26 research outputs found
Traditional food uses of wild plants among the Gorani of South Kosovo
No full textA food ethnobotanical field study was conducted among the Gorani of South Kosovo, a small ethnic minority group that speaks a South-Slavic language and lives in the south of the country. We conducted forty-one semi-structured interviews in ten villages of the Kosovar Gora mountainous area and found that seventy-nine wild botanical and mycological taxa represent the complex mosaic of the food cultural heritage in this population. A large portion of the wild food plant reports refer to fermented wild fruit-based beverages and herbal teas, while the role of wild vegetables is restricted. A comparison of these data with those previously collected among the Gorani living in nearby villages within the territory of Albania, who were separated in 1925 from their relatives living in present-day Kosovo, shows that approximately one third of the wild food plant reports are the same. This finding demonstrates the complex nature of Kosovar Gorani ethnobotany, which could indicate the permanence of possible â\u80\u9coriginalâ\u80\u9d Gorani wild plant uses (mainly including wild fruits-based beverages), as well as elements of cultural adaptation to Serbian and Bosniak ethnobotanies (mainly including a few herbal teas and mushrooms)
An ethnobotanical perspective on traditional fermented plant foods and beverages in Eastern Europe
No full textEthnopharmacological relevance: Fermented food and beverages represent an important part of the worldwide foodscape, medicinal food domain and domestic strategies of health care, yet relevant traditional knowledge in Europe is poorly documented. Methods: Review of primary ethnographic literature, archival sources and a few ad-hoc ethnobotanical field studies in seven selected Eastern European countries (Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Kosovo, and Poland) were conducted. Results: Current or recently abandoned uses of 116 botanical taxa, belonging to 37 families in fermented food or medicinal food products were recorded. These findings demonstrate a rich bio-cultural diversity of use, and also a clear prevalence of the use of fruits of the tannin- and phenolic-rich Rosaceae species in alcoholic, lactic- and acetic acid fermented preparations. In the considered countries, fermentation still plays (or has played until recent years) a crucial role in folk cuisines and this heritage requires urgent and in-depth evaluation. Discussion: Future studies should be aimed at further documenting and also bio-evaluating the ingredients and processes involved in the preparation of homemade fermented products, as this can be used to support local, community-based development efforts to foster food security, food sovereignty, and small-scale local food-based economies
Overview of Nature Protection Progress in Kosovo
No full textThis paper presents an overview of progress in the area of nature conservation in the last decade in Kosovo. Two very important laws were promulgated in 2012 about two national parks: Bjeshket e Nemuna and Sharri National park. With this expansion, the protected area network that in 2003 was about 4.36 % of the territory was increased to 10.9%, reaching a satisfactory degree of protected areas and increasing the number of protected areas in a total of 116. While in terms of conservation of protected areas a significant progress has been achieved, stagnation is seen in the conservation of rare and threatened species of flora and fauna. Although envisaged by legislation, the Red List of Kosovo of rare and threatened species has not been adopted yet. Also, there is a small progress in the implementation of practical conservation and management measures contained in the legislation
Volatile Constituents of Some Selected Plant Species Traditionally Used as Tea in the Sharri Mountains (Kosovo)
No full textThe study evaluates the chemical composition of the volatile constituents of ten plant species traditionally used as herbal tea in the Sharri Mountain regions (Kosovo and North Macedonia). Volatile constituents responsible for the flavour and fragrance of selected species (Crataegus monogyna, Cydonia oblonga, Malus sylvestris, Matricaria chamomilla, Morus alba, Morus nigra, Rosa canina, Sambucus nigra, Tilia cordata, and Vaccinium myrtillus) were separated and then identified using GC-MS, whereas GC-FID is employed for the quantitative analysis. Experimental data revealed different patterns of volatile constituents depending on plant species. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and norisoprenoids were the most abundant volatile constituents. Principal component analysis (PCA) was deployed for data analysis and resulted in grouping these ten species in four principal clusters. The combination of various volatile constituents present in specific plant species may play an important role in the specific aroma and taste sensation of these species used as recreational teas
Management status of protected areas in Kosovo
No full textAbstractThis paper presents the situation of protected areas network in Kosovo, main problems with their management and protection. Kosovo covers an area of 10,887 square kilometers in the central part of Balkan Peninsula. Territory of Kosovo is under different elevations and impacted by mixed Continental and Mediterranean climate states. 47, 842, 34ha or 4.39% of territory of Kosovo is protected. Protected areas network in Kosovo consist of: one national park, 11 nature reserves, two protected landscapes and 82 natural monuments with different natural characteristics: botanical, geographical, geomorphologic, hydrological etc. The history of protected areas starts in 1953, when the first nature reserves were designated for legal protection, with permanent increase of number and size of other protected areas. The biggest step until now in the protection of natural sites is made in 1986 with declaration of Sharri national park (39,000ha), because of very rich biodiversity.The network of legally protected areas is quite heavily damaged during and after the last war in Kosovo (1998-99). Degradation of ecosystems, overexploitation, fires and other negative activities have being part of protected areas during last decade. The new law on nature conservation is partly regulating this situation, although the protection and management measures face many implementation challenges
