South Africa has a rich cultural and biological heritage and diversity, with an expansive history of linking these through the traditional use of biological resources. Local traditional knowledge (TK) of the value and use of biological resources is unique to a culture or society and is passed from generation to generation through word of mouth and cultural rituals. This traditional knowledge is usually built by a group of people living in close contact with nature.
Traditional knowledge, particularly traditional ecological knowledge of an indigenous species, is an important component in the improvement of natural resource management in South Africa and can provide valuable information for the sustainable use and protection of ecosystems and species. This kind of knowledge is developed by local communities through adaptive experiences with natural resources.
