Local knowledge and biodiversity in the Marquesas islands

Research on the Marquesas Islands reveals that local medicinal knowledge about biodiversity is shaped by intricate gift logics and power dynamics, often driven by a deep-seated fear of loss among communities. This interdisciplinary study, involving multiple institutions, highlights how such knowledge circulates and is preserved, offering critical insights for debates on access and benefit-sharing of biological or genetic resources in French overseas territories and globally. The findings underscore the importance of recognizing and protecting indigenous knowledge systems while addressing broader policy implications.

Bambridge, T., & Le Meur, P.-Y. (2018). Savoirs locaux et biodiversité aux îles Marquises. Revue d’Anthropologie Des Connaissances, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.3917/rac.038.0029