Gërmia – from a regional park to the protected landscape
No full textIstraživanje se odvijalo u masivu Gërmia (Republika Kosovo) i predstavlja pregled trenutnog stanja ovog zaštićenog područja. Regionalni park Gërmia je jedno od 173 zaštićena područja na Kosovu. Taj status je Park dobio 1987. (GZK, no. 43/87) od Skupštine grada Prištine, a pokriva područje od 1064 ha. Tijekom posljednjih desetljeća prirodne vrijednosti Parka su se dramatično promijenile, posebno u smislu biodiverziteta. Istraživani su flora, fauna i biljne zajednice Parka s ciljem procjene trenutne situacije biodiverziteta Parka. Biološka raznolikost Parka obuhvaća 610 vrsta vaskularnih biljaka (ne uključujući korovne vrste), 83 vrste gljiva, 14 vrsta mahovina, 51 vrstu lišajeva, kao i 5 vrsta vodozemaca, 7 vrsta gmazova, 32 vrste ptica, 19 vrsta sisavaca te 110 vrsta danjih leptira. Kao posljedica ljudskih aktivnosti, ugroženo je mnogo biljnih i životinjskih vrsta u Parku. Uzimajući u obzir prirodne vrijednosti i čimbenike ugroze, predlaže se proširivanje zaštićenog područja na novih 1167 ha, i usklađivanje statusa zaštite sa Zakonom o zaštiti prirode (tj. promjena kategorije iz Regionalnog parka u Zaštićeni krajolik (kategorija V prema IUCN-u).This study took place in the Gërmia massif (Republic of Kosovo) and presents an overview of the current status of this protected area. The Gërmia Regional Park is one of the 173 protected areas in Kosovo. It received this status in 1987 (GZK, no. 43/87) from the Prishtina municipal assembly and covers an area of 1064 hectares. Its natural values have changed dramatically during the last decades, especially in terms of biodiversity. With the aim of evaluating the current situation of the Park’s biodiversity, its flora, fauna and plant communities were investigated. The biodiversity of Gërmia comprises 610 vascular plant species (excluding weed species), 83 fungi, 14 mosses, 51 lichens, as well as 5 amphibian, 7 reptile, 32 bird, 19 mammal and 110 butterfly species. As a consequence of human activities, many plant and animal species in Gërmia are endangered. Taking into consideration its natural value and the threat factors around the area, it was proposed to extend the protected area to another 1167 hectares, and to harmonize its protection status with the Law of Nature Protection (i.e. to change the category from Regional Park to Protected Landscape (category V according to the IUCN)
Phytochemical Study of Eight Medicinal Plants of the Lamiaceae Family Traditionally Used as Tea in the Sharri Mountains Region of the Balkans
No full textIn the present study, eight plant species belonging to Lamiaceae family were identified as ingredients for herbal teas in the region of Sharri Mountains: Thymus serpyllum, Rosmarinus officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Origanum vulgare, Mentha longifolia, Ocimum basilicum, Teucrium chamaedrys, and Sideritis scardica, respectively. Chemical composition of essential oils obtained from these species was analyzed using GC-MS and GC-FID with the aim of examining their volatile compound profiles, responsible for their respective flavors and fragrance. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was performed with the aim of grouping plant species under study on the basis of their chemical composition. Experimental data revealed the typical volatile constituent pattern for the Lamiaceae family. Monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, responsible for flavor and medicinal use of these plants, were the most abundant groups of the volatile constituents. PCA data analysis resulted in the grouping of these analyzed species in four principal clusters
Plants used for making recreational tea in Europe : a review based on specific research sites
No full textThis paper is a review of local plants used in water infusions as aromatic and refreshing hot beverages (recreational tea) consumed in food-related settings in Europe, and not for specific medicinal purposes. The reviewed 29 areas are located across Europe, covering the post-Soviet countries, eastern and Mediterranean Europe. Altogether, 142 taxa belonging to 99 genera and 40 families were reported. The most important families for making herbal tea in all research areas were Lamiaceae and Asteraceae, while Rosaceae was popular only in eastern and central Europe. With regards to botanical genera, the dominant taxa included Mentha, Tilia, Thymus, Origanum, Rubus and Matricaria. The clear favorite was Origanum vulgare L., mentioned in 61% of the regions. Regionally, other important taxa included Rubus idaeus L. in eastern Europe, Chamaemelum nobile (L.) All. in southern Europe and Rosa canina L. in central Europe. Future research on the pharmacological, nutritional and chemical properties of the plants most frequently used in the tea-making process is essential to ensure their safety and appropriateness for daily consumption. Moreover, regional studies dedicated to the study of local plants used for making recreational tea are important to improve our understanding of their selection criteria, cultural importance and perceived properties in Europe and abroad
Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oils of different Pinus species from Kosovo
No full textChemical profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of total and fractionated essential oils (EOs) derived from Pinus heldreichii, P. peuce, P. mugo, Pinus nigra and P. sylvestris, along with the volatiles profile (VOCs) of needles of these species were investigated. The EOs and their fractions (direct solid phase extraction, SPE) were analysed by GC-MS, while VOCs of needles were determined by HS-SPME-GC-MS. 112 compounds were identified in EOs and their fractions. The same trend was observed in the needles’ VOCs. The EOs antioxidant activities were lower than those of the corresponding fractions, with F2 the strongest in all cases. EOs and fractions showed different degrees of antibacterial efficacy against different microbial pathogens. The components responsible for the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity were oxygenated monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. These activities seem to be regulated by reciprocal interactions among the different subclasses of phytochemical species present in the EOs
