F M Franco
Biographic Data
| ID | 13348 |
|---|---|
| NAME | F M Franco |
| GIVEN NAMES | F M |
| FAMILY NAME | Franco |
| SIGNATURE | FRANCO F M |
| AFFILIATIONS | Universiti Brunei Darussalam |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8036-096X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 14 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 30 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 14 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Hunting motivations, behaviour and forest access
Unsustainable hunting practices can alter population dynamics, driving biodiversity declines, which leads to ‘empty forests’. Understanding hunting behaviour, including motivations for hunting and relationships with market drivers, and access to hunting grounds are important to develop affirmative policies to stem biodiversity loss. Here, we investigate community hunting behaviour and motivations in the context of road network expansion. We focus…
Popular Cultural Keystone Species are also understudied — the case of the camphor tree (Dryobalanops aromatica)
Along with landscape degradation and loss of biodiversity occurring in local and global scales, there is also a co-occurring loss of cultural and linguistic diversity, i.e., when species become rare, there is a corresponding loss of cultural practices and linguistic elements associated with that species. Although cultural assessments of tree species can help in identifying Cultural Keystone Species (CKS) and be used to enhance the cultural releva…
Intellectualist premise of folk names support their restoration in formal taxonomy
In a recent article, Gillman and Wright (2020) have called for a debate on the need for ‘assigning and reinstating’ folk names in taxonomic protocols. This is a commendable proposal, as it would undo the historic injustice meted out to local communities whose knowledge often forms the basis for discovery of new species. Also, assigning exotic names to plants already known to local communities alienates them from the respective taxa and landscapes…
Persistence of the Salty-Sweet Nipah Sugar in the Popular Foodways of Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam is a country with a high consumption of cane sugar. White cane sugar owes its popularity to its ability to colonize our tastes. Despite the popularity of white cane sugar, food and drinks sweetened with gula anau, a sweetener obtained from the mangrove palm nipah ( Nypa fruticans) are also prevalent in the popular Bruneian foodways. Gula anau is widely used in the Bruneian foodways to prepare traditional snacks, collectively kno…
A comparative account of the traditional healing practices of healers and non-healers in the Kiudang area of Brunei Darussalam
Rising to the occasion
The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as the greatest threat to humankind so far in the 21st Century. As of 27th May 2020, there were 5,717,726 reported cases, and 352,983 fatalities (WHO 2020). The pandemic is not just a health crisis anymore, because lockdowns and other restrictions have greatly affected economic activities, which in turn affects cash flows in local and regional scales. Closure of businesses lead to widespread rise in unemployment,…
Socialising over fruits and vegetables
Background Earth's biocultural diversity comprising biological, cultural and linguistic diversities is being eroded quickly. Our ability to recognise and appreciate what is remaining is crucial for its survival. However, not all forms of diversity are appreciated equally and a growing trend in plant blindness indicates that humans ignore plants in the environment. In this context, open-air markets emerge as cultural spaces that bring people close…
When the seeds sprout, the hornbills hatch
There is an urgent need for encouraging transmission of knowledge from the hunters and agriculturists to others through ecotourism and conservation ventures. Our study adds further support to the understanding that the TEK of local communities is an important source of locale-specific knowledge on species of high conservation value such as hornbills
Using Ethnotaxonomy to Assess Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality
This article demonstrates the potential of using ethnotaxonomy and nomenclature to assess the vitality status of indigenous languages and traditional knowledge at the ecosystem level. We collaborated with the Vaie people of Sarawak, Malaysia, applying a mixed methodology approach that relies on free-listing to a large extent. We applied the Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality (TraLaVi) index to assess traditional knowledge and language vi…
Ready for phase 5 - current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia
BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia is known for its rich linguistic, cultural and biological diversity. While ethnobiology in the west has benefitted greatly from intellectual and methodological advances over the last decades, the status of Southeast Asian ethnobiology is largely unknown. This study aims to provide an analysis of the current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia and outlines possibilities for future advancements. METHODS: We accessed …
Calendars and Ecosystem Management
Vaavubhali, a Traditional Festival for Remembering Ancestors
