From economic survival to recreation: contemporary uses of wild food and medicine in rural Sweden, Ukraine and NW Russia
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine 2015, 11:53
doi:10.1186/s13002-015-0036-0
Published: 16 June 2015
Published: 16 June 2015
Abstract
Background
There are many ethnobotanical studies on the use of wild plants and mushrooms for
food and medicinal treatment in Europe. However, there is a lack of comparative ethnobotanical
research on the role of non-wood forest products (NWFPs) as wild food and medicine
in local livelihoods in countries with different socio-economic conditions. The aim
of this study was to compare the present use of wild food and medicine in three places
representing different stages of socio-economic development in Europe. Specifically
we explore which plant and fungi species people use for food and medicine in three
selected rural regions of Sweden, Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
Methods
We studied the current use of NWFPs for food and medicine in three rural areas that
represent a gradient in economic development (as indicated by the World Bank), i.e., Småland high plain (south Sweden), Roztochya (western Ukraine), and Kortkeros (Komi
Republic in North West Russia). All areas were characterised by (a) predominating
rural residency, (b) high forest coverage, and (c) free access to NWFPs. A total of
205 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with local residents in the
three study areas. The collected NWFPs data included (1) the species that are used;
(2) the amount harvested, (3) uses and practices (4) changes over time, (5) sources
of knowledge regarding the use of NWFPs as wild food and medicine and (6) traditional
recipes.
Results
In Sweden 11 species of wild plant and fungi species were used as food, and no plant
species were used for medicinal purposes. In Ukraine the present use of NWFPs included
26 wild foods and 60 medicinal species, while in Russia 36 food and 44 medicinal species
were reported.
Conclusions
In the economically less developed rural areas of Ukraine and Russia, the use of NWFPs
continues to be an important part of livelihoods, both as a source of income and for
domestic use as food and medicine. In Sweden the collection of wild food has become
mainly a recreational activity and the use of medicinal plants is no longer prevalent
among our respondents. This leads us to suggest that the consumption of wild food
and medicine is influenced by the socio-economic situation in a country.
