Multigenerational differences in harvesting and use of wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus

Abstract

Societal Impact StatementEcosystem services are underpinned by biodiversity, which is rapidly eroding globally, threatening rural livelihoods and culture. Examining the uses of wild edible plants (WEPs) that are important to rural communities gives insight into the value of a biodiverse landscape to local communities. Here, the importance of considering age groups in future ethnobotanical and conservation studies is highlighted, as this can enhance our understanding on the dependence of use within a landscape, informing more inclusive conservation actions.Summary Wild edible plants (WEP) remain an important aspect of many rural communities across the world, yet the decline in the diversity and knowledge of WEP use is becoming a global concern. In the Biodiversity Hotspot of the Caucasus, there is few cross‐cultural and multigenerational comparisons of plant uses, limiting our knowledge of resource use and dependence within biodiverse landscapes. Here, we investigate the patterns of use for wild edible fruits and nuts in the South Caucasus, focusing on multigenerational differences in harvesting patterns, diversity and use through semi‐structured interviews in Armenia and Georgia. We calculated use values (UV) for each genera harvested and compared the diversity of genera used between age groups. Pearson chi‐square was used to explore the relationship between age‐groups and genera harvested. We found 53% of rural population (n = 220) actively harvest from wild populations, with older age groups harvesting the highest diversity of plants. Twenty‐four species from 16 genera are harvested, with Berberis vulgaris L. and Rosa canina L. shared between both communities. The association between age and diversity of harvested genera was significant (χ2[48, N = 506] = 114.75, p < .01), mainly driven by a strong positive association with Berberis spp. L., Crataegus spp. L. and Ribes spp. L. with the under 18s and Prunus spp. L. with under 35s. Young harvesters used WEP for income generation, while medicinal use increases across older age groups. Foraging activities within South Caucasus' communities remains active; however, the use of WEP is not uniform within and across different communities.