Market integration does not affect traditional ecological knowledge but contributes additional pressure on plant resources

ABSTRACT Market integration can affect the manner in which individuals learn about and use natural resources. The present study explores the influence of market integration on the traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) and use of natural resources in handicraft production among the Fulni-ô indigenous people of Northeast Brazil. We collect data from 67 artisans about their traditional and non-traditional handicrafts, which are mainly produced for external trade demand (our proxy for market integration). Data regarding the distribution of knowledge among different segments of the population, according to socioeconomic variables, and the comparison of plant biomass used for traditional and non-traditional handicrafts, reveals that integration does not affect the distribution of TEK but leads to a higher consumption of native plant resources, which can negatively affect the populations of the species used. The present findings indicate a future scenario of the replacement of TEK with knowledge that yields higher economic returns. The most experienced artisans have greater traditional ecological knowledge of traditional handicrafts and can play a fundamental role in maintaining traditional knowledge in the context of market integration. Finally, temporal evaluation studies in particular are needed to better understand changes in knowledge derived from market integration.摘要 市场整合会影响个体了解与利用自然资源的方式。本研究以巴西东北部的富尼约（Fulni-ô）原住民群体为研究对象，探讨市场整合对其手工艺品生产中传统生态知识（traditional ecological knowledge，TEK）及自然资源利用的影响。我们从67名手工艺人处收集了相关数据，内容涵盖其传统与非传统手工艺品——这些产品主要面向外部贸易需求生产，本研究以该指标作为市场整合的代理变量。针对不同群体间的知识分布（基于社会经济变量）以及传统与非传统手工艺品所用植物生物量的对比分析显示，市场整合并未改变传统生态知识的分布格局，但却导致本土植物资源的消耗量增加，进而可能对所用物种的种群数量产生负面影响。本研究结果预示，未来或将出现以经济效益更高的知识替代传统生态知识的发展态势。经验最丰富的手工艺人对传统手工艺品拥有更为扎实的传统生态知识，在市场整合的背景下，他们可在维系传统知识的进程中发挥核心作用。最后，尤其需要开展时序评估研究，以更深入地理解市场整合所引发的知识变迁。