New BIOTraCes research: Nature’s contributions to people in ancient Biocultural systems
The Romanian BIOTraCes Team from Babes-Bolyai University, recently published a scientific paper in “Ecosystems and People” titled: Understanding Nature’s Contributions to People in Ancient Biocultural Systems through Network and RLQ Analysis. This new paper explores the intricate relationships between traditional farming systems, human culture, and biodiversity. The study offers new insights into the vital role of wood-pastures as biocultural systems. The ancient wood-pastures of Transylvania in Romania were studied as a case.

Key insights from the article

- Wood-pastures as Biocultural Systems: The paper proposes an innovative perspective, considering wood-pastures not just as ecological entities, but as biocultural systems that inherit Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and cultural practices. These landscapes are integral to preserving biodiversity and heritage, offering a blend of human ecological knowledge and nature’s resilience.
- Sustainability Challenges: The research underscores several challenges that biocultural systems face, including policy fragmentation, community pressures, landscape abandonment, and cultural erosion. These issues threaten the integrity of traditional farming landscapes and require urgent attention.
- Community-Driven Approaches: The study emphasizes the importance of community-driven strategies in tackling these challenges. Long-term sustainability goals, rooted in the local knowledge and practices of communities, are key to preserving the social-ecological fabric of these landscapes.
- The Role of Traditional Management: A crucial takeaway is the need for maintaining traditional management practices in wood pastures. These practices not only safeguard biodiversity, but also protect the cultural heritage embedded in these landscapes, fostering both ecological and social resilience.
- Policy Solutions for Preservation: The paper also highlights the potential of EU biodiversity-related policies to protect these landscapes. By designating wood-pastures as “non-intervention areas”, policies can prevent the management-induced homogenization of the land and restrict the expansion of buildings, allowing traditional practices to thrive and landscapes to remain undisturbed.