Remembering ancestors is a part of tradition in every society. In this article, we present the importance of a traditional festival called vaavubhali in the context of ecological and economical services rendered. The festival honours deceased souls and also popularizes the planting of ornamental, medicinal and timber yielding plants. The changing scenario is also depicted
Assessing the Contribution of Local and Traded Biodiversity in Community Health Care
The study aims to assess the contribution of local and traded biodiversity towards community health care. A total of 106 knowledge holders from the Aatha Pallar community were interviewed and medicinal uses for 70 local plants and 28 plant products purchased from the market were recorded. The Pharmacological Ethnobotanical index was found to be low suggesting knowledge erosion. About 13 plant species used by the community show high Use Value Indi…
Relationship between four Tribal Communities and their Natural Resources in the Koraput Region
In this paper, we look into the relationship that exist between four tribal communities viz. the Kondh, Poraja, Gadaba and Bonda of the Koraput region with their natural resources. Eucalyptus globulus Labill., when introduced into the tribal ecosystem is rejected by the community and so is Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn ex Benth., while another tree Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. when introduced is readily accepted by the community. A new water re…
Ready for phase 5 - current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia
BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia is known for its rich linguistic, cultural and biological diversity. While ethnobiology in the west has benefitted greatly from intellectual and methodological advances over the last decades, the status of Southeast Asian ethnobiology is largely unknown. This study aims to provide an analysis of the current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia and outlines possibilities for future advancements. METHODS: We accessed …
Socialising over fruits and vegetables
Background Earth's biocultural diversity comprising biological, cultural and linguistic diversities is being eroded quickly. Our ability to recognise and appreciate what is remaining is crucial for its survival. However, not all forms of diversity are appreciated equally and a growing trend in plant blindness indicates that humans ignore plants in the environment. In this context, open-air markets emerge as cultural spaces that bring people close…
Using Ethnotaxonomy to Assess Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality
This article demonstrates the potential of using ethnotaxonomy and nomenclature to assess the vitality status of indigenous languages and traditional knowledge at the ecosystem level. We collaborated with the Vaie people of Sarawak, Malaysia, applying a mixed methodology approach that relies on free-listing to a large extent. We applied the Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality (TraLaVi) index to assess traditional knowledge and language vi…
Calendars and Ecosystem Management
Rising to the occasion
The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as the greatest threat to humankind so far in the 21st Century. As of 27th May 2020, there were 5,717,726 reported cases, and 352,983 fatalities (WHO 2020). The pandemic is not just a health crisis anymore, because lockdowns and other restrictions have greatly affected economic activities, which in turn affects cash flows in local and regional scales. Closure of businesses lead to widespread rise in unemployment,…
When the seeds sprout, the hornbills hatch
There is an urgent need for encouraging transmission of knowledge from the hunters and agriculturists to others through ecotourism and conservation ventures. Our study adds further support to the understanding that the TEK of local communities is an important source of locale-specific knowledge on species of high conservation value such as hornbills
Relationship between four Tribal Communities and their Natural Resources in the Koraput Region
In this paper, we look into the relationship that exist between four tribal communities viz. the Kondh, Poraja, Gadaba and Bonda of the Koraput region with their natural resources. Eucalyptus globulus Labill., when introduced into the tribal ecosystem is rejected by the community and so is Acacia auriculiformis A.Cunn ex Benth., while another tree Pterospermum acerifolium Willd. when introduced is readily accepted by the community. A new water re…
Vaavubhali, a Traditional Festival for Remembering Ancestors
Remembering ancestors is a part of tradition in every society. In this article, we present the importance of a traditional festival called vaavubhali in the context of ecological and economical services rendered. The festival honours deceased souls and also popularizes the planting of ornamental, medicinal and timber yielding plants. The changing scenario is also depicted
Assessing the Contribution of Local and Traded Biodiversity in Community Health Care
