Indigenous knowledge and bioindicators of toxicity of non-timber forest products in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the indigenous knowledge used by some rural communities in the DRC for the collection of non-timber forest products. A "general interview guide approach" was used for collecting information from each of the randomly selected interviewees (women) of different ages and backgrounds (in Kinshasa, the capital city of the DRC, Central Africa). Results showed that indigenous knowledge used for the collection of non-timber forest products, in the DRC, is essentially based on "the presence of living organisms found on or around, or eating the non-timber forest products or their derivatives". The living organisms, called bio-indicators, were found to be birds, monkeys, millipedes, caterpillars, locusts and free range chickens. The interviewees strongly recommended strict identification of these living organisms as indigenous knowledge skill received or taught to avoid intoxication from naturally available resources.