasizes that natural antibiotics from animals, bacteria, fungi, and plants are worthy alternatives for combating this crisis. Evolutionary pressure has shaped these molecules, leading to antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can withstand single-target synthetic drugs but are vulnerable to multiple attack pathways (e.g., cell wall disruption, protein synthesis inhibition, biofilm interference) from natural compounds. Natural antibiotics are frequently incorporated into treatment strategies or drug-delivery systems for minimizing side effects, reducing doses, and improving their effectiveness. The review discusses recent progress in this field, describing the mechanisms of action of natural antibiotics, their incorporation into several drug-delivery systems, and their ‘omics’-driven discovery to improve production, while expressing the challenges that remain. Extracellular application of these compounds, however, is compromised by their low stability in the extracellular environment; furthermore, formulation advancements, such as nanoparticle encapsulation, have been shown to enhance the bioavailability and activity of these substances. Combining indigenous knowledge and modern scientific advances, natural antibiotics may be developed to fight AMR both as monotherapy and adjuvants in a sustainable way. Leveraging these synergies, alongside the latest advances in research, is key to bridging the antibiotic discovery–resistance gap and may provide a route to clinical translation and global AMR control. The promise of natural antibiotics is clear, but their path to mainstream medicine is fraught with obstacles like reproducibility, standardization, and scalability. It is more realistic to see these substances as powerful complements to existing therapies, not outright replacements. Their true strength is in their ability to interfere with resistance mechanisms and create new possibilities for drug development, positioning them as a vital, though complicated, part of the global effort to combat AMR. Full article

Climate change has been occurring due to global warming since the 1950s, causing impacts on natural and social systems, including health. This review article involves the One Health approach as a holistic approach that integrates environmental, human, and animal health, since there is a significant gap in knowledge about the impacts of climate change on health. The questions that guide this research are as follows: What is the state of the art in studies on climate change and One Health? What are the main topics addressed in studies on climate change and One Health at a global level? The main objective is to conduct a systematic review of studies on climate change and its relationship with One Health to assess the main topics studied, involving climate change and health at a global level, and identify the gaps and challenges of these studies. The review demonstrated the exponential growth of studies that relate climate change to One Health, especially in the last three decades, with more records of studies that address infectious diseases such as arboviruses. Furthermore, studies on climate and its impact on mental health were detected, causing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), solastalgia, and eco-anxiety, especially in vulnerable populations such as indigenous communities, women, children, family farmers, and the elderly. The One Health approach was shown to be restricted to health-related issues. Thus, theoretical and experimental studies are still needed to assess the real impact of climate change on the various axes involving human health and its relationship with anthropogenic activities, environmental health, and animal health. Full article