The study aims to assess the contribution of local and traded biodiversity towards community health care. A total of 106 knowledge holders from the Aatha Pallar community were interviewed and medicinal uses for 70 local plants and 28 plant products purchased from the market were recorded. The Pharmacological Ethnobotanical index was found to be low suggesting knowledge erosion. About 13 plant species used by the community show high Use Value Indi…
Ready for phase 5 - current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia
BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia is known for its rich linguistic, cultural and biological diversity. While ethnobiology in the west has benefitted greatly from intellectual and methodological advances over the last decades, the status of Southeast Asian ethnobiology is largely unknown. This study aims to provide an analysis of the current status of ethnobiology in Southeast Asia and outlines possibilities for future advancements. METHODS: We accessed …
Calendars and Ecosystem Management
Using Ethnotaxonomy to Assess Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality
This article demonstrates the potential of using ethnotaxonomy and nomenclature to assess the vitality status of indigenous languages and traditional knowledge at the ecosystem level. We collaborated with the Vaie people of Sarawak, Malaysia, applying a mixed methodology approach that relies on free-listing to a large extent. We applied the Traditional Knowledge and Language Vitality (TraLaVi) index to assess traditional knowledge and language vi…
When the seeds sprout, the hornbills hatch
There is an urgent need for encouraging transmission of knowledge from the hunters and agriculturists to others through ecotourism and conservation ventures. Our study adds further support to the understanding that the TEK of local communities is an important source of locale-specific knowledge on species of high conservation value such as hornbills
Persistence of the Salty-Sweet Nipah Sugar in the Popular Foodways of Brunei Darussalam
Brunei Darussalam is a country with a high consumption of cane sugar. White cane sugar owes its popularity to its ability to colonize our tastes. Despite the popularity of white cane sugar, food and drinks sweetened with gula anau, a sweetener obtained from the mangrove palm nipah ( Nypa fruticans) are also prevalent in the popular Bruneian foodways. Gula anau is widely used in the Bruneian foodways to prepare traditional snacks, collectively kno…
A comparative account of the traditional healing practices of healers and non-healers in the Kiudang area of Brunei Darussalam
Rising to the occasion
The COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as the greatest threat to humankind so far in the 21st Century. As of 27th May 2020, there were 5,717,726 reported cases, and 352,983 fatalities (WHO 2020). The pandemic is not just a health crisis anymore, because lockdowns and other restrictions have greatly affected economic activities, which in turn affects cash flows in local and regional scales. Closure of businesses lead to widespread rise in unemployment,…
Socialising over fruits and vegetables
Background Earth's biocultural diversity comprising biological, cultural and linguistic diversities is being eroded quickly. Our ability to recognise and appreciate what is remaining is crucial for its survival. However, not all forms of diversity are appreciated equally and a growing trend in plant blindness indicates that humans ignore plants in the environment. In this context, open-air markets emerge as cultural spaces that bring people close…
Intellectualist premise of folk names support their restoration in formal taxonomy
In a recent article, Gillman and Wright (2020) have called for a debate on the need for ‘assigning and reinstating’ folk names in taxonomic protocols. This is a commendable proposal, as it would undo the historic injustice meted out to local communities whose knowledge often forms the basis for discovery of new species. Also, assigning exotic names to plants already known to local communities alienates them from the respective taxa and landscapes…
Popular Cultural Keystone Species are also understudied — the case of the camphor tree (Dryobalanops aromatica)
Along with landscape degradation and loss of biodiversity occurring in local and global scales, there is also a co-occurring loss of cultural and linguistic diversity, i.e., when species become rare, there is a corresponding loss of cultural practices and linguistic elements associated with that species. Although cultural assessments of tree species can help in identifying Cultural Keystone Species (CKS) and be used to enhance the cultural releva…
Hunting motivations, behaviour and forest access
Unsustainable hunting practices can alter population dynamics, driving biodiversity declines, which leads to ‘empty forests’. Understanding hunting behaviour, including motivations for hunting and relationships with market drivers, and access to hunting grounds are important to develop affirmative policies to stem biodiversity loss. Here, we investigate community hunting behaviour and motivations in the context of road network expansion. We focus…
Geography (13 works) · Ecology (12 works) · Biology (11 works) · Sociology (6 works) · Ethnobotanical and Medicinal Plants Studies (5 works) · Biodiversity (4 works) · Environmental Science (4 works) · Anthropology (3 works) · Computer Science (3 works) · Environmental resource management (3 works)