Plants and People: Examining how Indigenous knowledge systems help conserve native plant communities

As one of the largest herbaria in the southeast, the University of Georgia Herbarium, in collaboration with Indigenous knowledge holders, demonstrates the critical role of herbaria in documenting plant diversity and safeguarding traditional ecological knowledge and practices. By preserving and contextualizing botanical specimens, herbaria offer insights into plant-human interactions, including medicinal, nutritional, and cultural practices. This partnership empowers Indigenous voices and integrates traditional and scientific knowledge, fostering a holistic approach to biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource management. Leveraging herbaria as repositories of traditional ecological wisdom promotes biocultural conservation, intercultural dialogue, and resilience within socio-ecological systems, especially in times of accelerating environmental change. Learn more and register here.