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Traditional ecological knowledge, perceptions and practices on insect pollinator conservation: A case of the smallholder farmers in Murundu ward of Mufulira mining district of Zambia

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Abstract

Insect pollination plays a pivotal role in ensuring agricultural sustainability within tropical agrarian communities. Insect-pollinated crops significantly contribute to enhanced crop yields and improved human nutrition by providing access to essential vitamins. In the Zambian tropics, these vital contributions face threats stemming from a complex interplay of anthropogenic and non-anthropogenic factors perceived to be responsible for the decline of Insect Pollinators (IPs). We employed semi-structured questionnaires and conducted focus group discussions to investigate smallholder farmers' knowledge of IPs, their perceptions of IP diversity trends, the factors they believe affect IP diversity, and the traditional practices employed by farmers to conserve IPs. The study unveiled that farmers associated bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, and beetles with the pollination of key crops and angiosperms, such as pumpkins, sunflowers, oranges, and guavas. A majority of the farmers observed declines in both IP abundance and richness. Anthropogenic activities, such as deforestation, pollution, and fires, were perceived as significant contributors to IP decline, alongside factors like climate change and a lack of government support. Conservation Agriculture (CA), the establishment of fire guards, the cultivation of flowering plants, and bee-keeping emerged as prevalent traditional practices that support IPs. However, these IP conservation practices were not widely adopted among smallholder farmers due to financial constraints and a lack of enforcement. Consequently, there is a pressing need for increased local enforcement and financial support from various stakeholders to promote IP conservation in the study area. We recommend that agricultural extension services collaborate with local authorities to provide farmers with comprehensive information and technical assistance for the effective implementation of traditional practices associated with IP conservation.

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Data Availability

The data used in this study is available upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The extension agriculture officer Mr. Gerald Mbewe for working with us in his agriculture camp. The authors would like to thank the agriculture camp assistants for helping in the administration of questionnaires.

Funding

This work received partial funding from the Copperbelt University African Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Mining (CBU ACESM).

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  1. Department of Plants and Environmental Science, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, P. O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia

    Christopher Mulwanda

  2. Copperbelt University African Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Mining, P.O. Box 21692, Kitwe, Zambia

    Christopher Mulwanda

  3. Department of Zoology and Aquatic Sciences, School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia

    Vincent R. Nyirenda & Ngawo Namukonde

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Mulwanda, C., Nyirenda, V.R. & Namukonde, N. Traditional ecological knowledge, perceptions and practices on insect pollinator conservation: A case of the smallholder farmers in Murundu ward of Mufulira mining district of Zambia. J Environ Stud Sci 14, 24–35 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-023-00863-4

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