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Volume 9, Issue 1, 11 April 2013, Article number 22
a
University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 9, Pollenzo/Bra, (Cuneo), I-12042, Italy
b Department of Biology, State University of Tetova, Ilindenska, Tetovë, Macedonia
c Department of Botany, University of Sofia, Blv. Dragan Tzankov 8, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
b Department of Biology, State University of Tetova, Ilindenska, Tetovë, Macedonia
c Department of Botany, University of Sofia, Blv. Dragan Tzankov 8, Sofia 1164, Bulgaria
Abstract
Background: Ethnobotanical surveys of the Western Balkans are important for the cross-cultural study of local plant
knowledge and also for obtaining baseline data, which is crucial for
fostering future rural development and eco-tourism initiatives in the
region. The current ethnobotanical field study was conducted among the
last remaining Albanians inhabiting the upper Reka Valley at the base of
Mount Korab in the Mavrovo National Park of the Republic of
Macedonia.The aims of the study were threefold: 1) to document local
knowledge pertaining to plants;
2) to compare these findings with those of an ethnographic account
written one century ago and focused on the same territory; and 3) to
compare these findings with those of similar field studies previously
conducted in other areas of the Balkans.Methods: Field research was
conducted with all inhabitants of the last four inhabited villages of
the upper Reka Valley (n=17). Semi-structured and open interviews were
conducted regarding the perception and use of the local flora and
cultivated plants.Results and conclusion: The uses of ninety-two plant
and fungal taxa were recorded; among the most uncommon uses, the
contemporary use of young cooked potato (Solanum tuberosum) leaves and
Rumex patientia as a filling for savory pies was documented. Comparison
of the data with an ethnographic study conducted one century ago in the
same area shows a remarkable resilience of original local plant knowledge, with the only exception of rye, which has today disappeared from the local foodscape. Medicinal plant
use reports show important similarities with the ethnobotanical data
collected in other Albanian areas, which are largely influenced by
South-Slavic cultures. © 2013 Pieroni et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Author keywords
Balkans; Ethnobotany; Mavrovo; Traditional Knowledge