Network and Society

Ethnobiology in Switzerland – A Network

The Swiss Ethnobiology Network was founded on December 2, 2007 in Lucerne. On January 31, 2009 the first symposium of the network took place in Zurich. Subsequent to the symposium the informal network has been constituted as an association.

Purpose of the association (bylaws, article 2):

Ethnobiology is an interdisciplinary science studying people, animals, plants and their interactions across cultures. To the same degree as biodiversity is threatened, also its associated traditional knowledge is endangered with extinction. The goal of ethnobiological research is, therefore, to document and analyze this knowledge and thus create starting points for applied projects e.g. in the field of medicinal plant utilization or sustainable use of natural resources in general.
The goal of the Swiss Ethnobiology Network is to improve networking between ethnobiology and related disciplines. We also want to address students who are interested in ethnobiology, supplying them with the required information for their studies, and link them with competent people in academia.

The network seeks to achieve this purpose by:

  1. Providing useful information on the network website;
  2. Mentoring/supporting students in ethnobiology;
  3. Organize an annual symposium to present current research in the field of ethnobiology;
  4. Promoting information exchange between members;
  5. Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration.

Board:

Honorary Members:

  • Michael Heinrich, Prof. Dr., Centre for Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy, The School of Pharmacy, University of London
  • Philippe Küpfer, Prof. Hon.
  • Liselotte Kuntner, physiotherapist / ethnologist, Küttigen, Switzerland († 20 december 2021)

Please find here important documents of the association: