Study On Traditional Knowledge Associated With Agricultural Biodiversity Of Mongolians In Some Areas Of Inner Mongolia

Traditional knowledge associated with agricultural biodiversity plays an important role in biodiversity conservation,sustainable development and ecological and environmental protection.Different ethnic groups and local communities in the People’s Republic of China have created and mastered a great amount of traditional knowledge as well as countless technological innovations and practical experiences in their long-term agricultural production activities and living practices,including knowledge associated with traditional methods of cultivating,domesticating and maintaining the sustained use of crops,livestock,poultry,trees,flowers,aquatic organisms,terrestrial wildlife and microbial genetic resources.Traditional knowledge,innovations and practices are not only essential for local food security,ecological security and biodiversity conservation,but also critical in promoting local socio-economic development and national cultural heritage.The Mongolian people mainly live in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region(IMAR)of China.During the long history of nomadic and farming life activities,the Mongolian people have created rich and diverse traditional knowledge,techniques and practices related to local biological resources and ethnic customs,and formed an unique traditional knowledge system.The traditional knowledge not only reflects the characteristics of the Mongolian culture and society,,but also maintains the sustainable development of agriculture and animal husbandry and ensures the health of the entire ecological system and environment.This study systematically collects,compiles and investigates,traditional knowledge about agricultural biodiversity in IMAR through literature review,participatory surveys,key person interviews,and field surveys;it catalogues traditional knowledge into encyclopedia items,each entry including the background information,knowledge detail description,characteristics as traditional knowledge,and the status of conservation and utilization.On this basis,my paper investigates the characteristics of Mongolian agricultural biodiversity related traditional knowledge,and evaluates the development status of Mongolian traditional knowledge.Through the sample survey and analysis,my research investigates the impacts of traditional Mongolian grassland management methods on grassland plant diversity,and reveals the positive effect of traditional grassland management knowledge on the development of Mongolian animal husbandry.In addition,based on my evaluation of the current status and the development trends of traditional knowledge related to Mongolian agricultural biodiversity,as well as the various problems discovered in the survey and cataloging process,my research further analyzes the factors that constraints the continued development and inheritance of traditional knowledge related to Mongolian agricultural biodiversity,and discusses the inheritance and protection strategies of Mongolian traditional knowledgeThe main research findings of this study include,1.Systematic survey and compilation of Mongolian agricultural biodiversity-related traditional knowledge,cataloging 397 entries,including 164 related knowledge items on traditional breeding and utilization of crop genetic resources(41.31%);47 items of traditional knowledge on the selection and utilization of domestic animal genetic resources(11.84%);37 items of Relevant Knowledge on traditional breeding and utilization of forest genetic resources(9.32%);111 items of traditional knowledge on the conservation and use of wild plant genetic resources(27.96%));31 items of traditional knowledge of terrestrial wildlife genetic resources(7.81%);and 7 Traditional knowledge of microbial genetic resources(1.76%).2.Analyzing the characteristics of traditional knowledge related to agricultural biodiversity,in terms of the impacts of the climate environment,natural resources,cultural practices and socio-economic context of Mongolian regions;and the results are:(1)The formation of traditional knowledge is highly correlated with local climatic conditions and natural resource endowments;(2)Traditional knowledge originates from long-term agricultural production and life style in Mongolian region;(3)The development of traditional knowledge is consistent with the level of local economic development;(4)Religious beliefs and folk culture are important factors in promoting the formation of Mongolian traditional knowledge.3.Investigation of the impacts of traditional and modern grassland management methods on plant diversity through the comparative analysis of plots.My research conducts a sample survey of grassland plants in traditional and modern management areas.In the survey,106 species,70 genera and 32 families are identified in the traditional management area,while 62 species,44 genera and 22 families are identified in the modern management area.By comparing the species composition of the grassland plant community,the alpha diversity index and the results of the quality assessment of important pastures at the two sites,my research demonstrates the positive effects of Mongolian traditional grassland management knowledge on the sustainable development of grassland animal husbandry.4.Summarizing the constraining factors that negatively affect the protection and inheritance of Mongolian traditional knowledge:(1)Lack of ideal legal framework and policies;(2)Conflicts between the inheritance of traditional knowledge and the development of social economy;(3)Multiculturalism may have a negative impact on the traditional ecological awareness of the Mongolian people;(4)Environmental change may lead to the decline in biodiversity and associated traditional knowledge.5.Based on the field investigation and research analysis,the paper proposes the protection and inheritance strategies of traditional knowledge related to Mongolian agricultural biodiversity,including(1)Formulating relevant policies and regulations to strengthen the protection of Mongolian traditional knowledge;(2)Strengthening the efforts of discovering and promoting of traditional knowledge and enhancing the economic value of traditional knowledge;(3)Strengthening the confidence of the Mongolian people in traditional culture through publicity,education and public participation;(4)Strengthening the protection of grassland ecology through engineering measures.