Dr. Catherine Potvin

Traditional plant use and conservation

After developing the course "Conservation Biology" at McGill, I felt the need for a reality check that brought me to Darien, the Eastern most region of Panama. There I encountered the Embera people and developed a completely different way to carry out scientific research.

The goal of my work with Indigenous Peoples in Panama is not first and foremost to construct knowledge. It is to use the knowledge I have of plants and plants growth in an ethically relevant way, in order to help these people maintain their pride and tradition while improving their livelihood. Between 1998 and 2003 support of IDRC, has allowed us to work in the community of Ipeti-Embera in the Bayano region of Panama, as well as in two Kuna villages, Nurna and Ukpseni.  The first phase of the project involved the re-introduction of four palm species near Emberá villages and development of sustainable management strategies for culturally important plant species in both Emberá and Kuna villages. Then, we worked at promoting and protecting traditional knowledge on medicinal plants.

Related Publications:

• Potvin, C., Barrios, H., Molina, N. and Provost, M. 2005. Conservation of indigenous medicinal plants and associated knowledge: a case study from the Embera community of Ipeti, Panama. In Proceedings of the International Symposium Biodiversity and health (eds Arnason, J.T., Catling, P.M., Small, E., Dang, P.T. and Lambert, J.D.H.) CNR press, pp. 25-31.
• Potvin, C., C. Owen, S. Melzi and P. Beaucage. 2005.  Ecological and socioeconomic analyses of four coffee producing villages of Mexico. Ecology and Society 10 (1): 18. [online]
• Dalle, S.P. & Potvin, C. 2004. Conservation of useful plants: an evaluation of local priorities from two indigenous communities in eastern Panama.  Economic Botany 58 (1): 38-57.
• Potvin, C. & Barrios, H. 2004. Conservation of medicinal plants in an Emberá community of Panama: property rights and knowledge transmission. Medicinal Plant Conservation 9/10: 14-18.
• Potvin, C., R. Cansari, J. Hutton, I. Caisamo and B. Pacheco.  2003. Preparation for propagation: Understanding germination of Giwa (Astrocaryum standleyanum), wagara (Sabal mauritiiformis) and eba (Socratea exorrhiza) for future cultivation.  Biodiversity and Conservation 12 (11): 2161-2171.
• Potvin, C., G. Patenaude, K. O'Badaki, J. Hutton and J.-P. Revérét. 2002.  Implementation of article 8j of the Convention of Biological Diversity: Cultural differences, and conservation priorities.  in  P. Le Prestre, editor. Governing Global Biodiversity: The Evolution and Implementation of the Convention of Biological Diversity. Ashgate Pub. U.K. Pp. 159-176.
• Dalle, S.P., H. Lopez, D . Diaz, P. Legendre and C. Potvin. 2002. Initial assessment of the distribution and habitat associations of useful plants on an indigenous territory, Darien Province, Panama. Biodiversity and Conservation 11(4): 637-667
• Potvin, C. and H. Barrios. 2003. Conservation of medicinal plants in an Emberá community of Panamá: property rights and knowledge transmission. IUCN Newsletter (Accepted 21-03-03)
• Potvin, C. 1997. La biodiversité pour le biologiste: "protéger" ou "conserver" la nature? in M.-H. Parizeau, editor. La biodiversité. Tout préserver ou tout cultiver? p. 37-46. De Boeck Université.
• Potvin, C., M. Kraenzel and G. Seutin (eds). 2001. Protecting Biological Diversity: Roles and Responsibilities. McGill Queen's University Press, Montreal & Kingston, London, Ithaca. pp. 151.